Onyx Dragon
by Jamie BatyRC 171
Dragon (Water)
Environment: Temperate, Warm marshes
Organisation: Wyrmling, very young, young, juvenile, and young adult: solitary or clutch (2-5); adult, mature adult, old, very old, ancient, wyrm, or great wyrm: solitary, pair, or family (1-2 and 2-5 offspring)
Challenge Ratings: Wyrmling 3; very young 4; young 5; juvenile 7; young adult 9; adult 11; mature adult 14; old 16; very old 18; ancient 19; wyrm 20; great wyrm 22
Treasure: Triple standard
Alignment: Always Neutral, Usually True Neutral
Advancement: Wyrmling 5-6 HD; very young 8-9 HD; young 11-12 HD; juvenile 14-15 HD; young adult 17-18 HD; adult 20-21 HD; mature adult 23-24 HD; old 26-27 HD; very old 29-30 HD; ancient 32-33 HD; wyrm 35-36 HD; great wyrm 38+ HD
Level Adjustment: Wyrmling +3; very young +3; young +3; juvenile +4; others
Onyx Dragons by Age
| Age | S | Hit Dice (hp) | Str | Dex | Con | Int | Wis | Cha | Base Attack/ Grapple Attack | Fort | Ref | Will | BW (DC) | FP | DC |
| Wyrmling | T | 4d12+4 (30) | 11 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 8 | +4/-4 | +6 | +5 | +4 | +4 | 2d4 (13) | - |
| Very young | S | 7d12+7 (52) | 13 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 8 | +7/+4 | +9 | +6 | +5 | +5 | 4d4 (14) | - |
| Young | M | 10d12+20 (85) | 15 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 10 | +10/+12 | +12 | +9 | +7 | +7 | 6d4 (17) | - |
| Juvenile | M | 13d12+26 (110) | 17 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 10 | +13/+16 | +16 | +10 | +8 | +8 | 8d4 (18) | - |
| Young adult | L | 16d12+48 (152) | 19 | 10 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 12 | +16/+24 | +19 | +13 | +10 | +11 | 10d4 (21) | 19 |
| Adult | L | 19d12+76 (199) | 23 | 10 | 19 | 12 | 13 | 12 | +19/+29 | +24 | +15 | +11 | +12 | 12d4 (23) | 20 |
| Mature adult | H | 22d12+110 (253) | 27 | 10 | 21 | 14 | 15 | 14 | +22/+38 | +28 | +18 | +13 | +15 | 14d4 (26) | 23 |
| Old | H | 25d12+125 (287) | 29 | 10 | 21 | 14 | 15 | 14 | +25/+42 | +32 | +19 | +14 | +16 | 16d4 (27) | 24 |
| Very old | H | 28d12+168 (350) | 31 | 10 | 23 | 16 | 17 | 16 | +28/+46 | +36 | +22 | +16 | +19 | 18d4 (30) | 27 |
| Ancient | H | 31d12+186 (387) | 33 | 10 | 23 | 16 | 17 | 16 | +31/+50 | +40 | +23 | +17 | +20 | 20d4 (31) | 28 |
| Wyrm | G | 34d12+238 (459) | 35 | 10 | 25 | 18 | 19 | 18 | +34/+58 | +42 | +26 | +19 | +23 | 22d4 (34) | 31 |
| Great wyrm | G | 37d12+296 (536) | 37 | 10 | 27 | 20 | 21 | 20 | +37/+62 | +46 | +28 | +20 | +25 | 24d4 (36) | 33 |
Onyx Dragon Abilities by Age
| Age | Speed | Initiative | AC | Special Abilities | Caster Level | SR |
| Wyrmling | 60 ft., fly 100 ft. (average), swim 60 ft. | +0 | 15 (+2 size,+3 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 15 | Immunity to acid, water breathing | - | - |
| Very young | 60 ft., fly 100 ft. (average), swim 60 ft. | +0 | 17 (+1 size,+6 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 17 | - | - | |
| Young | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | +0 | 19 (+9 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 19 | - | - | |
| Juvenile | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | +0 | 22 (+12 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 22 | Darkness | - | - |
| Young adult | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | +0 | 24 (-1 size,+15 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 24 | DR 5/magic | 1st | 17 |
| Adult | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | +0 | 27 (-1 size,+18 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 27 | Control water | 3rd | 18 |
| Mature adult | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | +0 | 29 (-2 size,+21 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 29 | DR 10/magic | 5th | 21 |
| Old | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | +0 | 32 (-2 size,+24 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 32 | Wall of Thorns | 7th | 22 |
| Very old | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | +0 | 35 (-2 size,+27 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 35 | DR 15/magic | 9th | 23 |
| Ancient | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | +0 | 38 (-2 size,+30 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 38 | Insect plague | 11th | 25 |
| Wyrm | 60 ft., fly 200 ft. (clumsy), swim 60 ft. | +0 | 39 (-4 size,+33 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 39 | DR 20/magic | 13th | 26 |
| Great wyrm | 60 ft., fly 200 ft. (clumsy), swim 60 ft. | +0 | 42 (-4 size,+36 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 42 | Charm reptiles | 15th | 28 |
Note: Please reference the SRD entry on true dragons for related information, including ages, damage, breath weapon ranges, and special abilities common to all true dragons.
Onyx dragons inhabit dismal swamps and dark fens. They are not especially intelligent for a true draconic species, but are cunning and stealthy when hunting prey.
At a distance of 120ft or more, the onyx dragon cannot be distinguished from a black dragon, unless there is bright sunlight (in which case the dragon's bright scales are conspicuous). At close range the onyx dragon's lustrous, jewelled scales shimmer and sparkle in the light, revealing the mighty reptile's true nature. In sunlight, the onyx dragon's deep black scales shine as brightly as a thousand mirrors.
Onyx dragons live in wetlands, ranging from the tropics to the chillier fringes of the temperate zones. As rule, they prefer dark, well-shaded areas such as tree-filled bog: In darker areas, their scintillating scales are less likely to give away their location to prey.
Onyx dragons hunt the largest animals in their environments: alligators, herons, manatees, moose, and so forth. They do not hesitate to consume humanoid prey, but they do have enough intelligence to realise that adventurers may be more trouble to kill than the meal is worth. Onyx dragons do value treasure, especially dark and lustrous gems. However, they tend to have less treasure than other dragons.
As a gemstone dragon, the onyx dragon maintains a strong dislike for the chromatic and metallic dragons of Mystara. They have a particular hatred for black dragons, in spite of (or perhaps because of) their many similarities.
Combat
Onyx dragons prefer to ambush their targets, using their surroundings as cover. When fighting in heavily forested swamps and marshes, they try to stay in the water or on the ground; trees and leafy canopies limit their aerial manoeuvrability. When outmatched, an onyx dragon attempts to fly out of sight, so as not to leave tracks, and hide in a deep pond or bog. Onyx dragons sometimes use the darkness breath in advance of an encounter, to hide themselves and gain surprise.
Breath Weapon (Su): An onyx dragon has one type of breath weapon, a line of inky black acid. Any creatures hit by the line of inky black acid must make a second Fortitude save or be enveloped in a 15ft radius cloud of darkness. If the save is made, the victim may move out of the darkness (it stays in place.). If the save is failed, the darkness remains centred on the victim regardless of whether or not he moves. This darkness lasts for 1 round per HD of the dragon unless dispelled. The onyx dragon can easily see through the darkness. It is similar to a darkness spell in all other respects.
Water Breathing (Ex): An onyx dragon can breathe underwater indefinitely and can freely use its breath weapon, spells, and other abilities while submerged.
Control Water (Sp): Once per day an adult or older onyx dragon can use this ability. It functions as the Control Water spell except that the area affected and duration are doubled.- area is Water in a volume of 20 ft./level by 20 ft./level by 4 ft./level and duration is 20 min./level.
Charm Reptiles (Sp): A great wyrm onyx dragon can use this ability three times per day. It works as a mass charm spell that affects only reptilian animals. The dragon can communicate with any charmed reptiles as though casting a speak with animals spell. This ability is the equivalent of a 1st-level spell.
Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day darkness (juvenile or older; radius 10 feet per age category), insect plague (ancient or older); 1/day wall of thorns (old or older).
Skills: Hide, Move Silently, and Swim are considered class skills for onyx dragons.