Sand Dragon
DRAGON, SAND Dragon (Earth) Environment: Warm deserts Organization: Wyrmling, very young, young, juvenile, and young adult: solitary or clutch (3-6); adult, mature adult, old, very old, ancient, wyrm, or great wyrm: solitary, pair, or family 1-2 and 3-6 offspring) Challenge Rating: Wyrmling 2; very young 3; young 5; juvenile 7; young adult 9; adult 12; mature adult 14; old 16; very old 18; ancient 21; wyrm 24; great wyrm 27 Treasure: Double standard Alignment: Always chaotic neutral
Advancement: Wyrmling 4-5 HD; very young 7-8 HD; young 10 11 HD; juvenile 13-14 HD, young adult 16-17 HD; adult 19-20 HD; mature adult 22-23 HD; old 25-26 HD; very old 28-29 HD; ancient 31-32 HD; wyrm 35-36 HD; great wyrm 37+ HD Level Adjustment: Wyrmling +2; very young +2; young +3; juvenile +3; young adult +4; others —
This dragon's head is a moss of thick, short horns in irregular rings around its snout, jaws, and neck, giving its entire head a distinct appearance reminiscent of a lamprey. Its large scales are a dark gray-brown, and a crest of broad, short spines runs from its head to the tip of its tail. A membranous frill runs between these spines down the length of the dragon's body, allowing it to undulate through the air rather than flop like other dragons. The dragon smells of dust and dirt. Sand dragons are violent, irritable, and cunning creatures, given to raiding farms for cattle, but leaving the farmers alive as a sign of "mercy" (never mind that the dragon has just devoured the farmer's livelihood). Not exactly evil, but definitely not good, sand dragons are motivated only by what is good for their own survival. In fact, they have a difficult time understanding why any living creature would think any other way. Sand dragons lay their eggs deep within the sand of the desert, which is partly responsible for their name. As the eggs hatch, the hatchling dragons claw their way up to the surface, giving the impression that the dragons spring spontaneously from the sand. Even at that age, sand dragons have fully developed horns and claws, enabling them to burrow just as easily as their parents. Sand dragon wings are actually not wings at all, but thin membranes of a similar consistency and material to regular dragon wings. These membranes stretch between a double row of spikes that run the length of a sand dragon's back, from the base of its skull to the tip of its tail. These spines can collapse flat along a sand dragon's back when it burrows, protecting the fragile membranes from damage. A sand dragon can also lie flat on a sandy surface and flutter its wings to cover itself with sand, much as a stingray flutters its "wings" to conceal itself on the ocean floor. In fact, sand dragons make their lairs under the sands, and only emerge to hunt or mate. As a result, sand dragons smell of freshly turned dirt and dust —not a particularly unpleasant smell, but a distinctive one. Due to their burrowing ability, sand dragons have little difficulty Sand dragons lair in the deep waste disguising their lairs; only their nostrils lie exposed (allowing them to breathe). When sand dragons travel underground—their primary means of sneaking up on prey—they simply hold their breath. Sand dragons are most fond of lizards and rodents, though the older they get, the larger the prey. Young adult and adult sand dragons eat goats and jackals, mature adult and older sand dragons go after cattle, camels, crocodiles, and even giant banded lizards (see page 164). Sand dragons acquire a good deal of treasure, though they have no real use for it aside from bait for prey. They generally bury it in the sand under their lairs, and lie waiting for the sound of shovels digging toward them.
COMBAT Sand dragons hunt by flying high above the ground, looking for herds of cattle or other concentrations of prey, then wait for nightfall to land and burrow up underneath their targets. Using their tremorsense to determine when an animal is in position, the sand dragon then bursts forth, snatches up the startled prey in its mouth or claws, and flies off to devour it in privacy. Alternatively, a sand dragon might locate a trade route and bury itself in the sand along the side of the road, waiting for a caravan to pass. Sand dragons rarely attack from the sky; there are simply too few clouds to provide the kind of concealment a sand dragon prefers.
SAND DRAGONS BY AGE
| Wyrmling (0-5 yrs) Size/Type: Tiny Dragon Hit Dice: 3d12 (19) Initiative: +0 Speed: 30 ft., burrow 20 ft., fly 80 ft. (average) Armor Class: 16 (+2 size, +4 natural) touch 12, flat-footed 16 Base Attack/Grapple: +3/-5 Attack: Bite +5 (1d4) or claws +0 (1d3) Full Attack: Bite +5 (1d4) and claws +0 (1d3) Space/Reach: 2½ ft./0 ft. (5 ft. with bite) Special Attacks: Breath weapon Special Qualities: Immunity to fire, tremorsense 60 ft. Saves: Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +2 Abilities: Str 10, Dex 11, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10 Skills: Hide +6, Listen +6, Move Silently +6, Sense Motive +6, Spot +6, Survival +6 Feats: Track, Endurance Gear: Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Languages: Breath Weapon: 15' flaywind cone, 1d4, Ref DC 11 halves |
Very Young (6-15 yrs) Size/Type: Small Dragon Hit Dice: 6d12+6 (45) Initiative: +0 Speed: 30 ft., burrow 20 ft., fly 120 ft. (poor) Armor Class: 18 (+1 size, +7 natural) touch 11, flat-footed 18 Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+3 Attack: Bite +8 (1d6+1) or claws +3 (1d4) Full Attack: Bite +8 (1d6+1) and claws +3 (1d4) Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. Special Attacks: Breath weapon Special Qualities: Immunity to fire, tremorsense 60 ft. Saves: Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +4 Abilities: Str 12, Dex 11, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10 Skills: Hide +11, Listen +10, Move Silently +11, Sense Motive +10, Spot +10, Survival +10 Feats: Track, Endurance, Stealthy Gear: Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Languages: Breath Weapon: 20' flaywind cone, 2d4, Ref DC 14 halves |
Young (16-25 yrs) Size/Type: Medium Dragon Hit Dice: 9d12+9 (67) Initiative: Speed: 30 ft., burrow 20 ft., fly 120 ft. (poor) Armor Class: 20 (+10 natural) touch 10, flat-footed 20 Base Attack/Grapple: Attack: Bite +11 (1d8+2) or claws +9 (1d6+1) or wings +9 (1d4+1) Full Attack: Bite +11 (1d8+2) and claws +9 (1d6+1) and wings +9 (1d4+1) Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. Special Attacks: Breath weapon Special Qualities: Immunity to fire, tremorsense 60 ft. Saves: Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +7 Abilities: Str 14, Dex 11, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 12 Skills: Hide +14, Intimidate +13, Listen +14, Move Silently +14, Sense Motive +14, Spot +14, Survival +14 Feats: Track, Endurance, Stealthy, Multiattack Gear: Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Languages: Breath Weapon: 30' flaywind cone, 4d4, Ref DC 15 halves |
| Juvenile (26-50 yrs) Size/Type: Medium Dragon Hit Dice: 12d12+24 (102) Initiative: +0 Speed: 30 ft., burrow 20 ft., fly 120 ft. (poor) Armor Class: 23 (+13 natural) touch 10, flat-footed 23 Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+15 Attack: Bite +15 (1d8+3) or claws +13 (1d6+1) or wings +13 (1d4+1) Full Attack: Bite +15 (1d8+3) and claws +13 (1d6+1) and wings +13 (1d4+1) Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. Special Attacks: Breath weapon, SLAs Special Qualities: Immunity to fire, tremorsense 60 ft. Saves: Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +10 Abilities: Str 16, Dex 11, Con 15, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 14 Skills: Hide +17, Intimidate +17, Listen +18, Move Silently +17, Sense Motive +18, Spot +18, Survival +15, Knowledge (any one) +4 Feats: Track, Endurance, Stealthy, Multiattack, Power Attack Gear: Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Languages: Breath Weapon: 30' flaywind cone, 6d4, Ref DC 18 halves SLAs: At will: Hoboob |
Young Adult (51-100 yrs) Size/Type: Large Dragon Hit Dice: 15d12+45 (142) Initiative: +0 Speed: 30 ft., burrow 20 ft., fly 120 ft. (poor) Armor Class: 25 (-1 size, +16 natural) touch 9, flat-footed 25 Base Attack/Grapple: +15/+24 Attack: Bite +19 (2d6+5) or claws +17 (1d8+2) or wings +17 (1d6+2) or tail +17 (1d8+7) Full Attack: Bite +19 (2d6+5) and claws +17 (1d8+2) and wings +17 (1d6+2) and tail +17 (1d8+7) Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. with bite) Special Attacks: Breath weapon, SLAs, spells, frightful presence Special Qualities: Immunity to fire, tremorsense 60 ft., DR 5/magic, SR 18 Saves: Fort +16, Ref +9, Will +12 Abilities: Str 20, Dex 11, Con 17, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 14 Skills: Concentration +20, Hide +20, Intimidate +20, Listen +21, Move Silently +20, Sense Motive +20, Spot +21, Survival +15, Knowledge (any one) +9 Feats: Track, Endurance, Stealthy, Multiattack, Power Attack, Improved Overrun Gear: Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Languages: Breath Weapon: 40' flaywind cone, 8d4, Ref DC 23 halves. Frightful presence: 150-ft. radius, HD 14 or fewer, Will DC 19 negates. SLAs: At will: Hoboob Spells per day: 5, 3 Spells Known: 0: Flare, Ghost Sound, Message, Open/Close 1: Locate Water, Silent Image Spell DC: 12 + level |
Adult (101-200 yrs) Size/Type: Large Dragon Hit Dice: 18d12+72 (189) Initiative: +0 Speed: 30 ft., burrow 20 ft., fly 120 ft. (poor) Armor Class: 28 (-1 size, +19 natural) touch 9, flat-footed 28 Base Attack/Grapple: +18/+29 Attack: Bite +24 (2d6+7) or claws +22 (1d8+3) or wings +22 (1d6+3) or tail +22 (1d8+10) Full Attack: Bite +24 (2d6+7) and claws +22 (1d8+3) and wings +22 (1d6+3) and tail +22 (1d8+10) Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. with bite) Special Attacks: Breath weapon, SLAs, spells, frightful presence Special Qualities: Immunity to fire, tremorsense 60 ft., DR 5/magic, SR 20 Saves: Fort +22, Ref +12, Will +16 Abilities: Str 24, Dex 11, Con 19, Int 14, Wis 18, Cha 16 Skills: Concentration +24, Hide +23, Intimidate +24, Listen +25, Move Silently +23, Sense Motive +21, Spot +25, Survival +16, Knowledge (any one) +15 Feats: Track, Endurance, Stealthy, Multiattack, Power Attack, Improved Overrun, Flyby Attack Gear: Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Languages: Breath Weapon: 40' flaywind cone, 10d4, Ref DC 23 halves. Frightful presence: 180-ft. radius, HD 17 or fewer, Will DC 22 negates. SLAs: At will: Hoboob; 3/day Dispel water Spells per day: 6, 5 Spells Known: 0: Flare, Ghost Sound, Mage Hand, Message, Open/Close 1: Locate Water, Silent Image, Ventriloquism Spell DC: 13 + level |