Mythic Underworld Dragon, Wyrm

Mythic Wyrm Underworld Dragon CR 21/MR 8

XP 409,600
LE Huge dragon (fire, mythic)
Init +10; Senses dragon senses, smoke vision, treasure scent; Perception +33
Aura frightful presence (330 ft., DC 27)

DEFENSE

AC 48, touch 6, flat-footed 48 (–2 Dex, +42 natural, –2 size)
hp 404 (24d12+248)
Fort +21, Ref +12, Will +20
Defensive Abilities draconic fortitude; DR 20/epic; Immune fire, paralysis, sleep; SR 36
Weaknesses vulnerability to cold

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., burrow 60 ft., earth glide, fly 200 ft. (poor)
Melee bite +37 (2d8+21/19-20), 2 claws +37 (2d6+14/19-20), gore +36 (2d6+21/19- 20), tail slap +31 (2d6+21)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft. (15 ft. with bite)
Special Attacks adamantine claws, breath weapon (100 ft. line, 22d6 fire, DC 29), burn for me, choking cloud (DC 29), crush (DC 29, 2d8+19), dragon fury (1d8 fire), lava eruption, lingering breath (2d8 fire, 8 rounds), mythic power (8/day; surge +1d10), rend (2 claws, 2d6+21), rending claws
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 24th; concentration +29)

Spells Known (CL 15th; concentration +20)

STATISTICS

Str 39, Dex 6, Con 25, Int 20, Wis 23, Cha 24
Base Atk +24; CMB +39; CMD 47 (51 vs. trip)
Feats Awesome Blow, Critical Focus, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (bite, claw, gore), Improved Initiative, Lunge, Mythic Spell Lore, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Stealth), Weapon Focus (bite, claw)
Skills Acrobatics +25 (+29 when jumping), Appraise +32, Bluff +32, Climb +41, Fly +17, Intimidate +32, Knowledge (dungeoneering, geography, planes) +32, Perception +33, Stealth +23
Languages Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Giant, Ignan, Terran, Undercommon
SQ change shape, underworld burrower

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Burn for Me (Su)

A mythic underworld dragon can expend 1 use of mythic power as a move action to strip away the fire resistance or fire immunity of a creature within 60 feet for 1 minute. If the dragon expends two uses of its mythic power, it can target a number of creatures equal to one-half its mythic rank. If that fire resistance or immunity is gained from a temporary effect, that effect is automatically suppressed. If the fire resistance or immunity is part of a single effect with other functions, such as a polymorph effect, only the fire resistance or immunity itself is suppressed; any other functions are unaffected. If the target’s fire resistance or immunity is a permanent ability, it is entitled to a DC 29 Will save to negate this effect (if the target is mythic) or reduce its duration to 1d4 rounds (if the target is non-mythic). The save DC is Charisma-based.

Choking Cloud (Su)

As a standard action, a mythic underworld dragon can breathe out a cloud of toxic smoke instead of its normal breath weapon. This cloud forms a 50 foot diameter cloud around the dragon. All creatures within the cloud gain concealment except from creatures with smoke vision. Each round a creature begins its turn in the choking cloud, it must succeed on a DC 29 Fortitude save or spend that round choking and coughing, taking no actions. A creature that chokes for 2 consecutive rounds takes 2d6 points of nonlethal damage. The smoke remains in place for a number of rounds equal to the dragon’s mythic rank, unless prevailing wind conditions or magic is used to remove it. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Draconic Fortitude (Ex)

Whenever a mythic underworld dragon would take ability damage, ability drain, temporary or permanent penalties to ability scores, or temporary negative levels, it ignores an amount of that damage, drain, penalty, or number of levels equal to one-half its mythic rank. In addition, it can expend one use of its mythic power as a free action to end any one of the following effects currently affecting it: bleed, blinded, confused, cowering, dazed, dazzled, deafened, entangled, exhausted, fascinated, fatigued, frightened, nauseated, panicked, paralyzed, shaken, sickened, staggered, or stunned. It can use this ability at the beginning of its turn if one of the above conditions would prevent the dragon from taking actions. A mythic underworld dragon can also negate permanent conditions such as feeblemind, insanity, a permanent negative level, or petrification by expending two uses of its mythic power if the condition resulted from a non-mythic effect, or 3 uses of its mythic power if it was from a mythic effect.

Earth Glide (Ex)

A burrowing mythic underworld dragon of adult age or older can pass through dirt, stone, or almost any other sort of earth except metal as easily as a fish swims through water. It can even swim through lava. Its burrowing leaves no tunnel or hole, nor does it create any ripple or other sign of its presence. A move earth spell cast on an area containing a burrowing mythic underworld dragon flings the dragon back 30 feet, stunning it unless it succeeds on a DC 15 Fortitude save.

Lava Eruption (Su)

As a full-round action, a mythic wyrm underworld dragon can burrow through the ground at up to twice its burrow speed. At the end of that movement, if the underworld dragon has use of its breath weapon, it can erupt from the ground, spouting lava in a 30-foot-radius burst, dealing damage as the breath weapon. The dragon’s lingering breath ability applies to this attack, and deals double the normal damage for its duration. If the dragon expends one use of mythic power, the area where it erupted from the ground forms a pool of lava 20 feet across and 3 feet deep. Creatures entering the area take 20d6 points of fire damage for two rounds after its initial formation, 10d6 fire damage the following two rounds, and 2d6 fire damage for the next four rounds, after which it cools enough that it no longer poses a threat.

Rending Claws (Ex)

A mythic underworld dragon gains the rend special attack, which it may use whenever it strikes a creature with both claws in the same round. In addition, instead of dealing additional damage to the target the dragon may choose instead to apply that damage to an item held or worn by the target as if it had succeeded at a sunder combat maneuver, ignoring an amount of hardness equal to its mythic rank.

Treasure Scent (Ex)

A mythic underworld dragon can smell precious metals and gemstones within 120 feet. With a successful Appraise check, the dragon can recognize the type, amount, and worth of any such materials within range of its scent ability.

ECOLOGY

Environment any underground
Organization solitary
Treasure triple

This serpentine dragon has skin the color of deep volcanic rock, enormous claws, and jagged, stone-like horns and scales.

Underworld dragons are calculating, greedy creatures that carve great labyrinthine tunnels beneath the world, defending their hidden treasures. Preferring the earth to the heavens, they channel the fires of the world’s core within their twisting, stonelike bodies and through flaming breath hot enough to turn granite into slag. These serpentine dragons have skin the color of deep volcanic rock, enormous claws, and jagged, stonelike horns and scales.

Dragons are an integral part of the mythology of Asia, though they are quite different from the winged dragons known in the Western mythology. Some are benevolent and others sinister, but while their appearance is different from Western dragons they are equally capable of the savage rapacity and legendary greed of their chromatic cousins and the stern and aloof devotion to goodness of their metallic kin. Like most monsters, imperial dragons have an assigned typical alignment, but they are highly individualistic and much more likely to have an alignment that varies from the typical than would be true for metallic or chromatic dragons.

Imperial Dragons Imperial dragons, sometimes termed dragons of the celestial host, in the “dragon empires” are serpentine agents of cosmic balance, though some of them are not above sowing chaos and discord for their own gain. Imperial dragons differ in appearance from the more commonly known chromatic and metallic dragons, possessing a long serpentine body. Most lack wings but can fly gracefully through supernatural means.

All imperial dragons have large antlers, some sweeping back in delicate curves and others thrust forward to gore their foes.

Like all dragons, imperial dragons can breathe potent torrents of elemental force, and many can cast spells and perform other supernatural feats. Additionally, all can magically transform themselves into a humanoid shape.

Imperial Entanglements. Imperial dragons are defenders of ancient lands and protectors of cosmic balance. They take a much more active role in humanoid societies than their metallic or chromatic kin, to such a degree that the kingdoms of in lands they are known sometimes refer to themselves as “dragon empires.” They are active in times of social upheaval, and may be sought out for their wisdom or aid. Imperial dragons are seen by humanoids as either benevolent guardians or vile threats depending on their type. Some imperial families trace their bloodlines to the semi-divine dragon-emperors of old or still rely on the counsel of living dragons or, in rare cases, ask a dragon to rule as their wise sovereign.

Mandate of Heaven. More so than any other dragons, imperial dragons are closely tied to the religious beliefs of their native lands. Imperial dragons are often associated with divinity, whether as guardians or emissaries of a god, as the representation of a god, or as a deity themselves. It is said that imperial dragons inhabited their lands in an Age of Dragons, long before other races arose there, and were charged by the gods to safeguard the land in anticipation of humanity’s arrival. Some of the gods themselves may in fact be incredibly powerful dragons transcended into immortality, and each of the five species of imperial dragon is represented as a constellation.

The imperial dragons presented here are all adults. As agents of the highest deities, young dragons sometimes wander in mortal lands before they ascend, though many are kept safe in the realms of the divine until they reach maturity and complete their training. Older dragons may likewise “graduate” from their status and join the celestial bureaucracy, while others roam freely to live as they wish.

If you wish to extend the lifespans of imperial dragons into youth or old age like other true dragons, you can adjust their abilities up or down in a manner similar to other dragons with similar Challenge levels.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Asian Monsters (PF1) © 2022, Legendary Games; Authors Jason Nelson, Robert J. Grady, Andrew Ha, Gord Henderson, Thurston Hillman, Aurélien Lainé, Jeff Lee, Alex Riggs, Loren Sieg, Mike Welham.

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