Dungeon Dragon, Young

Young Dungeon Dragon CR 5

XP 1,600
N Medium dragon (shapechanger)
Init +1; Senses dragon senses; Perception +13

DEFENSE

AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed 16 (+1 Dex, +6 natural)
hp 37 (5d12+5)
Fort +5; Ref +5; Will +5
Immune enchantment spells and effects, paralysis, sleep

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., fly 150 ft. (average)
Melee bite +9 (1d8+6), 2 claws +9 (1d6+4), 2 wings +4 (1d4+2)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with bite)
Special Attacks breath weapon (60 ft. line or 30 ft. cone, DC 13, confusion 1d6 rounds)
Spell-like Abilities (CL 5th):

At-will—charm person (DC 11)

STATISTICS

Str 19, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 10
Base Atk +5; CMB +9; CMD 20 (24 vs. trip)
Feats Flyby Attack, Master Craftsman B, Skill Focus (Craft [crystal carving]), Skill Focus (Knowledge [engineering])
Skills Bluff +8, Craft (crystal carving) +10, Craft (traps) +6, Diplomacy +6, Disable Device +3, Fly +9, Knowledge (engineering) +12, Perception +13, Sense Motive +9; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception
Languages Common, Draconic, Undercommon
SQ change shape (alter self), craft crystal ball

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Breath Weapon (Su)

A dungeon dragon’s breath weapon is a line or cone of warm mist. Creatures caught in the area must succeed on Fortitude save or be affected as if by a confusion spell for 1d6 rounds.

Change Shape (Su)

At will, a very young or older dungeon dragon can assume the form of any Small or Medium humanoid creature (as the alter self spell). It can remain in its humanoid form indefinitely. It cannot take the form of a specific individual.

Craft Crystal Ball (Ex)

Dungeon dragon parents begin teaching their wyrmlings the necessary skills and spells to craft a crystal ball soon after they leave the egg. A dungeon dragon gains the Master Craftsman feat for free as a bonus feat without having to meet the prerequisites.

ECOLOGY

Environment underground
Organization solitary
Treasure triple standard plus crystal ball

The dungeon dragon is a curious creature that gets amusement by watching other beings engaged in life and death struggles. To this end, a dungeon dragon sets up a labyrinthine lair, setting traps and populating it with monsters. Younger dungeon dragons tend to lair in natural caverns to ease the burden of construction. Older, more experienced dungeon dragons have been known to construct their own sprawling subterranean complexes, even to the point of hiring on dwarf work gangs and swearing them to secrecy.

Once the construction and refurbishing of its lair is complete, the dungeon dragon transforms itself into a humanoid and ventures into the surrounding countryside. There it spreads rumors and tales of this horrible catacomb in hopes of luring adventurers forth so it may watch them via its crystal ball. Young dungeon dragons often spend years living among humanoids, even to the point of joining adventurers involved in dungeon delves. On such adventures, the intrepid dungeon dragon takes notes regarding the devious traps and monsters it encounters so that it can add such things to its own lair.

Oddly enough, although a dungeon dragon goes to great pains to amass a treasure hoard, it cares little for material wealth. Rather, it uses the treasure it gathers as bait in its dungeon to lure in adventurers and provide it the entertainment it so greatly desires. Watching adventurers explore its catacomb is the only real treasure a dungeon dragon desires. The only material possession a dungeon dragon will risk its life to save is its crystal ball. Without this vital piece of equipment, all of the dragon’s labor is in vain.

A dungeon dragon in its natural form prefers to flee any combat. It likes to watch other creatures engaged in fights for life, not itself. If forced into melee, it swats at opponents with its powerful claws and bite. A dungeon dragon is proficient in the use of all simple and martial weapons and light and medium armor and shields.