Forest Dragon, Adult

Huge dragon, chaotic evil

Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 262 (21d12+126)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 20 ft., climb 30 ft., fly 100 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
26 (+8)	10 (+0)	22 (+6)	16 (+3)	17 (+3)	16 (+3)

Saving Throws Con +12, Str +15
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Skills Perception +9, Stealth +6
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 19
Languages Common, Draconic, Elven, Goblin, Sylvan
Challenge 19 (22,000 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Animate Trees (1/Day). The imperial forest dragon magically animates one or two trees it can see within 60 feet of it. These trees have the same statistics as a treant, except they have Intelligence and Charisma scores of 1, they can’t speak, and they have only the Slam action option. An animated tree acts as an ally of the imperial forest dragon. The tree remains animate for 1 day or until it dies; until the imperial forest dragon dies or is more than 120 feet from the tree; or until the imperial forest dragon takes a bonus action to turn it back into an inanimate tree. The tree then takes root if possible.
• Innate Spellcasting. The imperial forest dragon’s spell casting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
  • At will: obscuring mist, magic missile, speak with plants
  • 3/day each: fog cloud, hideous laughter, invisibility
  • 1/day each: charm monster, plant growth, lightning bolt
• Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the imperial forest dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The imperial forest 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, 1reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 47 (6d12 + 8) piercing damage.
• Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, 1reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d8 + 8) slashing damage.
• Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, 1reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 26 (4d8 + 8) bludgeoning damage.
• Frightful Presence. Each creature of the imperial forest dragon’s choice that is within 120 feet of the imperial forest dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the imperial forest dragon’s Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
• Poison Breath (Recharge 5-6). The imperial forest dragon exhales a smog of poisonous breath in a 60-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must succeed a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or take 13 (3d8) poison damage and become poisoned for 1 minute.
• Splinter Breath (Recharge 5-6). The imperial forest dragon exhales piercing splinters in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that cone must make a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw, taking 31 (7d8) piercing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

LEGENDARY ACTIONS

The imperial forest 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 forest dragon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

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

LAIR ACTIONS

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

• A imperial forest dragon can summon one creature that lives in the forest that is CR 2 or less to a space within 60 feet of it. This creature is loyal to the imperial forest dragon and will do anything to defend it.
• The imperial forest dragon can cause vines to entangle one creature in its lair. The creature must succeed a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw or become restrained for 1 round.
• The imperial forest dragon can cause a 10 foot radius area of dirt to grow full of plants and underbrush, making it difficult terrain.

REGIONAL EFFECTS

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

• Plants within 5 miles of the imperial forest dragon’s lair grow at ten times their normal speed.
• Previously normal creatures become venomous or poisonous, usually inflicting such wounds with their bites or claws.
• All plant creatures within 1 mile of the imperial forest dragon’s lair are drawn to it by some strange supernatural compulsion.

ABOUT

Forest dragons are fickle and malevolent dragons that dwell in deep, rugged woodlands. Forest dragons stalk the earth to pursue objects of its wrath. These wingless creatures have jade scales and antlers, and sound like grinding stones as they stalk forth.

Dragons are an integral part of the mythology of Asia, though they are quite different from the winged dragons known in the Western mythology. Some are benevolent and others sinister, but while their appearance is different from Western dragons they are equally capable of the savage rapacity and legendary greed of their chromatic cousins and the stern and aloof devotion to goodness of their metallic kin. Like most monsters, imperial dragons have an assigned typical alignment, but they are highly individualistic and much more likely to have an alignment that varies from the typical than would be true for metallic or chromatic dragons.

Imperial dragons, sometimes termed dragons of the celestial host, in the “dragon empires” are serpentine agents of cosmic balance, though some of them are not above sowing chaos and discord for their own gain. Imperial dragons differ in appearance from the more commonly known chromatic and metallic dragons, possessing a long serpentine body. Most lack wings but can fly gracefully through supernatural means.

All imperial dragons have large antlers, some sweeping back in delicate curves and others thrust forward to gore their foes.

Like all dragons, imperial dragons can breathe potent torrents of elemental force, and many can cast spells and perform other supernatural feats. Additionally, all can magically transform themselves into a humanoid shape.

Imperial Entanglements. Imperial dragons are defenders of ancient lands and protectors of cosmic balance. They take a much more active role in humanoid societies than their metallic or chromatic kin, to such a degree that the kingdoms of in lands they are known sometimes refer to themselves as “dragon empires.” They are active in times of social upheaval, and may be sought out for their wisdom or aid. Imperial dragons are seen by humanoids as either benevolent guardians or vile threats depending on their type. Some imperial families trace their bloodlines to the semi-divine dragon-emperors of old or still rely on the counsel of living dragons or, in rare cases, ask a dragon to rule as their wise sovereign.

Mandate of Heaven. More so than any other dragons, imperial dragons are closely tied to the religious beliefs of their native lands. Imperial dragons are often associated with divinity, whether as guardians or emissaries of a god, as the representation of a god, or as a deity themselves. It is said that imperial dragons inhabited their lands in an Age of Dragons, long before other races arose there, and were charged by the gods to safeguard the land in anticipation of humanity’s arrival. Some of the gods themselves may in fact be incredibly powerful dragons transcended into immortality, and each of the five species of imperial dragon is represented as a constellation.

Adult Dragons. The imperial dragons presented in this book are all adults. As agents of the highest deities, young dragons sometimes wander in mortal lands before they ascend, though many are kept safe in the realms of the divine until they reach maturity and complete their training. Older dragons may likewise “graduate” from their status and join the celestial bureaucracy, while others roam freely to live as they wish. If you wish to extend the lifespans of imperial dragons into youth or old age like other true dragons, you can adjust their abilities up or down in a manner similar to other dragons with equivalent Challenge levels.