Dragon, Iris Wyrm (Adult)

Medium dragon, neutral

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 45 (6d8+9 HD)
Speed 20 ft., fly 80 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
15 (+2) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 10 (0) 15 (+2) 7 (-2)

Skills Perception +6, Stealth +8, Survival +6
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from nonmagical weapons

Condition Immunities frightened, paralyzed
Senses passive Perception 16
Languages Vulgate, draconic
Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Special Traits

  • Camouflage. They adapt colors to match its environment. The creature has advantage on Stealth checks.

Actions

  • Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) slashing damage. The target must make a constitution save (DC 15) or be affected by the creature’s poison. The poison causes the target to become incapacitated. The target can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, shaking off the effect and gaining immunity to the poison for 24 hours on a successful save.
  • Blood Drain. If the dragon has incapacitated a target, it will try to feed. The dragon lands on the target, injecting its mouth tube into the victim and sucking out blood. The target automatically takes 4 (1d8) necrotic damage each round. The creature will keep drinking until attacked, its victim dies, or it consumes twice its hit points in damage. If the dragon consumes double its hit points in blood, it will immediately stop draining blood and fly away to digest its meal.
  • Paralysis Breath (Recharge 5-6). The dragon exhales a cloud of spores in a 15 foot cone. Anyone in the area must make a Dexterity save (DC 15) or be infected by the spores and paralyzed. Anyone immune to disease automatically saves against the spores.

About

The smallest of dragons, the iris wyrm is light green in color, thin and lithe. Broad, leaf-like scales cover its long form; its legs shaped like vines, and its head, long and thin is yellow. It has small claws, used to cling to the sides of trees, branches, or rocks. The iris dragon’s tail, long and thinning to a small taper, serves a similar purpose. It has razor sharp teeth that deliver a stinging bite, but its real weapon is the dew claw it possesses on each forward claw. This long appendage, several inches longer than its other claws, carries potent venom.

Swamp Dwellers. Iris dragons dwell in tropic, sub-tropic jungles and temperate deciduous forests. They are very social, pack oriented dragons, and travel in family groups of up to 10.

The creature is moderately intelligent, with the older ones able to speak elf, the vulgate, or any other tongue with which it has had long exposure. The dragon takes up residence near water or cave entrances, trails and the like; anywhere that creatures may stop to find food or shelter. They take shelter in the trees and shrubs, disguising themselves as plants. When their prey enters the area, they wait for it to come within range of one of its forefeet; using the claw they attempt to nip the victim. They wait until the paralysis takes effect and then come into feed. If discovered or disturbed the whole pack of them launch in a very aggressive attack on any and all targets in the area.

Stealthy Hunters. The iris dragon is able to camouflage itself extraordinarily well. To the casual viewer the creature looks more like a vine snaking up the side of a tree or rock than a dragon. It moves slowly as well, using its ability to blend into the environment to hide it from the creature it is stalking. They prey primarily on humans, demi-humans, and humanoids. They feed through tubular protrusion that lies beneath their tongue.

When a victim is gassed or paralyzed the dragon settles on them, the tube is driven into the victim and their blood drained.

The iris wyrm feeds on the paralyzed victim, so long as the victim is alive. If at any time the victim is viewed as dead by the iris wyrm it stops eating it. For instance, the monk’s ability to feign death would stop the dragon from devouring the character.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Harvest of Oaths, Copyright 2018, Troll Lord Games, Author Stephen Chenault.

This is not the complete license attribution - see the full license for this page