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Cairn Linnorm
Cairn linnorms are disturbing, even by linnorm standards. They make their homes in necropolises, burial grounds, and the sites of immense and gory battles. Some point out that cairn linnorms feast on shambling undead and thus provide a service to the living, but these beasts are not choosy and will happily consume any creature, whether or not it draws breath.
Some tales state that cairn linnorms will not—or cannot—enter a tomb without the permission of a descendant of the deceased (or the permission of the deceased itself, in the instance that it has risen from the dead). Likewise, once a cairn linnorm has entered a tomb, it won't leave until it has secured permission to do so. Whether such legends are true or not is anyone's guess; nevertheless, reports of a cairn linnorm in the vicinity are harrowing enough to dissuade even the most foolhardy grave robber from peeking into too many crypts or mausoleums.
Recall Knowledge - Dragon
(
Arcana
)
: DC 40
Cairn Linnorm
Creature 18
Uncommon
CE
Gargantuan
Dragon
Source
Bestiary 2 pg. 166
2.0
Perception
+30;
darkvision
,
scent (imprecise) 60 feet
,
true seeing
Languages
Aklo
,
Draconic
,
Sylvan
Skills
Acrobatics
+32,
Athletics
+35
Str
+9,
Dex
+6,
Con
+8,
Int
-2,
Wis
+6,
Cha
+7
AC
43;
Fort
+34,
Ref
+30,
Will
+26; +1 status to all saves vs. magic
HP
360, regeneration 15 (deactivated by cold iron);
Immunities
acid,
curse
,
paralyzed
,
sleep
;
Weaknesses
cold iron 15
Curse of the Crooked Cane
(
curse
,
primal
) When a creature slays a cairn linnorm, it must succeed at a DC 44 Will save or become permanently
enfeebled 2
. In addition, the victim ages at an accelerated rate, aging 1 year every day, eventually causing it to die of old age if the curse is left untended.
Attack of Opportunity
Tail only.
Speed
35 feet, climb 40 feet, fly 100 feet, swim 40 feet;
freedom of movement
Melee
jaws +35 [
+30/+25
] (
magical
,
reach 25 feet
),
Damage
3d12+17 piercing plus cairn linnorm venom
Melee
claw +35 [
+31/+27
] (
agile
,
magical
,
reach 25 feet
),
Damage
3d8+17 slashing
Melee
tail +35 [
+31/+27
] (
agile
,
magical
,
reach 25 feet
),
Damage
3d10+17 bludgeoning plus
Improved Grab
Primal Innate Spells
DC 40;
Constant
(8th)
freedom of movement
;
(7th)
true seeing
Breath Weapon
(
acid
,
evocation
,
primal
) The cairn linnorm expels a 60-foot cone of negative energy–infused acid, dealing 19d6 acid damage to creatures in the area (DC 40 basic Reflex save). The acid also saps the life out of affected creatures. At the beginning of the linnorm's next turn, each creature that failed the Reflex save must succeed at a DC 40 Fortitude save or become
drained 1
(drained 2 on a critical failure). The cairn linnorm can't use Breath Weapon again for 1d4 rounds.
Cairn Linnorm Venom
(
acid
,
poison
)
Saving Throw
DC 41 Fortitude;
Maximum Duration
10 rounds;
Stage 1
6d6 acid damage and
drained 1
(1 round);
Stage 2
8d6 acid damage and drained 2 (1 round)
All Monsters in "
Linnorm
"
Name
Level
Cairn Linnorm
18
Crag Linnorm
14
Fjord Linnorm
16
Ice Linnorm
17
Shoal Linnorm
15
Taiga Linnorm
19
Tarn Linnorm
20
Tor Linnorm
21
Linnorm
Source
Bestiary pg. 224
Immense, primeval dragons of the northern reaches of the world, linnorms hate those they deem to be lesser creatures and seek to inflict as much suffering as possible upon their unfortunate victims. While these serpentine monstrosities might not be the powerful winged dragons most imagine, they nonetheless possess incredible strength and deadly powers that often rival authentic dragon brutality.
Death Curses
The death curses of the linnorms are often the subjects of tragic sagas, and those who would think themselves vanquishing heroes for slaying a linnorm often meet their dooms soon thereafter, succumbing to these curses well after the death of the linnorm responsible for bestowing it.
First World Connections
Linnorms have a deep connection to the
First World
, the primordial home of the fey. While linnorms typically won't think twice before devouring a
gnome
or other
fey
, they do have an unusual respect for wielders of powerful primal magic. The only way to cow a linnorm, according to common wisdom, is to remind it that there are forces of nature even stronger than itself.
Linnorm Kings
In the storied Lands of the Linnorm Kings, the slaying of a linnorm is traditionally required for those who would claim a nation’s crown. Recently, though, the Linnorm King White Estrid claimed her crown not by slaying a linnorm but by beating it into submission, gaining a powerful and dangerous ally to help secure her rule.
Linnorm Legends
Creatures as powerful as linnorms tend to spawn stories of their own, accurate or not. Critical failure on a check to
Recall Knowledge
on linnorms might suggest that you can avoid a linnorm's death curse by closing your eyes as you deliver the fatal blow, or that rubbing poison oak on yourself can ward off a linnorm's attention.
Linnorm Treasure
As with true dragons, linnorms tend to amass immense piles of treasure in their lairs. These hoards consist of the weapons, gear, and belongings of would-be vanquishers more often than minted coins or works of art.
Newborn Linnorms
Almost all linnorms lead solitary lives; they are too reprehensible for even their own kind to tolerate for any length of time. Most species do not even meet to reproduce; rather, female linnorms usually deposit a solitary egg in a remote location, which a wandering male linnorm then fertilizes and places in a nook suitable for incubation. Newborn linnorms range in size from that of adult crocodiles to full-grown bulls, and their growth is rapid. Even a juvenile linnorm is strong enough to wreak havoc on a small settlement— though most don't dare to commit such audacious pillaging, for fear of evoking the anger of another, larger linnorm in the area.
Other Linnorms
Linnorms exist in a variety of forms beyond the four detailed here. The gaunt cairn linnorm, the spiny taiga linnorm, and the aquatic fjord linnorm each terrorize their own specific regions of the Material Plane.
Rarer Linnorms
While the linnorms presented here and in the first
Bestiary
constitute the majority of these creatures, others exist, particularly in the remote regions of the
First World
. It may be that these rare linnorms simply find the
Material Plane
too constraining for their might!