Dragon
The Dragon is one of the most feared monsters of Arth, weighing up
to 300 kg and with wingspans over 30 metres. They are strong, savage
and armoured in horny scales, but worst of all, can breath fire or
acid to bring down their prey. This remarkable feat is due to a
peculiar feature dragons share with certain other animals - the
ability to generate a strong electric current. Dragons are always
found near sources of water, and drink copiously. They use an
electric arc to release hydrogen from the water, which is trapped in
sacs along the animal's body. The lift generated by this is enough to
allow the beasts to fly, and in extremis, it is ignited by an
electric arc and expelled onto their prey, together with a mix of
volatile liquids. The large, swollen body of a dragon slims down
enormously when this is done, and bold monster slayers have been
puzzled by the shrinking of an exhausted dragon, and still more when
they find that much of its bulk is empty. A dragon thus spent cannot
fly, but only glide - and that poorly. Dragons have no teeth, but
serrated bony plates which protect them from flames and also enable
them to rip at the toughest prey. There are other species of dragon,
notably the dreaded Snow dragon, which
haunts mountain heights and other cold places. These creatures are so
large (up to a tonne in weight) they can no longer fly, walking
instead on four limbs, but they have retained the fiery breath of
their ancestors. They can generate heat by a controlled release of
flame, so survive the most arctic of weathers. In addition, these
creatures have thick armour of bone plates, which is often hot to the
touch, since it acts to shed the excess heat generated, and as
insulation.
Another relative is the smaller, sinuous Swamp
or Forest dragon. It has lost the art of breathing fire, but
retained the muscular sacs that hold hydrogen, so that it can glide,
even with its relatively small wings and fly a little. This creature
more often hunts its prey on the ground, or in the water, however and
has been known to lair in underwater places that retain some air. It
too expels gas onto its victims, but in the case of this dragon, it
is mixed with its caustic digestive juices, forming a blinding,
incapacitating spray. The smallest dragon, the nimble Tree
dragon, spits poison in the same way.
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STR
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45
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+40
|
|
DEX
|
14
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+12
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CON
|
20
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+20
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BOD
|
18
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+10
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INT
|
3
|
-7
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EGO
|
6
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-8
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PRE
|
20
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+10
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COM
|
1
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-5
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PD
|
9
|
|
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ED
|
6
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+1
|
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SPD
|
3
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+8
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REC
|
14
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+8
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END
|
40
|
|
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STUN
|
48
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Total
|
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+89
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|
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OCV
|
5 (±4)
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|
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DCV
|
3 (±4)
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|
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ECV
|
2
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POWERS
|
|
24
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15 points of growth, always on
|
|
16
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8 PD/ED armour, act 14- (not on belly).
|
|
37
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Flaming breath 4d6 RKA area affect (cone),
unranged, 3 uses, requires water to recharge
(-1/2)
|
|
13
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Flight - 10 " - only if flame breath not used up
(-1/2)
|
|
72
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3d6 HKA, reduced penetration. (2 x 3d6 HKA with
strength) with +1 stun multiplier on whole
attack
|
|
30
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25 % damage reduction - all attacks
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|
3
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5" gliding - Activates 14-
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|
5
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Extra limb (tail)
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6
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+3 to sight PER rolls
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|
20
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4 CSL with HTH combat
|
|
226
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Total powers and skils
|
|
315
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Total creature cost
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|
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NOTES
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+2 PER roll to see, -3 KNB, can reach 2
hexes
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|
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50 +
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DISADVANTAGES
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|
15
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Physical limitation - no fine manipulation
|
|
25
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Distinctive features - Predator (not
concealable, extreme reaction)
|
|
10
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Hunted 8- (by brave adventurers only!)
|
|
215
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Tyrant-of-the-skies bonus
|
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