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Adult Black Dragon
Murderous tyrants of marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens, black dragons terrorize their domains with intense fervor. Gleefully sadistic, they rule their fetid principalities from a deep cave or otherwise isolated part of the swamp with a mix of lightning-quick raids and subterfuge. Their hatred for other creatures is as acidic as their breath weapons, and they rarely tolerate even other dragons of their kind—except perhaps to mate or temporarily collaborate to take down a mutual enemy.
Black dragons are amphibious—although they breathe air, their gills also allow them to breathe water. Their frills and fins make them accomplished swimmers, well suited to their wetland environments and submerged lairs. They’re immune to the fetid water that comes as a result of their magical ability to corrupt water.
Black dragon lairs are as foul as their souls. The floors are littered with rotting meat, and plundered treasures line the muck and slime of their dank caves amid twisted roots and creepers. Such places are often crawling with pests, snakes, and slimes. Though they claim natural caverns when they can, they make do with areas of dense, twisted vegetation within a swamp. Black dragon treasure hoards primarily consist of gems and expensive glass work, as valuables of softer substance can’t survive the dragon’s acidic presence.
Recall Knowledge - Dragon
(
Arcana
)
: DC 28
Adult Black Dragon
Creature 11
CE
Large
Acid
Amphibious
Dragon
Source
Bestiary pg. 105
Perception
+22; darkvision, scent (imprecise) 60 feet
Languages
Common
,
Draconic
,
Jotun
Skills
Acrobatics
+18,
Arcana
+19,
Athletics
+24,
Deception
+20,
Intimidation
+20,
Stealth
+20
Str
+7,
Dex
+3,
Con
+5,
Int
+2,
Wis
+3,
Cha
+3
AC
31;
Fort
+23,
Ref
+18,
Will
+21; +1 status to all saves vs. magic
HP
215;
Immunities
acid, paralyzed, sleep
Frightful Presence
(
aura
,
emotion
,
fear
,
mental
) 90 feet, DC 28
Tail Lash
Trigger
A creature within reach of the dragon’s tail takes an action to Strike or attempt a skill check;
Effect
The dragon Strikes with its tail at the triggering creature at a –2 penalty. If it hits, the creature takes a –2 circumstance penalty to the triggering roll.
Speed
50 feet, fly 120 feet, swim 50 feet
Melee
jaws +25 [
+20/+15
] (
acid
,
magical
,
reach 10 feet
),
Damage
2d12+13 piercing plus 2d6 acid
Melee
claw +25 [
+21/+17
] (
agile
,
magical
),
Damage
2d10+13 slashing
Melee
tail +23 [
+18/+13
] (
magical
,
reach 15 feet
),
Damage
2d12+11 bludgeoning
Melee
horns +23 [
+18/+13
] (
magical
,
reach 10 feet
),
Damage
1d10+11 piercing
Arcane Innate Spells
DC 30;
2nd
darkness
(at will)
Breath Weapon
(
acid
,
arcane
,
evocation
) The dragon breathes a spray of acid that deals 12d6 acid damage in an 80-foot line (DC 30 basic Reflex save). It can't use Breath Weapon again for 1d4 rounds.
Corrupt Water
(
arcane
,
concentrate
,
necromancy
)
Frequency
Once per day;
Effect
The dragon permanently befouls 10 cubic feet of liquid within 90 feet. The liquid becomes undrinkable and unable to support water-breathing life. This destroys liquid magic or alchemical items if they're of a lower level than the dragon (a creature can attempt a DC 28 Will save to protect liquids in its possession). This doesn't affect liquids in a creature's body.
Draconic Frenzy
The dragon makes two claw Strikes and one horns Strike in any order.
Draconic Momentum
The dragon recharges its Breath Weapon whenever it scores a critical hit with a Strike.
Black Dragon Spellcasters
Black dragon spellcasters tend to cast the following spells.
Young Black Dragon
Arcane Prepared Spells
DC 25, attack +18;
3rd
slow
,
stinking cloud
;
2nd
blur
,
glitterdust
,
invisibility
;
1st
alarm
,
ray of enfeeblement
,
true strike
;
Cantrips (3rd)
dancing lights
,
detect magic
,
prestidigitation
,
read aura
,
tanglefoot
Adult Black Dragon
Arcane Prepared Spells
DC 30, attack +24; As young black dragon, plus
5th
black tentacles
,
mariner’s curse
;
4th
clairvoyance
,
dimension door
,
suggestion
;
3rd
paralyze
;
Cantrips (5th)
dancing lights
,
detect magic
,
prestidigitation
,
read aura
,
tanglefoot
All Monsters in "
Dragon, Black
"
Name
Level
Adult Black Dragon
11
Ancient Black Dragon
16
Young Black Dragon
7
Dragon, Black
Source
Bestiary pg. 104
Murderous tyrants of marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens, black dragons terrorize their domains with intense fervor. Gleefully sadistic, they rule their fetid principalities from a deep cave or otherwise isolated part of the swamp with a mix of lightning-quick raids and subterfuge. Their hatred for other creatures is as acidic as their breath weapons, and they rarely tolerate even other dragons of their kind—except perhaps to mate or temporarily collaborate to take down a mutual enemy.
Black dragons are amphibious—although they breathe air, their gills also allow them to breathe water. Their frills and fins make them accomplished swimmers, well suited to their wetland environments and submerged lairs. They're immune to the fetid water that comes as a result of their magical ability to corrupt water.
Black dragon lairs are as foul as their souls. The floors are littered with rotting meat, and plundered treasures line the muck and slime of their dank caves amid twisted roots and creepers. Such places are often crawling with pests, snakes, and slimes. Though they claim natural caverns when they can, they make do with areas of dense, twisted vegetation within a swamp. Black dragon treasure hoards primarily consist of gems and expensive glass work, as valuables of softer substance can't survive the dragon's acidic presence.
Dragon, Chomatic
Related Groups
Dragon, Blue
,
Dragon, Green
,
Dragon, Red
,
Dragon, White
While there are many types of dragons, from the powerful planar dragons to the strange esoteric dragons, few dragon varieties are as well-known and as rightly feared as the chromatic dragons. Differentiated by the hue of their scales, each color of dragon unleashes its own flavor of murderous cruelty—be it by claw, tooth, or breath—and unlike most creatures, dragons only become more powerful as they age. Their lust for treasure, food, bloodshed, and control are legendary. Physically powerful with egos to match, these dragons are often morally depraved and act as criminal masterminds, vicious tyrants, or voracious raiders.
Shape-Changing Dragons
Some dragons can take humanoid form, allowing them to infiltrate settlements or influence others without revealing their true nature. They gain the following ability:
Change Shape
(
arcane
,
concentrate
,
polymorph
,
transmutation
) The dragon takes on the appearance of any Small or Medium humanoid. This doesn’t change its Speed or attack and damage bonuses with its Strikes, but might change the damage type its Strikes deal (typically to bludgeoning).
Chromatic Dragon Spellcasters
Each type of chromatic dragon features a sidebar on spellcasting dragons of that type. To make a chromatic dragon spellcaster, remove the dragon’s Draconic Frenzy and Draconic Momentum abilities, and give it the spells outlined in its sidebar. You can swap out any number of these with other arcane spells, provided you keep the same number of spells for each level. You might also want to increase the dragon’s Intelligence or Charisma modifier by 1 or 2 to reflect its mastery of magic.
Chromatic Dragons of Golarion
The chromatic dragons that dwell around the Inner Sea region are cruel and sinister monsters who inspire as much fear as reverence. These terrible beasts are no mere myth, however, but a very real threat to the people with whom they share their lands. Most dwell in the wild places of the world, and only the most brazen of them regularly meddle in mortal affairs. The dragons of Golarion believe that they are descended from two original beings, Apsu and Tiamat, and their rich mythology attempts to explain the origins of the age-old war between chromatic and metallic dragons.
Black dragons thrive in swampy wildernesses like the Mushfens in Varisia or the wrecked coastline now known as the Sodden Lands, while blue dragons prefer the sand-swept deserts of Thuvia and Osirion. Brutish green dragons roam the forests of the River Kingdoms in abundance and even the elven kingdom of Kyonin, particularly in the demon-tainted Tanglebriar. One of the most infamous red dragons, Aashaq, a wyrm priestess of the draconic god Dahak, makes her home among the isles of the Shackles, where she lords over her followers and leads raids throughout the Inner Sea region. White dragons, though they may be found in virtually any mountain range in Avistan, are perhaps most prevalent around the Crown of the World, where they threaten travelers caravaning across the Path of Aganhei.