Thunder Drake

Thunder Drake (CR 18)

Pure Evil - Large - Magical Beast

Lore:	Know (Arcana)
37		53
Basic DC		Full DC

Initiative

31

Perception:
41	+31
Passive	Active

Ambush:

10+

on a d20

Senses:

• Standard Senses
• Low-Light Vision
• Precise Hearing 60 ft.
• Keen Scent 60 ft.

Movement Types:

• Walk 60 ft.
• Vaulting 60 ft.
• Lesser Swim 60 ft.

Defense

AC

43

Man Def

43

Monster Health
747	373	34
Hit Points	Bloodied	Hit Dice

Saving Throws
Fort:	+21
Refl:	+16
Will:	+16

Strong Against:

• ER 34/Sonic (energy, common)

Weak Against:

Offense

Size:	Large
10 ft.		10 ft.
Space		Reach

To-Hit

+27

Man Off

+31

Action

0

Points

Standard Attack (Melee):

• 1x Thunderous Bite +27 (4d10+28/x2)
  as crushing (physical, common)

Full Attack (Melee):

• 1x Thunderous Bite +27 (4d10+28/x2)
  as crushing (physical, common)
• 2x Drake Claws +29 (4d6+11/x2)
  as slashing (physical, common)

Standard Attack (Ranged):

Full Attack (Ranged):

Siege Damage: Not siege capable

Statistics

24

STR

14

DEX

18

CON

6

INT

14

WIS

12

CHA

Skills:

• Perception: 31
• Sense Motive: 32
• Stealth: 30
• All other skills: 25 (no ranks)

Languages: None

Feats:

• Combat Reflexes (EFFECT: Monsters with this feat make up to 4 attacks of opportunity per round instead of one.)

Special Abilities

Intimidating Presence (Su, Aura) Automatic after movement

The first time any Thunder drake ends its move adjacent to an enemy, that enemy must make a Will save, DC 30 or gain the Trembling status condition. Creatures which fail this save may make a new save at the end of each of their turns to end it, at the same DC. Once a creature succeeds on this save, they may not be affected by this, or any other thunder drake's Intimidating Presence ability for 24 hours.

Thunderous Roar (Su) Standard Action

As a standard action, a Thunder Drake may emit a powerful Thunderous Roar. This affects a 6x6 square area adjacent to their space, and does 4d8+19 points of sonic (energy, common) damage to enemy creatures in that area. Targets may make a Fort save, versus DC 28, for half damage. In addition, this load roar is very likely to alert allies of the Thunder Drakes that they are in a fight. All creatures within 1500 feet of the Thunder Drake gain a +10 on perception checks to notice the drake is in a combat, and those within 150 feet do not take range penalties on the check.

Pack Ferocity (Ex) Automatic

Any time a Thunder Drake is within 2 squares of a creature it considers an ally, the Thunder Drake adds 34 points of precision damage to whatever attack it is using. This adds damage to their Bite, Claw, Thunderous Roar, and Tearing Shriek attacks, and inflicts the same damage type as the attack it is augmenting (as precision damage). This ability cannot stack with itself, regardless of how many allies are nearby.

Tearing Shriek (Sp)

Concentration: 1d20 + 21 vs. a DC of 33 (12 needed on the die) As a standard action, the Thunder Drake can make a terrible shrieking whistle attack, dealing 4d8+19 points of sonic (energy, common) damage against targets inside a 15 foot radius (a 6x6x6 space) within 200 feet, as a ranged touch attack at 1d20 + 31 vs. AC (always hits on a 17+ on the die). Note that much like their smaller cousins, Guard Drakes, this ability is very loud, and all creatures within 1500 feet of the Thunder Drake gain a +10 on perception checks to notice the drake is in a combat, and those within 150 feet do not take range penalties on the check. Any creature damaged by this tearing shriek must also make a Fortitude save, DC 28, or be Blind to hearing-based senses (deafened) until the end of their next Full Night's Rest. Note that once deafened, victims are immune to any further status effects inflicted by any Tearing Shriek attacks (but not the damage). Because this is a spell-like ability, the drake must make a defensive casting Caster Check in order to cast it while in melee. Because this check is so hard, the drake will avoid using this ability while in melee if at all possible.

Thunder Drake

Drakes are reptilian beasts that compete in the wild against wolves, bears, and other modest predators. They are omnivores when required (although they prefer meat) and their slow, efficient metabolisms mean an amazing number of them can live in a given area.

Thunder Drakes are the largest and most dangerous sorts of common drakes. They are large, frightening creatures, liberally equipped with teeth and claws just like all drakes, but by far their most potent weapon is their terrible howling roar. Thunder Drakes are among the most dangerous natural predators you will find in most lands, assuming you discount the far more terrible Dragons.

Combat Tactics

Thunder Drakes are well aware of their Thunderous Roar and Tearing Shriek abilities, and will not hesitate to use them. They will usually stay clustered together so that as many of them as possible gain their Pack Ferocity bonus (which makes a pack of Shrieking Thunder Drakes extremely dangerous). They will close in using move actions, sending their Tearing Shrieks against distant foes, until they can get their enemies in their Thunderous Roar areas of effect, and from there on they will seek to 'joust' with opponents, continually using move actions to fall back, keeping the distance open to at least fifteen feet or so. They will use their prodigious Vaulting speed whenever they can (outdoors, for example) as this is a much safer way of moving around the battlefield.

If they are forced into melee combat, they will accept Attacks of Opportunity to use a move action to set up flanks. This also triggers their Intimidating presence aura, and hopefully the Trembling condition combined with the damage they have inflicted with their Thunderous Roars and Tearing Shrieks will leave their foes 'softened up' sufficiently for melee attacks to end the combat. Note that Tearing Shriek is a spell-like ability, and will require them to make a difficult check if attempted while threatened. In close quarters, they will almost always use Thunderous Roar instead of risking this roll.

If they find that they are having trouble hitting with melee attacks, or their foes are warded against their damage, they will not hesitate to use Thunderous Roar even in tight melee conditions, since the magical ability only affects their enemies.

Thunder Drakes are proud and ferocious creatures. Once combat is engaged, they will not seek to flee, they fight to the death.

Out of Combat

Thunder Drakes are extremely popular among certain clans of other monsters, not least because, much like Guard Drakes, Thunder Drakes make incomparable guards and watch beasts due to their loud and distinctive roars and whistles during combat. They serve as pets, trophies, riding beasts, attack beasts, and guard beasts. They are 'tamed' and raised by hobgoblins, gnolls, orcs, and various giant clans, such as stone giants and forest giants. But all these pale in comparison to how much the Lizardfolk adore their thunder drakes. Temple guardians, guard beasts, and pets are the preferred usage of Lizard folk for thunder drakes.

In the wild, thunder drakes are fairly common, although thankfully, they have a magical metabolism that means they feed rarely. They compete against owlbears, dire bears, hellhounds, dire tigers, and similar large, powerful beasts. Thunder Drakes are adaptable and can live anywhere from hot deserts to warm plains to temperate forests to tropical jungles. They prefer open terrain if possible, but adapt well to dense forest and even swamps. They can be found in flatlands, hills, and even quite rugged mountains, although they tend to stick to the valleys in such terrain.

Thunder Drakes prefer to make their own nests of sticks, vegetation, and found scraps. They will nest in glens and thickets, although they have been found nesting in ruins and dungeons as well. They have been found, rarely, even in abandoned and ruined places within cities, although such siting's have been, thankfully, rare so far.

Rewards

XP: 153,600

Treasure: Sellable Goods worth 67,889 gp.

Weight: 180 lbs.     Volume: 7.2 cu. ft.

Optional Treasure Rules: Roll a d20 on Table 1 below once per encounter (NOT per creature). Any items discovered are in addition to the normal treasure for the encounter.

Table 1: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 10	Nothing Found
11 - 14	1 Languid Remnant (tier 1)
15 - 17	1 Pale Remnant (tier 2)
18 - 19	1 Bright Remnant (tier 3)
20	Roll on Table 2
###	Nothing to see here!
###	Or here. Move along.

Table 2: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 5	3 Languid Remnants (tier 1)
6 - 10	3 Pale Remnants (tier 2)
11 - 14	1 Intense Remnant (tier 4)
15 - 17	1 Blazing Remnant (tier 5)
18 - 19	1 Vital Remnant (tier 6)
20	Roll on Table 3
###	Or here. Move along.

Table 3: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 5	3 Bright Remnants (tier 3)
6 - 8	3 Intense Remnants (tier 4)
9 - 11	3 Blazing Remnants (tier 5)
12 - 14	3 Vital Remnants (tier 6)
15 - 17	1 Prime Remnant (tier 7)
18 - 19	1 Mythic Remnant (tier 8)
20	1 Empyrean Remnant (tier 9)