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"Greetings, young paladin." came a voice from the dark. It was kind, though it had a strange, almost comical, twang to it.
"Hello? Are you the dragon said to live in this cave?" replied a young woman in silvery white armour. She squinted into the darkness, unable to see through the thick smoke in the room ahead.
"Yes, do you need something?"
"It is important. Show yourself first."
"You are quite rude for one of your order, but as you wish.", and with that a large figure began to emerge.
All of a sudden the woman leaped at the creature, sword in hand. It would trouble her people no more. However her strike was met with a swipe from the creatures claws. As she lay exhausted on the ground the dragon looked over her, or rather it didn't. Where the head on most dragons could be found was little more than a patch of scales, a polished grey with flecks of purple which covered the beast's body. A flap on its belly vibrated to produce its words.
"Do not think you can fool me with a simple magicks, dark elf!", boomed the voice; the twang having twisted into a growl, as the illusion faded from the woman, revealing her dark skin and white hair, "I have protected this cave for decades as my ancestors have for century's. While that will come to an end one day, it shall not be done by you! Now begone and I shall show you mercy."
The young drow fled, not bothering to even recover her sword or the fragments of dark armour.
Headless Dragon
Size/Type: Large Dragon
Hit Dice: 10d12 (65 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 40ft. (8 squares); Fly 150ft. (poor);
Armor Class: 14, touch 10, flat-footed 13 (-1 size, +1 dex, +4 natural)
Base Attack/Grapple: +10/+16
Attack: 2 Claws +11 melee (1d8+2), 2 Wings +11 melee (1d6+1)
Full Attack: 2 Claws 1d8+11 melee, 2 Wings 1d6+11 melee
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Crush, Psionics,
Special Qualities: Perfect Sense, Evasion, Slow Drop, Dragon Traits
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +11
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 14, Wis 18, Cha 10
Skills: Intimidate (13), Sense Motive (13), Diplomacy (13), Concentration (13), Swim (13), Knowledge (the Planes; 13), Knowledge (Arcana; 13) and Appraise (13)
Feats: Hover, Wingover, Empower Power, Enlarge Power
Environment: Caves
Organization: Lone, Pair (2), Group (3-5)
Challenge Rating: 9
Treasure: Double Standard
Alignment: Any non-evil
Headless dragons are aptly named. They resemble true dragons with one exception; they lack a head. This is because their minds are attuned to the material plane to the point that all their senses became redundant long ago, replaced with an absolute awareness of their surroundings. Their brains are found in the middle of their bodies, they may communicate verbally using a special flap of scales over their belly. Their scales are a polished grey, with spots of purple appearing as they get older. A headless dragon can live from 200 to 300 years. They often devote themselves to a cause, lending their awareness of the world to anything from prospecting to adventuring.
Crush (Ex) This special attack allows a flying or jumping dragon of at least Huge size to land on opponents as a standard action, using its whole body to crush them. Crush attacks are effective only against opponents three or more size categories smaller than the dragon (though it can attempt normal overrun or grapple attacks against larger opponents).
A crush attack affects as many creatures as can fit under the dragon’s body. Creatures in the affected area must succeed on a Reflex save (DC equal to that of the dragon’s breath weapon) or be pinned, automatically taking bludgeoning damage during the next round unless the dragon moves off them. If the dragon chooses to maintain the pin, treat it as a normal grapple attack. Pinned opponents take damage from the crush each round if they don’t escape.
A crush attack deals 1d8 plus 1½ times the dragon’s Strength bonus (round down).
Psionics (Su) A dragon knows and manifests psionic powers as a psion of a level equal to its HD, gaining bonus power points for a high intelligence score.
Perfect Sense (Su) A Headless Dragon has no sense of taste, smell or sight. However it is in tune with the material plane and is fully aware of what is going on within its immediate vicinity. All spot, search and liston checks it makes within 100 ft. of itself automatically succeed, any made outside this range automatically fail. It is treated as having permanent deathwatch, detect magic, detect evil, detect good, detect undead and detect animals or plants, in this radius however it cannot sense constructs. A headless dragon is never considered flatfooted and is immune to all gaze attacks, illusions and any other effect which relies on a conventional sense.
Evasion (Ex) The headless dragon's awareness allows it to use evasion as a rogue would.
Slow Drop (Sp) The dragon is treated as being under the effects of a featherfall spell. This functions even if the dragon has been rendered unconscious or unable to move.
Dragon Traits Dragon traits are as follows;
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- Darkvision out to 60 feet and low-light vision.
- Immunity to magic sleep effects and paralysis effects.
- Proficient with its natural weapons only unless humanoid in form (or capable of assuming humanoid form), in which case proficient with all simple weapons and any weapons mentioned in its entry.
- Proficient with no armor.
- Dragons eat, sleep, and breathe.
Combat
A headless dragon will ready an attack if it senses anyone sneaking up on it or if it is going to initiate combat. it will attack the nearest target with this on the first round of combat. It then proceeds to hover and use psionic abilities on its opponents. If it runs out of spells then it will land and attack with its claws and wings until the targets are dead or it chooses to flee or surrender.
Lore
{TABLE=head]DC|Lore
25|This is a headless dragon, its brain is deep inside its body as it has no need for a head. It is inatly aware of everything nearby it.
30|It can manifest powers as a psion can
40|They are reclusive, even good aligned ones may attack if they feel that their personal space is not being respected.[/TABLE]
Plot Hooks
- The PCs need to find a Headless Dragon who will be able to sense the presence of an otherwise invisible monster who has been plaguing them.
- The PCs are hired to slay a headless dragon who has been attacking a nearby settlement for reasons unknown.
- The PCs are asked by a dying headless dragon to get help from a nearby village.
Re: GITP Monster Competition XX - Gone Mental
