Yellow Dragon
Climate/Terrain:
| Desert
|
|
Frequency:
| Very rare
|
Organization:
| Solitary
|
Activity Cycle:
| Any
|
Diet:
| Omnivore
|
Intelligence:
| Very (11-12)
|
Treasure:
| See below
|
Alignment:
| Chaotic evil
|
No. Appearing:
| 1 (1-4)
|
Armor Class:
| 0 (base)
|
Movement:
| 12, Fl 30 (C)
|
Hit Dice:
| 13 (base)
|
THAC0:
| 7 (base)
|
No. of Attacks:
| 3+special
|
Damage/Attack:
| 1-8/1-8/2-16
|
Special Attacks:
| See below
|
Special Defenses:
| Variable
|
Magic Resistance:
| See below
|
Size:
| G (36' base)
|
Morale:
| Champion (15-16)
|
XP Value:
| Variable
|
Although the existence of yellow dragons has long been predicted by sages
(based on theories of primary colors), the first specimen was spotted only five or
so years ago. The creatures are solitary and secretive, preferring to lay in
wait for prey to stumble into carefully-prepared traps instead of hunting
actively.
At birth, yellows have soft, tan scales. As they grow older, the scales harden
and become lighter in color, eventually reaching the grayish yellow of desert
sands. Their scales always have a dusty texture to them, giving them a finish
that does not reflect light well. Even their teeth and claws have a similar
finish. No part of the yellow dragon will glint in the sunlight, thereby giving
away its position.
Yellow dragons speak their own tongue, which is quite different than that
spoken by other evil dragons. Yellows have no interest in speaking with other
races, and so they learn no other languages.
Combat: Although preferring guile to combat and ambush to attack, yellows are fierce
and cunning fighters. Even if forced into a situation where direct combat is
inevitable, they'll still use their spells and innate abilities so as to mislead,
misdirect, and distract their opponents.
A favorite hunting tactic for a yellow is to dig a steep-walled, cone-shaped
depression in the sand, and then bury itself at the bottom of this crater with
just its eyes and nostrils showing. When a creature stumbles into the
depression, the dragon moves its wings in the sand, causing the steep walls of the cone
to collapse and drawing the prey straight to the dragon's mouth. A yellow dragon
casts spells and uses magical abilities at 8th level, plus its combat modifier.
A yellow dragon's breath weapon is a high-velocity blast of scorching air
mixed with sand. This affects an area 50 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 20 feet high.
Creatures caught within this blast must roll successful saving throws vs.
breath weapon for half damage. Regardless of the outcome of this roll, they must
make another saving throw vs. breath weapon. Failure means that the abrasive sand
in the breath blast has damaged their eyes, blinding them for 1d4+1 rounds.
Yellow dragons are immune to fire and heat and can cast
silence, 10' radius at will. As they age, they gain the following additional powers:
Age
| Abilities
|
Young
| create or destroy water three times per day
|
Juvenile
| dust devil three times per day
|
Adult
| improved invisibility twice per day
|
Old
| wind wall three times per day
|
Wyrm
| enervation three times per day
|
Habitat/Society: Yellow dragons love deserts, preferring areas of sandy, windswept desolation.
They are most comfortable in daytime temperatures of 105 degrees and up,
although they can easily survive subfreezing temperatures at night. They share much
the same territory as brasses; thus the species occasionally come into conflict.
Yellows are solitary, selfish creatures that form no close bonds with any
other creature, including other yellows. They are highly territorial; the only time
they'll let another yellow into their territory is to mate, which is actually
quite rare. Immediately afterward, the dragons separate. The mother raises the
offspring, but won't go out of her way to protect them from attackers. The
young dragons usually leave home before they reach the juvenile age category. The
main enemies of yellow dragons are brasses, which actively hunt the smaller
creatures.
Ecology: Although able to eat anything, yellows favor fresh meat. (Demi)humans are
considered a delicacy, as are the unhatched eggs of brass dragons. (Yellows rarely
get to enjoy this latter feast.)
| Body
| Tail
|
| Breath
| Spells
|
| Treas.
| XP
|
Age
| Lgt. (')
| Lgt. (')
| AC
| Weapon
| Wizard/Priest
| MR
| Type
| Value
|
1 Hatchling
| 2-7
| 1-4
| 3
| 2d4+1
| Nil
| Nil
| Nil
| 2,000
|
2 Very
Young
| 7-16
| 4-12
| 2
| 4d4+2
| Nil
| Nil
| Nil
| 3,000
|
3 Young
| 16-35
| 12-21
| 1
| 6d4+3
| Nil
| Nil
| Nil
| 5,000
|
4 Juvenile
| 35-44
| 21-28
| 0
| 8d4+4
| Nil
| Nil
| E
| 7,000
|
5 Young
Adult
| 44-53
| 28-36
| -1
| 10d4+5
| 1
| Nil
| E, O, S
| 9,000
|
6 Adult
| 53-62
| 36-45
| -2
| 12d4+6
| 1 1
| 5%
| E, O, S
| 11,000
|
7 Mature
Adult
| 62-71
| 45-54
| -3
| 14d4+7
| 2 1
| 10%
| E, O, S
| 12,000
|
8 Old
| 71-80
| 54-62
| -4
| 16d4+8
| 2 2 1
| 15%
| E, O, Sx2
| 13,000
|
9 Very
Old
| 80-89
| 62-70
| -5
| 18d4+9
| 2 2 2
| 20%
| E, O, Sx2
| 14,000
|
10 Venerable
| 89-98
| 70-78
| -6
| 20d4+10
| 2 2 2 1
| 25%
| E, O, Sx2
| 15,000
|
11 Wyrm
| 98-107
| 78-85
| -7
| 22d4+11
| 2 2 2 2
| 30%
| E, O, Sx3
| 16,000
|
12 Great
wyrm
| 107-116
| 85-94
| -8
| 24d4+12
| 2 2 2 2 1
| 35%
| E, O, Sx4
| 17,000
|