RACE:               Indigo Dragon
CLIMATE/TERRAIN:    Temperate, sub-tropical, and sub-arctic lakes and rivers
FREQUENCY:          Very rare
ORGANIZATION:       Solitary or clan
ACTIVITY CYCLE:     Any
DIET:               Special
INTELLIGENCE:       Exceptional (15-16)
TREASURE:           Special
ALIGNMENT:          Lawful evil

NO. OF APPEARING:   1 (2-5)
ARMOR CLASS:        -2 (base)
MOVE:               6, Fl 30 (C), Sw 14
HIT DICE:           14 (base)
THAC0:              7 (base)
NO. OF ATTACKS:     3 + special
DAMAGE/ATTACK:      1-10/1-10/4-32 (4d8)
SPECIAL ATTACKS:    Special
SPECIAL DEFENSES:   Variable
MAGIC RESISTANCE:   Variable
SIZE:               G (36' base)
MORAL:              Fanatic (17-18)
XP VALUE:           Variable

The indigo dragon is a species of dragon that has 
adapted to life in the water: their bodies are 
smaller and more slender than most other dragons, 
and their hind feet are webbed to allow for 
greater maneuverability when swimming. They are 
able to breathe underwater, which enables them to 
stay submerged for extended periods of time.

At birth, the scales of an indigo dragon are a 
pale blue; as they age, the scales become 
brighter and richer, until they reach a deep 
indigo color when the mature adult stage is 
reached. This coloration enables indigo dragons 
to remain virtually unseen in the depths of lakes 
and larger rivers.

Indigo dragons speak their own tongue, a tongue 
common to all evil dragons, and 16% of hatchling 
indigo dragons have an ability to communicate with 
any intelligent creature. The chance to possess 
this ability increases 5% per age category of the 
dragon.

COMBAT: During combat, indigo dragons prefer to 
remain in the water; they will take to the air only
if they require greater mobility, and will rarely, 
if ever, fight on land. An indigo dragon is a 
fearsome foe when encountered in its native 
environment; its swimming ability gives it great 
mobilty in the water. An indigo will attack most 
creatures with claw and bite, but will not hesitate 
to use breath attacks and/or special abilities 
against more dangerous foes. Great indigo wyrms 
will use their ** summon water elemental ** ability 
if greatly threatened.  Indigo dragons' most prized 
magical possessions are those that summon and/or 
control water-based creatures; these will also be 
used in combat, if the situation warrants.

When attacking boats and ships, an indigo dragon 
will attack from beneath the waterline, and attempt 
to capsize the craft (if small enough) or puncture 
or weaken the hull. If this fails, they will surface 
and use a breath attack on the crew before closing to 
fight with claw and bite.

BREATH WEAPON: The breath weapon of an indigo dragon 
is a cloud of super-heated steam measuring 60' long, 
50' wide, and 30' high. Anyone caught inside this 
cloud is scalded by the steam for the indicated 
amount of damage; a successful saving throw vs. 
breath weapon reduces the damage by one half. The 
heat of the steam is sufficient to melt most metals 
(including armor); if the initial save is failed, all 
possessions must save vs. magical fire or melt into 
uselessness. This weapon is as effective underwater 
as it is in the open air. An indigo dragon casts its 
spells and uses its magical abilities at 8th level, 
plus the combat modifier.

At birth, indigo dragons are immune to all types 
of heat; in addition, they may employ ** water 
breathing ** at will.  As they age, they gain the 
following additional powers:

AGE            SPECIAL ABILITY
Very young     ** Wall of fog ** (three times per day)
Juvenile       ** Fog cloud ** (three times per day)
Adult          ** Water walk ** (twice per day)
Very old       ** Part water ** (once per day)
Great wyrm     ** Summon water elemental ** (once per week)

HABITAT: Indigo dragons can be found swimming in 
freshwater lakes and rivers in any climate except 
topical and arctic. They spend little time on dry 
land, as they are quite clumbsy out of the water; 
indigo dragons are master swimmers however, and 
love to spend long hours swimming about their 
territory. Indigo dragons are playful and good-
natured, at least as far as evil dragons are 
concerned. However, if threatened, they will not 
hesitate to fight.

Indigo dragons are good parents, and will protect  
their young to the death if necessary; offspring are 
rarely forced to leave the lair - they will strike 
out on their own only when they are ready.

Due to their relatively good demeanor, indigo 
dragons go rouge more so than most other types of 
dragons; most will become lawful neutral in 
alignment, while some make the jump to lawful good. 
These rogues live in isolation, for they are 
persecuted by evil dragons who consider them 
traitors, and by good dragons who do not know of 
their reformation.

The lair of an indigo dragon is always underwater, 
usually in a large cave or shipwreck. The lair itself 
is usually dry, but will sometimes be completely 
filled with water, as is the case with most shipwreck 
lairs. Although indigo dragons will sometimes venture 
into salt water, they much prefer freshwater 
locations; their lairs will always be in an area of 
freshwater.

An indigo dragon's greatest enemy is the bronze dragon, 
with whom they often come into contact. In close 
combat, an indigo will usually get the best of the 
bronze, but if the battle is fought at a distance, the 
indigo will be more hard pressed due to the longer 
range and superior spell casting abilities of the 
bronze. If the indigo cannot safely come within range 
of its own breath weapon, it will use its superior 
swimming speed to escape.

ECOLOGY: Although indigo dragons can eat nearly 
anything, they prefer to consume the fish and other 
aquatic animals they find all around them. Their diet 
consists of everything from small fish to mammals such 
as otters.

Allan J. Mikkola (allanm@vulcan.med.ge.com)