RACE: Adamantite Dragon
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any mountains
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary or clan
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Special
INTELLIGENCE: Genius (17-18)
TREASURE: Special
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Good
NO. OF APPEARING: 1 (2-5)
ARMOR CLASS: -4 (base)
MOVE: 12, Fl 38 (C), Jp 3
HIT DICE: 16 (base)
THAC0: 5 (base)
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3 + special
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-12/2-12/4-40 (4d10)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Special
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Variable
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Variable
SIZE: G (54' base)
MORAL: Fanatic (17-18)
XP VALUE: Variable
BODY
TAIL BREATH
SPELLS
TREASURE XP
AGE LENGTH LENGTH AC
WEAPON WIZARD/PRIEST
MR TYPE VALUE
1 2-12
3-12 -1 2d12+1 Nil
Nil Nil 3,000
2 12-24 12-20
-2 4d12+2 Nil
Nil Nil 4,000
3 24-38 20-30
-3 6d12+3 Nil
Nil Nil 6,000
4 38-56 30-42
-4 8d12+4 2
Nil E, Z, T 8,000
5 56-78 42-52
-5 10d12+5 2 2
40% H, Z, T 10,000
6 78-98 52-60
-6 12d12+6 2 2 2
45% H, Z, T 13,000
7 98-115 60-70
-7 14d12+7 2 2 2 2
50% H, Z, T 14,000
8 115-128 70-76
-8 16d12+8 2 2 2 2 1 /1
55% H, Z, Tx2 15,000
9 128-140 76-82
-9 18d12+9 2 2 2 2 2 /2
60% H, Z, Tx2 17,000
10 140-150 82-90 -10 20d12+10
2 2 2 2 2 1 /2 2 65% H, Z, Tx2
18,000
11 150-160 90-96 -11 22d12+11
2 2 2 2 2 2 /2 2 2 70% H, Z, Tx3 19,000
12 160-166 96-102 -12 24d12+12
2 2 2 2 2 2 1/2 2 2 2 75% H, Z, Tx3 20,000 |
Adamantite dragons are among the most
powerful of all good dragons; they are
also one of the rarest species.
An encounter with an adamantite dragon
is at best a once-in-a-lifetime
event for all but the most fortunate
(or unfortunate) of individuals.
An adamantite dragon's scales change
little in color throughout its life;
they are dark black from birth to old
age. The scales are very small at
birth, but as the dragon grows, they
become larger and thicker, and are soon
harder than steel. Once the mature
adult stage is reached, the dragon develops
silver flecks throughout its scales; these
flecks grow more abundant as the dragon
ages.
Adamantite dragons speak their own
tongue, a tongue common to all good
dragons, and 18% of hatchling
adamantite dragons have an ability to
communicate with any intelligent creature.
The chance to possess this ability
increases 5% per age category of the
dragon.
An adamantite dragon encountered in
human form will usually take the shape
of a human wizard or fighter.
COMBAT: Adamantite dragons will not
attack good creatures unless their
lives are in danger, and will not fight
most neutral individuals unless attacked
first. However, they will attack all but
the most powerful evil creatures on sight
without a second thought; they have little
tolerance for evil beings.
An adamantite dragon will not hesitate
to immediately close with most opponents
and fight with claws and bite. Against
extremely powerful foes, spells, breath
attacks, and/or special abilities will be
used before entering melee. An
adamantite dragon has little trouble
deciding when an enemy has been
sufficiently weakened by these attacks,
so these weapons are rarely wasted on
senseless attacks.
BREATH WEAPON: An adamantite dragon has
two breath weapons. The first is a cloud
of frost with a radius of 50' in all
directions. This cloud will remain in
effect for three rounds; on the first
round, damage is taken as per the table
above (save vs. breath weapon for half
damage); on the second and third rounds,
the area of effect is hit by an ** ice
storm ** as per the spell (no damage is
taken on the above table these two rounds.)
The second breath weapon is a cone of fire
100' long, 5' wide at the dragon's mouth,
and 25' wide at the base. Anyone caught
inside the area of effect must save vs.
breath weapon for half damage. If the
dragon breathes its fire-based breath
weapon into an ** ice storm ** previously
created by its frost-based breath weapon,
the area of overlap turns into a driving
rainstorm for the duration of the frost
cloud; anyone inside this rainstorm has a
-2 to hit due to poor sight, and missile
fire is impossible (this is in addition to
the affects of the fire-based breath attack.)
An adamantite dragon casts its spells and
uses its special abilities at 10th level
plus its combat modifier.
At birth, adamantite dragons are immune to
fire and cold. They may also ** polymorph
self ** three times per day. As they age,
they gain the following additional powers:
AGE SPECIAL ABILITY
Young ** Magic missile ** (three times per day)
Juvenile ** Slow ** (three times per day)
Adult ** Fireball ** (twice per day)
Mature Adult ** Cone of cold ** (twice per day)
Old ** Forcecage ** (once per day)
Very Old ** Polymorph any object ** (once per day)
HABITAT: Adamantite dragons live deep
within the highest mountain ranges
they they can find; they exist in all
climates, as long as mountains are
present. Their lairs are located in
well hidden, spacious caves, and are
protected by various magic and mundane
traps, as well as faithful guards such
as good giants and even ki-rin.
An adamantite dragon's worst enemies
include red dragons and evil cloud
giants; they will attack these foes
on sight, and the insuing combat is
usually spectacular and deadly; the
adamantite dragon will usually
prevail in these contests, but
serious injury to the dragon can still
result.
Adamantite dragons are on good terms
with most good-aligned creatures in
their territory, including silver
dragons and gold dragons. They also
have close ties with electrum dragons
[q.v.], when their territories overlap.
Their closest allies are mithril
dragons [q.v.]; these two species will
often work together, as they share
common goals and ideals.
ECOLOGY: Adamantite dragons consume a
diet of precious metals; gold, silver,
platinum, and of course adamantite are
all part of their diet. They do not
need much to sustain themselves however,
and the majority of metals they find are
added to their treasure hoard.
Adamantite dragons will not hesitate to
help good-aligned creatures in times of
need.
Allan J. Mikkola (allanm@vulcan.med.ge.com)
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