Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Return of the Arcane Dragons III

I know that the original song dragons, from the Forgotten Realms, was not considered an Arcane Dragon. I also know that it wasn't a water dragon. I wanted, though, to recreate it in a more "appropriate" aspect though. The wandering dragon bard made a lot more sense to me then the more martial dragon type originally presented. This is actually pretty much a completely new dragon, that shares really only the name with it's predecessor, and possibly the art, since I haven't found anything else that fits.  As usual, this is not meant to be a challenge of copyright, or any of that nonsense. This is just a fan created modification of a dragon offered to other fans as a possible addition to a game. 

Song Dragon

With rippling silver-blue scales and an expressive face, this slender and elegant dragon's voice is like a running mountain stream. The scent of a midsummer rain storm hangs in the air, adding to the feelings of anticipation the dragon seems to inspire. 

NG dragon (water, arcane)
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Base Statistics
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CR 3; Size Tiny; Hit Dice 3d12
Speed 30 ft.
Natural Armor +1; Breath Weapon Cone, 2d4 sonic
Str 9, Dex 14, Con 11, Int 15, Wis 14, Cha 17

Ecology
Environment Any
Organization solitary or troop (1-6 tome dragons)
Treasure triple
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Special Abilities
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Draconic Knowledge (Ex): Song dragons, much like bards, are walking libraries of stories, myths, legends, songs, poems and parables. While bards must study for this information, it is ingrained in a song dragon from birth. A song dragon adds half her hit dice (minimum 1) to all Knowledge skill checks and may make all Knowledge skill checks untrained.

Draconic Performance (Su): Natural performers, story tellers and minstrels, young song dragons are able to use bardic performances as if they were bards of the same level as their caster level. They use the same rules for Bardic Performance, replacing their caster level when determining prerequisites. A song dragon can use her draconic performance a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + her Charisma modifier + her Hit Dice.

Summon Lillend (Sp): Old song dragons can call a lillend forth from Elysium to serve as either accompaniment or an ally in battle. This ability works like a summon monster spell, except that it only summons a lillend. This is equivalent of a 6th level spell.

Spell-Like Abilities (Su): Song dragons gain a number of spell-like abilities as they age that are useful in their travels. The abilities are usable at will upon reaching the listed age category. Very Young - charm person; Young Adult - hydraulic push; Mature Adult - detect thoughts; Very Old - control water; Wyrm - elemental body III (air, electricity, ice, or water); Great Wyrm - weather control.

Truespeech (Su): Adult song dragons have learned the secrets of languages, surpassing even the best linguist. Song dragons can speak with any creature that has a language, as though using the tongues spell (equal to the dragon's Hit Dice). This ability is always active.

Vertigo's Song Breath (Su): Instead of a cone of sonic energy, a song dragon can breathe a cone of sound the induces vertigo. Creatures caught in the cone must make a Fortitude save or gain the mauseated condition for 1d6 rounds plus 1 per age category of the dragon.


Age Category


Special Abilities


Caster Level*


Wyrmling


Draconic Knowledge, Vertigo's Song Breath


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Very Young


Charm Person, Water Breathing


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Young


Draconic Performance, Spell Resistance


1st


Juvenile


 DR 5/magic


3rd


Young Adult


 Hydraulic Push


5th


Adult


 Frightful Presence, Truespeech


7th


Mature Adult


 DR 10/magic, Detect Thoughts


9th


Old


 Summon Lillend


11th


Very Old


 Control Water


13th


Ancient


DR 15/magic


15th


Wyrm


 Elemental Body III


17th


Great Wyrm


 Weather Control


19th

*Song Dragons cast spells and select spells as bards, instead of as sorcerers.

One of the most wide spread of the dragons, song dragons can be found almost anywhere. They prefer travelling from place to place, often secreting themselves into a nomadic tribe, traveling actors troop, or even the occasional adventuring party. They love social interaction, but understand that their draconic nature can be as much a curse as a benefit in this regard. Thus, a song dragon is not open about their nature to most who come in contact with them. Sadly, this does, occasionally mean a surprising birth of a half-dragon a number of months after the minstrel has left town.

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