House Drake, Shadowless

Family: Drake

Small dragon, neutral evil

Armor Class 13
Hit Points 33 (6d6 + 12)
Speed 15 ft., fly 60 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
13 (+1)	16 (+3)	15 (+2)	17 (+3)	15 (+2)	16 (+3)

Skills Arcana +5, Perception +4, Stealth +5
Condition Immunities paralyzed, unconscious
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Common, Deep Speech, Draconic
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Cosmic Blight. A creature exposed to cosmic blight must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or become diseased. The disease has no effect for 7 days. After 7 days, the diseased creature gains a level of exhaustion. Thereafter, the creature repeats the saving throw whenever it finishes a long rest. On a failed save, the creature gains another level of exhaustion. The disease ends when the creature makes two successful saving throws against the disease.
• Hoard Blight. A creature that spends more than an hour in the presence of a shadowless house drake’s hoard, or any item taken from a shadowless house drake’s hoard, is exposed to cosmic blight. If the shadowless house drake fails to visit its hoard for 7 days, the items are no longer blighted.
• Innate Spellcasting. The drake’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13). The drake can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
  • 1/day each: charm person, darkness, fear

ACTIONS

• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage, and the target is exposed to cosmic blight.
• Blight Breath (Recharge 5-6). The drake exhales dark vapor in a 10-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 10 (3d6) fire damage and is exposed to cosmic blight. On a success, the target takes half as much damage and isn’t exposed to cosmic blight.

ABOUT

Terrestrial societies have made a number of ill-fated journeys to the stars.

Humanoids often take companions on such trips, and diminutive house drakes -the favored pets of the rich and powerful in certain metropolises-are no exception. Yet, as evidenced by the corrupt and malignant beings that often return from extraplanetary expeditions, perhaps it is better for some beings to simply stay home. While many who return from the void are changed, it seems that house drakes are especially prone to such changes-and rarely for the better. Twisted by great evil beings residing in the farthest corners of space, these drakes continue their former activities of collecting hoards, terrorizing imps, and consorting with students of arcane academies, but with little of the carefree joy they may have once exhibited. All their capricious fervor is replaced with conniving, ruthless malice. Furthermore, these warped individuals bear none of the friendly nature that house drakes are known for and tend to spend much of their time brooding over stolen treasures.

The transformed house drake’s appearance is what gives these creatures their moniker; their formerly lustrous and healthy violet scales change to a matte, bruised purple-black that scatters no light. Even the drake itself seems to cast no shadow, or its shadow is otherwise hazy and indistinct even in the hardest light.

A shadowless house drake’s tail also bears signs of the malformation, seemingly broken and rendered lifeless.

Shadowless house drakes are almost exclusively found in certain cosmopolitan cities. Unlike their mundane brethren, however, these shadowy dragons are not bound to just one planet.