Dragon Shadow
Dragon Shadow (CR 12)
| Pure Evil - Huge - Dragon |
|---|
| Lore: | Know (Arcana) | ||
| 27 | 44 | ||
| Basic DC | Full DC | ||
| Initiative |
19 |
| Perception: | |
| 29 | +19 |
| Passive | Active |
| Ambush: |
| 10+ |
| on a d20 |
Senses:
- Standard Senses
- Blindsense 60 ft.
Movement Types:
- Greater Flight 30 ft.
Defense
| AC |
32 |
| Man Def |
|
31 |
| Monster Health | ||
| 289 | 144 | 22 |
| Hit Points | Bloodied | Hit Dice |
| Saving Throws | |
| Fort: | +9 |
| Refl: | +9 |
| Will: | +14 |
Strong Against:
Offense
| Size: | Huge | ||
| 15 ft. | 15 ft. | ||
| Space | Reach | ||
| To-Hit |
+19 
|
| Man Off |
+19
|
| Action |
| 0 |
| Points |
Standard Attack (Melee):
- 1x Darkswarm +19 (3d8+9/19-20 x2)
as negative (energy, uncommon)
Full Attack (Melee):
- 3x Darkswarm +19 (3d8+13/19-20 x2)
as negative (energy, uncommon)
Standard Attack (Ranged):
Full Attack (Ranged):
Siege Damage: Not siege capable
Statistics
| 1 |
| STR |
| 20 |
| DEX |
| 10 |
| CON |
| 17 |
| INT |
| 15 |
| WIS |
| 16 |
| CHA |
Skills:
- Perception: 19
- Stealth: 23
- All other skills: 14 (no ranks)
Languages: Draconic, Fuligin, Common
Special Abilities
| Art of Darkness (Su) Always On, Special |
|
If targeted by (or included in) a Negative Energy (energy, uncommon) attack from a black dragon, Dragon Shadows are not harmed (they are immune to negative energy). Instead, until the end of their next turn, they gain a negative energy damage bonus to their Darkswarm attack damage equal to the CR of the dragon which subjected them to negative energy. This damage is added to their normal damage for purposes of overcoming Energy Resistance. Negative energy from any source other than a black dragon does not trigger this ability. |
Dragon Shadow
Dragon Shadows are the Henchmen for Black Dragons, but they may be encountered on their own as well. Regardless of how you meet them, they are potent and dangerous foes. They are often encountered in large numbers, as Black Dragons 'collect' them as trophies, status symbols, playthings, and servants.
Dragon Shadows are the partially vanquished shadow-forms of black dragons. These miasmic terrors will eventually re-form into their corporeal bodies, becoming full black dragons again, given 10 or 15 years to recover from whatever event pushed them to this state. Since they are frequently encountered in numbers, they are frequently troops, with all the hazards and terrors of that state.
Frequently, Dragon Shadows will be found in the company of a black dragon. These are typically the siblings of the dragon, or other nearby rivals, that the surviving black dragon has beaten nearly to death, and now keeps around as testaments to its power and mercy. The dragon will sometimes use rituals to mentally enslave the Dragon Shadows, binding them into service even after they reform into full dragons. Other times, the dragon will simply kill the reformed dragons as soon as they re-form.
Dragon Shadows are powerful adversaries, even without a dragon's assistance. They are clouds of negative energy with a powerful intelligence driving them.
Combat Tactics
Dragon Shadows need to be adjacent to (or if organized as a troop) in the same space, engulfing a target, to do anything to that target. They are intelligent and cruel, but also arrogant and overconfident, so they will not run away from a fight. They will, however, make use of their environment, triggering any lair defenses they might have, or manipulating prey into chasing it to a better locale to fight.
If there is a black dragon about, the Dragon Shadows will target the most heavily armored characters and ignore the unarmored types. If they are in troop form, and there is no dragon about, they will spread their attacks out, maximizing their madness effect, but trying to keep everyone enveloped. If they have any other role and there is no dragon to aid them, they will attack intelligently, using their flight to maneuver above their foes if possible, and they will retreat from losing battles without hesitation, usually to go report to a black dragon they owe fealty to.
Note that multiple troops can move into, stop and occupy spaces that other troops occupy. However, no more than two troops can inflict damage or effects on a single target in a given round.
Out of Combat
Dragon Shadows are the remains of Black Dragons, and if they manage to slip away from the control of a Black Dragon, they are always working to get back to that exalted draconic state. No one knows exactly what condenses a Dragon Shadow back into a Dragon, but they are always striving toward that goal.
Rewards
XP: 19,200
Treasure: Sellable Goods worth 25,750 gp. ( role included.)
- Weight: 120 lbs. Volume: 4.8 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) |