Dragon, Underworld, Adult

Family: Dragons

Huge dragon, lawful evil

Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 256 (19d12+133)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 60 ft., fly 100 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
26 (+8)	6 (-2)	25 (+7)	20 (+5)	23 (+6)	24 (+7)

Saving Throws Str +14, Con+13, Cha+12
Damage Immunities fire
Damage Vulnerabilities cold
Skills Perception +12, Stealth +10
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 22
Languages Common, Draconic, Dwarvish, Giant, Ignan, Terran, Undercommon
Challenge 19 (22,000 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Choking Cloud. Any time the imperial underworld dragon casts fog cloud, creatures except for the imperial underworld dragon inside the affected area must hold their breath or begin to suffocate. Spells with verbal components cannot be cast within the affected area.
• Innate Spellcasting. The imperial underworld dragon’s spell casting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
  • At will: burning hands
  • 3/day each: fog cloud, scorching ray
  • 1/day each: disintegrate, delayed blast fireball
• Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the imperial underworld dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
• Treasure Scent. An imperial underworld dragon can smell precious metals and gemstones within 120 feet, not requiring a Wisdom (Perception) ability check.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The imperial underworld dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, 15 ft. reach, one target. Hit: 47 (6d12 + 8) piercing damage.
• Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, 15 ft. reach, one target. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 8) slashing damage.
• Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, 15 ft. reach, one target. Hit: 26 (4d8 + 8) bludgeoning damage.
• Fire Breath (Recharge 5-6). The imperial underworld dragon exhales burning flames in a 60-foot line. Each creature in that line must make a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw, taking 31 (7d8) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

LEGENDARY ACTIONS

The imperial underworld dragon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The imperial underworld dragon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Detect. The imperial underworld dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
• Tail Attack. The imperial underworld dragon makes a tail attack.

LAIR ACTIONS

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the imperial underworld dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; The imperial underworld dragon can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:

• An imperial underworld dragon can summon one creature that lives in the caves or underground that is CR 2 or less to a space within 60 feet of it. This creature is loyal to the imperial underworld dragon and will do anything to defend it.
• The imperial underworld dragon can cause one dead humanoid’s corpse to rise again as a fire elemental loyal to the imperial underworld dragon. This fire elemental has 50 maximum hit points and does not have the Multiattack ability.
• The imperial underworld dragon can cause a 20-foot radius to become absolute darkness that even creatures with darkvision cannot see through, except for the imperial underworld dragon. This area lasts for 1 turn.

REGIONAL EFFECTS

The region containing the imperial underworld dragon’s lair is shaped by its dark power, which creates one or more of the following effects:

• Cracks in the ground begin to form within 1 mile of the imperial underworld dragon’s lair, spewing lava out of them.
• People within 5 miles of the imperial underworld dragon’s lair become greedier than they would usually be, and the dragon itself becomes aware of items of great value that enter its domain. Creatures that remain within this area for more than 1 week become selfish and vindictive, behaving as if their alignment was lawful evil. This effect ends when a creature leaves the area or the imperial underworld dragon dies.
• The area within 5 miles of the imperial underworld dragon’s lair becomes covered in an oppressive smoky haze that is humid to breathe in.

ABOUT

Underworld dragons are calculating, greedy creatures that carve great labyrinthine tunnels beneath the world, defending their hidden treasures. Preferring the earth to the heavens, they channel the fires of the world’s core within their twisting, stonelike bodies and through flaming breath hot enough to turn granite into slag. These serpentine dragons have skin the color of deep volcanic rock, enormous claws, and jagged, stonelike horns and scales.