CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Temperate hills and mountains
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary or clan
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Special
INTELLIGENCE: Genius (17-18)
TREASURE: Special
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Good
NO. OF APPEARING: 1 (2-5)
ARMOR CLASS: -3 (base)
MOVE: 10, Fl 32 (C), Jp 3
HIT DICE: 15 (base)
THAC0: 5 (base)
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3 + special
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-12/2-12/3-36 (3d12)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Special
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Variable
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Variable
SIZE: G (46' base)
MORAL: Fanatic (17-18)
XP VALUE: Variable
BODY
TAIL BREATH WEAPON
SPELLS
AGE LENGTH LENGTH AC
(2nd, 3rd rounds) WIZARD/PRIEST
1 3-10
3-10 0 2d12+1 (1,1)
Nil
2 10-21 10-19
-1 4d12+2 (2,1) Nil
3 21-40 19-28
-2 6d12+3 (3,1) Nil
4 40-58 28-47
-3 8d12+4 (4,2) 2
5 58-77 47-66
-4 10d12+5 (5,2) 2 2
6 77-96 66-85
-5 12d12+6 (6,3) 2 2 1
7 96-115 85-100
-6 14d12+7 (7,3) 2 2 2
/ 1
8 115-132 100-120 -7
16d12+8 (8,4) 2 2 2 1 / 1
9 132-150 120-138 -8
18d12+9 (9,4) 2 2 2 2 / 2
10 150-160 138-146 -9
20d12+10 (10,5) 2 2 2 2 1 / 2 1
11 160-170 146-156 -10
22d12+11 (11,5) 2 2 2 2 2 / 2 2
12 170-178 156-164 -11
24d12+12 (12,6) 3 2 2 2 2 / 2 2 |
MAGIC
TREASURE XP
AGE RESISTANCE TYPE
VALUE
1 Nil
Nil 3,000
2 Nil
Nil 4,000
3 Nil
Nil 6,000
4 Nil
H
8,000
5 35%
H, T 10,000
6 40%
H, T 12,000
7 45%
H, T, Z 13,000
8 50%
H, Tx2, Z 15,000
9 55%
H, Tx2, Z 17,000
10 60%
H, Tx2, Zx2 18,000
11 65%
H, Tx2, Zx2 19,000
12 70%
H, Tx2, Zx3 20,000 |
Scarlet dragons are related to red and crimson
dragons; in appearance, a scarlet dragon is nearly
identical to a crimson dragon, with the following
exceptions: it is larger (nearly the size of a
red), has different color scales, and has no
black throat and belly; instead it has a black
stripe on the back of the head, body, and tail,
and has black wing ribbings on the top side.
Like crimson dragons, a scarlet dragon can easily
be mistaken for a red dragon. If viewed from above,
the chances for a mistaken identity are the same as
for a crimson dragon; if only the underside is
visible, these chances are as follows: at ranges
of 80' or more, it is impossible to differentiate a
scarlet from a red; at closer distances, a successful
intelligence check is required to do so (unlike the
crimson, there is no minimum distance where the
differences are automatically apparent in this
ituation.)
Scarlet dragons speak their own tongue, a tongue
common to all good dragons and 18% of hatchling
scarlet 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: Under normal circumstances, a scarlet dragon
will not attack unless provoked. If they do fight,
their high intelligence allows them to quickly
determine what attack mode to use; they are therefore,
very unlikely to use up spells and breath attacks
against weaker foes, and in most circumstances will
have these abilities available for use against
dangerous enemies. If faced with powerful opponents,
they will be softened up with spells and breath
attacks at a distance, before the scarlet dragon
closes to fight in melee. When attacked, a scarlet
dragon is a viscous fighter, and once the battle has
been joined, will rarely back down.
BREATH WEAPON: A scarlet dragon's breath weapon is a
** cone of greek fire ** 100' long, 5' wide at the
dragon's mouth, and 40' wide at the base. Anyone caught
inside the area of effect may save vs. breath weapon
for 1/2 damage. The flames caused by this attack will
continue to burn for two additional rounds; anyone
still in the area of effect suffers the damage given
in the parenthesis (the numbers represent the damage
taken in the second and third rounds, respectively),
and is considered to be covered by the flaming
material. Therefore, these victims do not get a saving
throw. However, all items carried by these victims must
make saves vs. magical fire in these additional rounds,
or be consumed by the fire. Anyone not initially hit
by the flames, but who moves into the area of effect,
gets a normal saving throw vs. dragon breath for 1/2
damage.
Scarlet dragons cast spells and use their special
abilites at 10th level, plus their combat modifier.
They are born immune to fire and all types of heat;
as they age, scarlet dragons gain the following
additional powers:
AGE SPECIAL ABILITY
Very young ** Faerie fire ** (three times per day)
Juvenile ** Flaming Sphere ** (three times per day)
Adult ** Wall of force ** (twice per day)
Mature adult ** Flame strike ** (once per day)
Old ** Moonbeam ** (twice per day)
Wyrm ** Prismatic sphere ** (three times per week)
HABITAT: Scarlet dragons inhabit temperate hills
and mountains (they prefer hills, however.) Their
lairs are most often deep within a hilly area, in a
well hidden cave. Scarlet dragons will protect their
lairs and territory with various types of traps,
both magical and mundane.
Scarlet dragons are very family-oriented; they will
protect their young and mates to the death if
necessary. Even after their offspring have grown and
left the lair, a mated pair of scarlet dragons will stay
together more often than not. Scarlet dragons also enjoy
the company of other good dragons, such as silver and
gold dragons, and will form alliances with them in times
of great need.
Like crimson dragons, a scarlet dragon will often be
mistaken for a red dragon, and they are therefore,
attacked unjustly at times. This is a source of great
frustration for scarlet dragons, since they are often
assailed by good-aligned creatures and adventurers; in
these cases, instead of counter-attacking, a scarlet
dragon will attempt to disable their attackers and
explain to them their mistake. If this does not work,
the scarlet dragon will try to fly away. If attacked
by evil creatures, they will retaliate without mercy.
ECOLOGY: Scarlet dragons prefer to eat meat, but will
eat nearly anything if it is necessary. Like crimson
dragons, the scarlet's prey is almost always
non-intelligent creatures.
Scarlet dragons and red dragons are fierce opponents;
because their territories sometimes overlap, fights
between the two types are not uncommon. The scarlet will
usually get the best of these confrontations, but the
pure persistance of the red often pays off with a victory,
or at least a draw.
Allan J. Mikkola (allanm@vulcan.med.ge.com)
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