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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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PFS StandardAncient Sky Dragon

Sky dragons live above the clouds near the summits of mountains. They maintain a strong religious tradition, a unique practice among imperial dragons that sets them apart as much as their wings do. Desperate souls risk steep cliffs and loose snow to seek these dragons' counsel, and most sky dragons gladly help those who make the journey, but they expel any express hostilities or badger without hesitation.

The sky dragon's wings aren't true wings, but long fins fused to their forearms; their scales also form only very slowly. Young dragons coil tightly in their lairs as they absorb minerals that color and harden their scales. Even adults often wrap around pillars out of habit.

Recall Knowledge - Dragon (Arcana): DC 43
Unspecific Lore: DC 41
Specific Lore: DC 38

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Ancient Sky DragonCreature 18

Legacy Content

Rare LG Gargantuan Dragon Electricity 
Source Bestiary 3 pg. 80
Perception +32; darkvision, scent (imprecise) 60 feet
Languages Auran, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Elven, Infernal, Sylvan
Skills Acrobatics +28, Athletics +35, Deception +28, Intimidation +32, Religion +34, Society +26, Stealth +28, Survival +28
Str +8, Dex +4, Con +5, Int +4, Wis +6, Cha +6
Mist Vision Fog and mist don't impair a sky dragon's vision; they ignore the concealed condition from fog and mist.
AC 42; Fort +31, Ref +28, Will +32; +1 status to all saves vs. magic
HP 335; Immunities electricity, paralyzed, sleep
Countered by Fire If the sky dragon takes fire damage, the elemental magic of metal within them is tempered. Until the end of their next turn, they take a –1 circumstance penalty to attack rolls and AC, and their jaws Strikes don't deal electricity damage. This limitation ends if the dragon uses Breath Weapon.Fed by Earth (abjuration, divine) When a sky dragon is targeted by an earth spell or effect, they leave a cloud of pulverized dust and gravel that swirls in the eddies of the dragon's flight. For 1 minute, the dragon is concealed while flying.Frightful Presence (aura, emotion, fear, mental) 90 feet, DC 38
Speed 60 feet, fly 160 feet
Melee [one-action] jaws +36 [+31/+26] (magical, reach 20 feet), Damage 3d10+16 piercing plus 1d12 electricityMelee [one-action] claw +36 [+32/+28] (agile, magical, reach 15 feet), Damage 3d10+16 slashing plus GrabMelee [one-action] tail +36 [+31/+26] (magical, reach 30 feet), Damage 3d10+16 bludgeoning plus GrabDivine Innate Spells DC 42; 4th gaseous form, invisibility; 1st feather fall, gust of wind
Breath Weapon [two-actions] (divine, electricity, evocation) The dragon shoots a ball of electricity that deals 9d12 electricity damage and 2d12 sonic damage in a 30-foot burst within 60 feet (DC 40 basic Reflex save). They can't use Breath Weapon again for 1d4 rounds. See divine lightning below.Coiling Frenzy [two-actions] The dragon makes one claw Strike and one tail Strike in either order, each against the same target. If either Strike hits, the dragon automatically Grabs the target.Divine Lightning (divine) A good sky dragon who worships a deity channels divine power through its attacks, making them more effective against fiends and undead. Any electricity damage it deals becomes good damage against fiends or positive damage against undead.Draconic Momentum The dragon recharges their Breath Weapon whenever they score a critical hit with a Strike.Greater Constrict [one-action] 3d10+11 bludgeoning, DC 40Perfected Flight A sky dragon can hover in place without spending an action, and they automatically succeed at all Acrobatics checks to Maneuver in Flight.Stunning Electricity [two-actions] (divine, electricity, evocation, incapacitation) The dragon rapidly coils, then unleashes crackling lightning that deals 5d12 electricity damage in a 60-foot emanation. Each creature in the area must attempt a DC 40 Fortitude save; regardless of the outcome, the creature then becomes temporarily immune for 10 minutes.
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success Half damage, and the creature is stunned 1.
Failure Full damage, and the creature is stunned for 1 round and can't fly for 4 rounds.
Critical Failure Double damage, and the creature is stunned for 2 rounds and can't fly for 1 minute.

All Monsters in "Dragon, Sky"

NameLevel
Adult Sky Dragon13
Ancient Sky Dragon18
Young Sky Dragon9

Dragon, Sky

Source Bestiary 3 pg. 79
Sky dragons live above the clouds near the summits of mountains. They maintain a strong religious tradition, a unique practice among imperial dragons that sets them apart as much as their wings do. Desperate souls risk steep cliffs and loose snow to seek these dragons' counsel, and most sky dragons gladly help those who make the journey, but they expel any express hostilities or badger without hesitation.

The sky dragon's wings aren't true wings, but long fins fused to their forearms; their scales also form only very slowly. Young dragons coil tightly in their lairs as they absorb minerals that color and harden their scales. Even adults often wrap around pillars out of habit.

Dragon, Imperial

Related Groups Dragon, Forest, Dragon, Sea, Dragon, Sovereign, Dragon, Underworld
Imperial dragons, namesake of the Dragon Empires and guardians of Tian Xia before humanity arrived, embody five strengthening and counteracting forces. Unlike other true dragons, imperial dragons dive deep into human affairs. Some remain secretive, posing as reclusive hermits, while others keep a high profile, openly ruling factions. Tian cultures in turn venerate the dragons, depicting gods in the form of dragons or claiming ancestry from them. Not all are adored, for plenty of these creatures act wickedly.

Draconic Cycles

Five elements underpin the magical powers of imperial dragons, influencing their relationships to all things and, especially, to others of their kind. These elements interlink in two cycles. In the first cycle, each element feeds one other: wood feeds fire, fire feeds earth, earth feeds metal, metal feeds water, and water feeds wood. In the second cycle, each element counters another: wood counters earth, earth counters water, water counters fire, fire counters metal, and metal counters wood.

Each imperial dragon represents one element and has four abilities related to the cycle. For example, the forest dragon—linked to wood—feeds fire, is fed by water, counters earth, and is countered by metal.

Shape-Changing Dragons

Imperial dragons are the most likely (and willing) of Golarion's dragons to take humanoid forms. The vast majority of them have the following ability, with the tradition trait matching the dragon's innate spells:

Change Shape [one-action] (concentrate, polymorph, transmutation) The dragon takes on the appearance of any Small or Medium humanoid. This doesn't change their Speed or attack and damage modifiers with their Strikes, but it might change the damage type their Strikes deal (typically to bludgeoning).

Imperial Dragon Spellcasters

Each imperial dragon has a sidebar on spellcasting dragons of that kind. To make an imperial dragon spellcaster, remove the dragon's Coiling Frenzy and Draconic Momentum abilities and give them the spells outlined in their sidebar. You can swap any number of these spells with others from the same tradition, provided you keep the same number of spells for each level. You might also want to increase the dragon's Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma modifier by 1 or 2 to reflect their mastery of magic.

Imperial Dragons On Golarion

Imperial dragons are rarely spotted beyond Tian Xia, where some establish territories to amass power, while others follow their natural affinity to seek a place of comfort.

Sidebar - Additional Lore Arcane and Primal Sky Dragons

Some sky dragons choose not to pursue religious studies. Inquisitive individuals eagerly experiment with the arcane arts and hone their mastery over lightning. Others draw primal power from winds, rain, lightning, and thunder, working with sea dragons to bring about terrifying storms of retribution against wrongdoers.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Shinonome

Herald of the goddess Shizuru, Shinonome is a paragon of the divine connection all sky dragons supposedly have. She upholds a tireless devotion to the goddess, carrying out her will on Golarion.

Sidebar - Advice and Rules Sky Dragon Spellcasters

Sky dragon spellcasters tend to cast the following spells.

Young Sky Dragon

Divine Prepared Spells DC 28, attack +21; 4th discern lies, dispel magic, divine wrath; 3rd heroism, locate, wanderer's guide; 2nd augury, comprehend language, create food; 1st alarm, bless, detect alignment (at will, evil only), sanctuary; Cantrips (4th) detect magic, divine lance, read aura, shield, stabilize; Rituals DC 28; consecrate

Adult Sky Dragon

Divine Prepared Spells DC 33, attack +26; As young sky dragon, plus 6th blade barrier, righteous might, true seeing; 5th banishment, prying eye, tongues; Cantrips (6th) detect magic, divine lance, read aura, shield, stabilize; Rituals DC 33; atone

Ancient Sky Dragon

Divine Prepared Spells DC 42, attack +36; As adult sky dragon, plus 8th discern location, divine aura, divine decree; 7th energy aegis, prismatic spray, sunburst; Cantrips (9th) detect magic, divine lance, read aura, shield, stabilize; Rituals DC 42; legend lore