Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2009 0:39:46 GMT -5
Lung Dragon
Lung dragons (left to right): Tu lung, chiang lung, li lung, lung wang
Lung dragons: Pan lung (top), shen lung, ti'ien lung, tun mi lung (left to right)
Lung dragons are winged, reptilelike creatures of ancient lineage. They are known and feared for their size, physical prowess, and magical abilities. The oldest dragons are among the most powerful creatures in the world.
Known varieties of lung dragons include the following eight species: chiang lung (river dragon), li lung (earth dragon), lung wang (sea dragon), pan lung (coiled dragon), shen lung (spirit dragon), t’ien lung (celestial dragon), tun mi lung (typhoon dragon), and yu lung (carp dragon). Unlike their chromatic and metallic cousins, lung dragons are not sharply divided by alignment. Most lung dragons are wise and many are benevolent, though some are as corrupt and evil as the worst of the chromatic dragons.
All lung dragons gain more abilities and greater power as they age. They range in length from several feet upon hatching to more than 100 feet after attaining the status of great wyrm. The exact size varies according to age and variety.
Lung dragons primarily subsist on mineral fare, from ordinary stone to precious gems. Some varieties have a taste for certain living creatures, however—primarily fish or sheep.
All lung dragons have the spirit subtype, and most are officials of the Celestial Bureaucracy, a governing body of powerful spirits. Each variety has its own role and task to perform. Chiang lungs, for example, are charged with guarding rivers and lakes and dispensing rain, while t’ien lungs have broader control over weather.
All lung dragons speak Draconic and the Spirit Tongue.
Combat
A dragon attacks with its powerful claws and bite. Certain varieties of lung dragon can also use a breath weapon and special physical attacks, depending on their size. Dragons prefer to fight in the air (except for yu lungs and lung wangs, which cannot fly), staying out of reach until they have worn down the enemy with ranged attacks. Older, more intelligent dragons are adept at sizing up the opposition and eliminating the most dangerous foes first (or avoiding them while picking off weaker enemies).
Bite: Bite attacks deal the listed damage plus the dragon’s Strength bonus. The dragon also can use its bite to snatch opponents (see the descriptions of feats below). Bite attacks use the full attack bonus.
Claw: Claw attacks deal the listed damage plus half the dragon’s Strength bonus (round down). Dragons (except for lung wangs) also can use their claws to snatch opponents (see the descriptions of feats below). Claw attacks are at –5 to the attack bonus.
Wing: A li lung can slam opponents with its wings, even when flying. Wing attacks deal the listed damage plus half the dragon’s Strength bonus (round down) and are at –5 to the attack bonus.
Tail Slap: The dragon can slap one opponent each round with its tail. A tail slap deals the listed damage plus 1 1/2 times the dragon’s Strength bonus (round down) and is at –5 to the attack bonus.
Crush: A flying or jumping dragon of at least Huge size can land on opponents as a standard action, using its whole body to crush them. Crush attacks are effective only against opponents three or more sizes smaller than the dragon (though it can attempt normal overrun or grapple attacks against larger opponents).
A crush attack affects as many creatures as can fit under the dragon’s body (see the Dragon Face and Reach table above). Creatures in the affected area must succeed at a Reflex save against a DC equal to that of the dragon’s breath weapon or be pinned, automatically taking bludgeoning damage during the next round unless the dragon moves off them. If the dragon chooses to maintain the pin, treat it as a normal grapple attack. Pinned opponents take crush damage each round if they don’t escape. A crush attack deals the listed damage plus 1 1/2 times the dragon’s Strength bonus (round down).
Tail Sweep: A dragon of at least Gargantuan size can sweep with its tail as a standard action. The sweep affects a half circle with a diameter of 30 feet, centered on the dragon’s rear. A Colossal dragon’s tail sweep has a 40-foot radius. Creatures within the swept area are affected if they are four or more sizes smaller than the dragon. The sweep automatically deals the listed damage plus 1 1/2 times the dragon’s Strength bonus (round down). Affected creatures can attempt Reflex saves to take half damage, against a DC equal to that of the dragon’s breath weapon.
Grappling: Dragons do not favor grapple attacks, though their crush attack and Snatch feat (see the descriptions of feats) use normal grapple rules.
If grappled by a creature the same size or larger, a dragon can return the attack with its bite and all four legs (the rear legs deal claw damage). If snatched or crushed by a larger dragon, a dragon can respond only with grapple attacks to try winning free, or with bite or breath weapon attacks. If grappled by a creature smaller than itself, the dragon can respond with any of its physical attacks other than a tail sweep.
The dragon can always use its breath weapon while grappling, as well as its spells and spell-like or supernatural abilities, provided it succeeds at Concentration checks.
Breath Weapon (Su): Most lung dragons do not have breath weapons, instead possessing a variety of spell-like abilities.
Dragons that do have breath weapons (the t’ien lungs and the lung wangs) use it as a standard action. Once a dragon breathes, it can’t breathe again until 1d4 rounds later. A blast from a breath weapon always starts at the dragon’s mouth and extends in a direction of the dragon’s choice, with an area as noted below. If the breath weapon deals damage, creatures caught in the area can attempt Reflex saves to take half damage; the DC depends on the dragon’s age and type, listed in the individual entry. A lung dragon’s breath weapon is a cone whose length varies with the dragon’s size.
On a failure, creatures with 4 or fewer HD become panicked for 4d6 rounds and those with 5 or more HD become shaken for 4d6 rounds. Dragons ignore the frightful presence of other dragons.
Spell-Like Abilities: A dragon’s spell-like abilities depend on its age and variety. It gains the abilities listed for its age plus all previous ones, using its age category or its sorcerer caster level, whichever is higher, as the caster level. The save DC is 10 + dragon’s Charisma modifier + spell level. All spell-like abilities are usable once per day unless otherwise specified.
Immunities (Ex): All dragons are immune to sleep and paralysis effects. Some varieties of lung dragon are immune to additional forms of attack, as given in their descriptions.
Spell Resistance (Ex): As dragons age, they become more resistant to spells and spell-like abilities, as given in the variety descriptions.
Blindsight (Ex): A dragon can ascertain creatures by nonvisual means (mostly hearing and scent, but also by noticing vibration and other environmental clues) with a range of 30 feet × the dragon’s age category.
Keen Senses (Ex): A dragon sees four times as well a human in low-light conditions and twice as well in normal light. It also has darkvision with a range of 100 feet × the dragon’s age category.
Detect Thoughts (Su): Lung dragons can use this ability, as the spell of the same name, continuously, with a range equal to 5 feet × the dragon’s age category.
Invisibility (Su): Lung dragons can become invisible or visible at will. As with the invisibility spell, making any attack causes the dragon to become visible.
Alternate Form (Su): Lung dragons can assume any humanoid form of Small to Large size as a standard action. This ability is similar to the polymorph self spell but allows only humanoid forms. When using this ability, dragons gain a +10 circumstance bonus on Disguise checks.
Plane Shift (Sp): All lung dragons can move between the Spirit World and the Material Plane as often as they desire. Shifting planes is a standard action.
Skills: All dragons start with 6 skill points per Hit Die, plus bonus points equal to Intelligence modifier × HD, and purchase the following skills at 1 rank per Hit Die: Listen, Spot, and Search. The remaining skill points are generally spent on Bluff, Concentration, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Knowledge (any), and Scry at a cost of 1 skill point per rank. Dragons cannot purchase skills that are exclusive to a class.
Dragons that can cast spells have the Spellcraft skill for free at 1 rank per Hit Die, provided they have an Intelligence bonus of at least +1 (Intelligence score 12+).
Feats: All dragons have one feat, plus an additional feat per 4 HD. Dragons favor Alertness, Cleave (claw or tail slap attacks only), Improved Initiative, , Sunder, Weapon Focus (claw or bite), and any metamagic feat that is available and useful to sorcerers. Dragons can also choose from the dragon-specific feats described in the Dragon entry in the Monster Manual: Flyby Attack, Hover, Quicken Spell-Like Ability, Snatch, and Wingover.
For information about dragon overland movement, dragon society, and dragonhide armor, consult the Dragon entry in the Monster Manual.
Source: Oriental Adventures