Drake, Sapphire

Family: Drake

Large dragon, neutral evil

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 142 (15d10 + 60)
Speed 25 ft., climb 25 ft., fly 80 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
19 (+4) 15 (+2) 18 (+4) 9 (-1) 14 (+2) 14 (+2)

Saving Throws Con +7
Skills Intimidation +5, Stealth +5
Damage Resistances fire; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities paralyzed
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Draconic
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3

SPECIAL TRAITS

  • Keen Smell. The drake has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

ACTIONS

  • Multiattack. The drake can use Bone-Shaking Hum. It then makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its tail.
  • Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) piercing damage.
  • Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
  • Bone-Shaking Hum. The drake strikes its own crystal hide, causing its body to emit a resonating hum. Each non-dragon creature within 20 feet of it must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, the creature’s speed is halved until the end of its next turn. On a success, the creature is immune to this effect for 1 minute.
  • Embershard Breath (Recharge 5-6). The drake exhales flaming blue crystals in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The area becomes difficult terrain for the next minute; when a creature starts its turn in the area or enters the area for the first time on a turn, it must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take 3 (1d6) piercing damage and 3 (1d6) fire damage.

REACTIONS

  • Harden Scales. When the drake fails a Constitution saving throw, it rerolls the saving throw. For the next minute, its speed is reduced by 10 feet and it can’t use this ability again.

ABOUT

Sapphire drakes stalk mineral-rich caverns and volcanic islands all over the world, appearing in roughly the same locales as their namesake gemstones. With beautiful crystalline scales, broad blue wings, and ferocious tempers, sapphire drakes strike a surprising balance between beauty and brutality.

Even more so than most drakes, sapphires are extremely covetous of treasures such as gold, jewels, and pieces of art. Unfortunately for many would-be treasure hunters, sapphire drakes are also extremely good at hiding their wealth.

These greedy dragons tend to quietly lair in remote places far from humanoid settlements, such as sea caves on distant islands, the lowest levels of gem-encrusted caverns, or the outer rims of scorching, sacrifice-laden volcanoes.

Sapphire drakes are also prone to enslaving smaller creatures, which they accomplish by playing on humanoids’ predictable tendency toward greed. To acquire such servants, a sapphire drake will simply grant a humanoid supplicant a grandiose title, some chosen trinkets from its hoard, and command this new minion to dominate its fellows. While sapphire drakes are not particularly intelligent creatures, they understand their own weaknesses and value the knowledge and loyalty of their humanoid prizes. Sapphire drakes strongly detest falsehoods or illusions, and quickly eradicate any underlings they suspect of treachery.

According to popular legends, sapphire drakes were originally created by greedy pirate-wizards who attempted to crossbreed jungle drakes and flame drakes. Their hope was to create a subservient species of drake to protect the pirates’ treasure hoards and gem-filled mine shafts. The resulting sapphire drakes proved more than up to the task, quickly eradicating their former masters and claiming the bounty for themselves.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Battlezoo Bestiary (5E) © 2022, Skyscraper Studios, Inc.; Authors: William Fischer, Stephen Glicker, Paul Hughes, Patrick Renie, Sen.H.H.S., and Mark Seifter.

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