Ruby Dragon
by Jamie BatyRC 171
Dragon (Fire)
Environment: Warm Mountains
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 4; very young 5; young 7; juvenile 10; young adult 13; adult 15; mature adult 18; old 20; very old 21; ancient 23; wyrm 24; great wyrm 26
Treasure: Triple standard
Alignment: Always Lawful, Usually Neutral
Advancement: Wyrmling 8-9 HD; very young 11-12 HD; young 14-15 HD; juvenile 17-18 HD; young adult 20-21 HD; adult 23-24 HD; mature adult 26-27 HD; old 29-30 HD; very old 32-33 HD; ancient 35-36 HD; wyrm 38-39 HD; great wyrm 41+ HD
Level Adjustment: Wyrmling +4; very young +5; young +6; others
Ruby 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 | M | 7d12+14 (59) | 17 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 10 | +7/+10 | +10 | +7 | +5 | +5 | 2d10 (15) | - |
| Very young | L | 10d12+30 (95) | 21 | 10 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 12 | +10/+19 | +14 | +10 | +7 | +8 | 4d10 (18) | - |
| Young | L | 13d12+39 (123) | 25 | 10 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 12 | +13/+24 | +19 | +11 | +8 | +9 | 6d10 (19) | - |
| Juvenile | L | 16d12+64 (168) | 29 | 10 | 19 | 14 | 15 | 14 | +16/+29 | +24 | +14 | +10 | +12 | 8d10 (22) | - |
| Young adult | H | 19d12+95 (218) | 31 | 10 | 21 | 14 | 15 | 14 | +19/+37 | +27 | +16 | +11 | +13 | 10d10 (24) | 21 |
| Adult | H | 22d12+110 (253) | 33 | 10 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 16 | +22/+41 | +31 | +18 | +13 | +17 | 12d10 (26) | 24 |
| Mature adult | H | 25d12+150 (312) | 33 | 10 | 23 | 18 | 19 | 18 | +25/+44 | +34 | +20 | +14 | +18 | 14d10 (28) | 26 |
| Old | G | 28d12+196 (378) | 35 | 10 | 25 | 20 | 21 | 20 | +28/+52 | +36 | +23 | +16 | +21 | 16d10 (31) | 29 |
| Very old | G | 31d12+248 (449) | 37 | 10 | 27 | 22 | 23 | 22 | +31/+56 | +40 | +25 | +17 | +23 | 18d10 (33) | 31 |
| Ancient | G | 34d12+306 (527) | 39 | 10 | 29 | 24 | 25 | 24 | +34/+60 | +44 | +28 | +19 | +26 | 20d10 (36) | 34 |
| Wyrm | G | 37d12+370 (610) | 41 | 10 | 31 | 24 | 25 | 24 | +37/+64 | +48 | +30 | +20 | +27 | 22d10 (38) | 35 |
| Great wyrm | C | 40d12+400 (660) | 45 | 10 | 31 | 26 | 27 | 26 | +40/+73 | +49 | +32 | +22 | +30 | 24d10 (40) | 38 |
Ruby Dragon Abilities by Age
| Age | Speed | Initiative | AC | Special Abilities | Caster Level | SR |
| Wyrmling | 40 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor) | +0 | 16 (+6 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 16 | Immunity to fire, Internal Fire | - | - |
| Very young | 40 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor) | +0 | 18 (-1 size, +9 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 18 | - | - | |
| Young | 40 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor) | +0 | 21 (-1 size, +12 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 21 | 1st | - | |
| Juvenile | 40 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor) | +0 | 24 (-1 size, +15 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 24 | Locate object | 3rd | - |
| Young adult | 40 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor) | +0 | 26 (-2 size, +18 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 26 | DR 5/magic | 5th | 19 |
| Adult | 40 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor) | +0 | 29 (-2 size, +21 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 29 | 7th | 21 | |
| Mature adult | 40 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor) | +0 | 32 (-2 size, +24 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 32 | DR 10/magic | 9th | 23 |
| Old | 40 ft., fly 200 ft. (clumsy) | +0 | 33 (-4 size, +27 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 33 | Suggestion | 11th | 24 |
| Very old | 40 ft., fly 200 ft. (clumsy) | +0 | 36 (-4 size, +30 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 36 | DR 15/magic | 13th | 26 |
| Ancient | 40 ft., fly 200 ft. (clumsy) | +0 | 39 (-4 size, +33 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 39 | Stone Tell | 15th | 28 |
| Wyrm | 40 ft., fly 200 ft. (clumsy) | +0 | 42 (-4 size, +36 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 42 | DR 20/magic | 17th | 30 |
| Great wyrm | 40 ft., fly 200 ft. (clumsy) | +0 | 41 (-8 size, +39 natural), touch 2, flat-footed 41 | Discern location | 19th | 32 |
1. Can also cast cleric spells and those from the Fire, Law and Wealth domains as arcane spells.
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.
At a distance of 120 feet or more, the ruby dragon cannot be distinguished from a red dragon. At closer ranges the dragon's scales shimmer, revealing the mighty reptile's true nature.
Ruby dragons exist in the same habitat red dragons favour. However, they are more willing to venture into higher altitudes, colder climes, and deep underground.
Ruby dragons are ravenous carnivores. They also have a great fondness for the most precious of gems, fused in the mightiest of the earth's furnaces. These dragons will attack dwarves gleefully, knowing the little demihumans hoard the gems these dragons find so delicious. Characters who find themselves trapped by a ruby dragon have a good chance of buying their freedom by offering to lead the dragon to a cache of gems.
Ruby dragons speak draconic, and may know a multitude of other local languages.
As a gemstone dragon, the ruby dragon maintains a strong dislike for the chromatic and metallic dragons of Mystara. They have a particular hatred for red dragons, in spite of (or perhaps because of) their many similarities.
Combat
Like the red dragon, ruby dragons are so confident; they seldom pause to appraise an adversary. They do exercise greater restraint in whether or not they will attack a target than a red dragon typically does, and if they do attack it will be by using one of many strategies worked out ahead of time. A ruby dragon attacks small, weak creatures with its claws and bite rather than obliterating them with its breath weapon, so as not to destroy any treasure they might be carrying.
Breath Weapon (Su): A ruby dragon has one breath weapon, a cone of melting fire. Creatures hit by the melting fire must make a second Fortitude save or all carried items begin to burn and melt. Paper items are destroyed instantly,; leather goods in 1 round; all other non-metal items in 2 rounds; nonmagical metal items in 3 rounds; and magical items of all types in 4 or more rounds. If the item has a bonus, add 1 round to the 4 round period for each plus. Items that grant immunity or resistance to fire also melt, but in double the time. Items may be saved by immersion in water or cooling by other means. If this is not done immediately, the items may be damaged.
Internal Fire (Ex): A ruby dragon's tough jewelled hide provides solid protection against cold. It does not suffer from the vulnerability to cold common to the Fire subtype.
Locate Object (Sp): A juvenile or older ruby dragon can use this ability as the spell of the same name, once per day per age category.
Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day suggestion (old or older); 1/day stone tell (ancient or older), discern location (great wyrm).
Skills: Appraise, Bluff, and Jump are considered class skills for ruby dragons.