Lung Dragons

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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

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Yu Lung (Carp Dragon)

Dragon (Spirit, Water)
Climate/Terrain: Warm land and underground
Organization: Solitary or clutch (2–5)
Challenge Rating: Wyrmling 2; very young 4; young 6
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement: Wyrmling 7–8 HD (Tiny); very young 10–11 HD (Small); young 13–14 HD (Medium-size).

Yu lungs are the infant form of all lung dragons. Much like tadpoles transform into adult frogs, yu lungs mature into true lung dragons. In contrast to a tadpole’s gradual metamorphosis, however, a yu lung’s transformation occurs instantaneously, accompanied by a loud crack of thunder, as soon as the young dragon reaches the juvenile age category. Yu lungs are reclusive and shy, by far the most docile of the lung dragons.

A yu lung has a large-mouthed reptilian head, front claws, and the body and tail of a giant carp. Its scales are blue-gray with markings of various colors, and their eyes are bright yellow. A long, wispy beard dangles from its chin. Yu lungs live in freshwater rivers and lakes. They make their lairs in small mansions of mud and stone located in the murkiest waters of their abodes. Though neat and well built, these mansions are crude by lung dragon standards. They are also relatively barren, since yu lungs do not collect treasure.

Yu lungs speak Common, Aquan, Draconic, and the Spirit Tongue.

Yu lungs are scavengers, eating the organic and inorganic matter they dig from the ooze at the bottom of their lake or river. Yu lungs occasionally befriend humans, and these friendships are notable for their longevity. A yu lung’s bond with a human persists even after its transformation into another species of dragon, assuming the human lives that long.

Combat

The timid yu lungs shun combat. If provoked or threatened, they fight back with tooth and claw, and rarely pursue fleeing opponents.

Inferior Dragon Abilities: Yu lungs lack the standard lung dragon abilities of invisibility and alternate form.

Water Breathing (Ex): Yu lungs breathe water. They are able to exist on land for only 1 hour before they begin to suffocate (see Suffocation in Chapter 3 of the DUNGEON MASTER’s Guide.)

Source: Oriental Adventures

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Chiang Lung (River Dragon)

Dragon (Spirit, Water)
Climate/Terrain: Warm aquatic
Organization: Juvenile and young adult: solitary or clutch (2–5); adult, mature adult, old, very old, ancient, wyrm, or great wyrm: solitary, pair, family (1–2 and 2–5 offspring), or court (1 plus 1–8 Medium-size nature spirits and 1–6 shen lungs of adult age or older, but always younger than the chiang lung)
Challenge Rating: Juvenile 9; young adult 12; adult 14; mature adult 17; old 19; very old 20; ancient 22; wyrm 23; great wyrm 25
Treasure: Double standard
Alignment: Usually lawful neutral
Advancement: Juvenile 17–18 HD (Large); young adult 20–21 HD (Huge); adult 23–24 HD (Huge); mature adult 26–27 HD (Huge); old 29–30 HD (Gargantuan); very old 32–33 HD (Gargantuan); ancient 25–36 HD (Gargantuan); wyrm 38–39 HD (Gargantuan); great wyrm 41+ HD (Colossal)

A chiang lung lives in each river and lake in certain lands. Chiang lungs are spirits of rain and water, patrons of the arts and scholarship, and among the most honorable and noble of spirits. They are frequently encountered in human form, often attended by lesser nature spirits (also in human form) or shen lungs.

In its natural form, a chiang lung has a long, serpentine body with four short legs and webbed feet. Its scales are various shades of scintillating blue and green, shifting to brilliant yellow on the belly. It boasts a multicolored beard and a pair of long, white horns.

Chiang lungs dwell in magical palaces located in the Spirit World beneath the waters they protect. Regardless of the size of the river or lake, the palace is always opulent and immense. Unless freely given by the chiang lung, items taken from the palace become worthless upon reaching the surface. Chiang lungs sometimes entertain virtuous scholars and artists on lavishly decorated boats, posing as wealthy nobles or government officials.

Young chiang lungs are often attracted to humans, occasionally resulting in secret love affairs and marriages. Such liaisons usually end sadly, often with the death of the human. Children born of such marriages are river spirit folk.

Chiang lungs can eat any type of mineral or gem, but they also have a taste for fish and sheep.

Combat

Chiang lungs prefer to avoid combat, but they fight fiercely to protect their domains. Since they spend so much time in human form, they are usually well equipped, fighting with magic weapons and using a variety of magic items.

Fly (Su): Though wingless, chiang lungs can fly magically due to a magic blue pearl embedded in their brains. If removed from the dragon, this pearl loses its magic but is still worth 1,000 gp. The dragon can cease or resume flight as a free action.

Water Breathing (Ex): Chiang lungs can breathe underwater indefinitely and can freely use all their abilities when submerged. Any creature in physical contact with a chiang lung can also breathe and move underwater as if affected by the spells water breathing and freedom of movement.

Cause Rain (Su): A chiang lung can breathe storm clouds, causing rain whenever and wherever it chooses. The rain lasts for 2d4 hours and extends in a two-mile radius centered on the dragon.

Control Water (Sp): A chiang lung can use this spell-like ability to affect a radius of up to one mile per age category.

Tsunami (Su): Once per day, but only when commanded by the officials of the Celestial Bureaucracy, a chiang lung can create a tidal wave of water that causes tremendous devastation on land and sea. On land, the wave has effects similar to a flash flood: Creatures caught in the water must make a Fortitude save (DC 15). Large or smaller creatures who fail the save are swept away, taking 1d6 points of subdual damage per round (1d3 points on a successful Swim check against DC 20). Huge creatures that fail are knocked down, while Gargantuan and Colossal creatures are checked. (See Weather Hazards in the DUNGEON MASTER’s Guide.) The wave destroys wooden buildings and 25% of stone buildings. At sea, the tsunami capsizes ships and crushes them to splinters. The wave affects one mile of coastland.

Other Spell-Like Abilities: At will—augury, bane, bless, control weather, control winds, dispel evil, divination, master of the rolling river*, remove curse; 3/day—polymorph self; 1/day—major creation.

Source: Oriental Adventures

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Li Lung (Earth Dragon)

Dragon (Earth, Spirit)
Climate/Terrain: Warm land and underground
Organization: Juvenile and young adult: solitary or clutch (2–5); adult, mature adult, old, very old, ancient, wyrm, or great wyrm: solitary, pair, or family (1–2 and 2–5 offspring)
Challenge Rating: Juvenile 8; young adult 10; adult 13; mature adult 15; old 18; very old 19; ancient 21; wyrm 22; great wyrm 24
Treasure: Double standard
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement: Juvenile 15–16 HD (Large); young adult 18–19 HD (Huge); adult 21–22 HD (Huge); mature adult 24–25 HD (Huge); old 27–28 HD (Gargantuan); very old 30–31 HD (Gargantuan); ancient 33–34 HD (Gargantuan); wyrm 36–37 HD (Gargantuan); great wyrm 39+ HD (Colossal)

Li lungs are spirits of the deep earth, masters of the earthquake and punishers of the wicked. On occasion they are commanded to reward needy communities by revealing treasure mines or underground springs, but most often they lurk in their subterranean lairs, the farther from civilization the better.

A li lung has the body and tail of a lion with a humanlike face. Colorful quills like the tail feathers of a peacock adorn its wings (li lungs are the only lung dragons with wings), and its eyes look like molten gold with small black pupils in their midst. When it first transforms from a yu lung, a li lung has light green scales, but as the creature grows, the scales darken and dark fur emerges from between them to form a thick, wiry coat. A great wyrm is nearly black in color.

Li lungs make their lairs in deep caverns, avoiding contact with other beings. They seldom leave these lairs unless the Celestial Bureaucracy sends them on missions. Earth dragons rarely interact with other dragons, cooperating with them only when ordered to do so. They speak Common, Draconic, and Terran.

Li lungs mainly subsist on earth and stone, though they are fond of eating gold, silver, and other precious metals.

Combat

Li lungs prefer to avoid combat, hiding in shadows or under rubble if their lairs are intruded upon. If cornered or attacked, a li lung’s first tactic is to use its earthquake ability in an attempt to bury its opponents. If this fails, the li lung is a vicious opponent in melee, able to attack with its wings as it gets larger.

Earthquake Immunity (Su): Li lungs are never harmed by an earthquake, whether its origin is natural or magical. If an earthquake collapses a cavern around a li lung, it is merely inconvenienced by having to dig its way out—it suffers no damage from the falling stone.

Earthquake (Su): Once per day, a li lung can create an earthquake in an area with a radius equal to 15 feet times the dragon’s age level. In other respects, this ability duplicates the spell as cast by a sorcerer of a level equal to twice the li lung’s age level.

Roar (Ex): While engaged in melee combat, a li lung roars continually. This sound, like the scraping of metal against stone, is so loud that creatures within 60 feet of the dragon cannot hear any other sound, even their own voices. For all practical purposes, the creatures are considered deafened while the dragon continues to roar. In addition to the obvious effects, a deafened creature has a 20% chance to miscast and lose any spell with a verbal (V) component that he tries to cast.

Tunneling (Ex): Li lungs can burrow through solid stone at a speed of 5 feet.

Other Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day—move earth, stone shape, wall of stone; 1/day—disintegrate, flesh to stone.

Skills: Li lungs larger than Medium-size receive a racial bonus on Hide checks sufficient to negate their size penalty (+4 at young adult and adult age, +8 at mature adult to ancient, and +12 at wyrm and older).

Source: Oriental Adventures

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Lung Wang (Sea Dragon)

Dragon (Spirit, Water)
Climate/Terrain: Temperate and warm aquatic
Organization: Juvenile and young adult: solitary or clutch (2–5); adult, mature adult, old, very old, ancient, wyrm, or great wyrm: solitary, pair, or family (1–2 and 2–5 offspring)
Challenge Rating: Juvenile 10; young adult 13; adult 15; mature adult 18; old 20; very old 21; ancient 23; wyrm 24; great wyrm 26
Treasure: Double standard
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement: Juvenile 18–19 HD (Large); young adult 21–22 HD (Large); adult 24–25 HD (Huge); mature adult 27–28 HD (Huge); old 30–31 HD (Huge); very old 33–34 HD (Gargantuan); ancient 36–37 HD (Gargantuan); wyrm 39–40 HD (Gargantuan); great wyrm 42+ HD (Colossal)

Lung wangs are the rulers of the sea, mighty relatives of the dragon turtle that demand tribute from passing ships. They are protectors and allies of ocean creatures such as sharks, whales, hai nu (locathah), and ningyo (merfolk).

A lung wang has the body of a turtle, its shell composed of thick green scales with silver flecks. Its body is covered with smaller, lighter green scales with golden flecks. Its head is lizardlike, with large eyes, long, golden whiskers, and small black horns. A crest runs from the crown of its head down its neck. Its hind legs are stumpy flippers, but its long front flippers are powerful for both swimming and combat.

Lung wangs rarely remain in one place for long, gliding through the deep ocean waters like sharks, and shifting frequently between the Spirit World and the Material Plane. They keep their treasure, acquired from the tribute of passing ships, in caches secreted throughout their territory. Lung wangs speak Common, Draconic, and Aquan.

Sea dragons, unlike other lung dragons, are basically herbivorous, subsisting primarily on algae and seaweed. They supplement this diet with fish and minerals, and have been known to consume entire ships.

Combat

Though unable to fly and physically unable to attack with tail slaps or wing buffets, lung wangs are nevertheless awesome opponents, especially to ships. They typically capsize a ship first, protecting itself from ship-mounted catapults and ballistae while making the crew more accessible to attack.

Breath Weapon (Su): A lung wang has one type of breath weapon, a cone of steam (treat as fire damage). This breath weapon is effective both on the surface and underwater.

Water Breathing (Ex): Lung wangs can breathe air or water freely.

Scaly Command (Su): A lung wang can use this ability three times per day. It operates as a mass charm spell that works only on scaled animals (reptiles and fish). The lung wang’s caster level is its HD. The dragon can communicate with any charmed animal as though casting a speak with animals spell.

Fire Immunity (Ex): Lung wangs are immune to heat and fire attacks.

Capsize (Ex): A submerged lung wang of young adult age or older that surfaces under a boat or ship less than 20 feet long capsizes the vessel 95% of the time. It has a 50% chance to capsize a vessel from 20 to 60 feet long and a 20% chance to capsize one over 60 feet long. Very old and older lung wangs have a 100% chance to capsize boats under 20 feet long, a 75% chance to capsize a vessel from 20 to 60 feet long, and a 50% chance to capsize one over 60 feet long.

Fog Cloud (Sp): Once per day, a lung wang of at least adult age can create a fog cloud with a radius of 50 feet per age category of the dragon.

Other Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day—obscuring mist, solid fog; 1/day—horrid wilting, suggestion.

Source: Oriental Adventures