Scitalis

Large dragon, neutral

Armor Class 19
Hit Points 273 (26d10+130)
Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft. (can hover)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
23 (+6)	16 (+3)	20 (+5)	9 (-1)	14 (+2)	14 (+2)

Saves Dex +7, Con +9, Wis +6
Skills Insight +6, Perception +10, Stealth +7
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 20
Languages Draconic
Challenge 12 (8,400 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Distorted Image. When a creature makes an attack against the scitalis, it suffers disadvantage on the attack roll. Creatures with truesight are immune.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The scitalis makes four attacks: on bite attack, one tail slap, and two frill attacks. It can make a gore attack instead of a bite.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 17 Constitution check. On a failed save, the target is poisoned for 1 minute. While poisoned, the poisoned creature can use either an action or a bonus action, not both. Regardless of the creature’s abilities or magic items, it can’t make more than one melee or ranged attack during its turn. At the end of each of the creature’s turns, it can make a new saving throw; on a success, it is no longer poisoned.
• Frill. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage.
• Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d8 + 6) piercing damage.
• Tail Slap. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
• Prismatic Pattern. The scitalis creates a hypnotic illusion. All creatures within 60 feet who can see the scitalis must make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed saving throw, the creature is incapacitated for 1 minute. At the end of each of the creature’s turns, it can attempt a new saving throw; on a success, the creatures is no longer incapacitated. Creatures with truesight are immune.
• Sedative Breath (Recharge 5-6). The scitalis exhales a powerful sedative poison in a 40-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target is poisoned for 1 minute. While poisoned, the poisoned creature can use either an action or a bonus action, not both. Regardless of the creature’s abilities or magic items, it can’t make more than one melee or ranged attack during its turn. At the end of each of the creature’s turns, it can make a new saving throw; on a success, it is no longer poisoned.

ABOUT

Scitalises are horned dragons with long, ophidian bodies; beautiful, many-colored frills; and thin, tapered horns. Their heavy scales have an elliptical shape and grow ragged and thicker as the scitalises age. A scitalis glows from within, its scales and frill lighting up like a stained-glass window and projecting mesmerizing patterns that the dragon uses while hunting. An average scitalis is between 14 and 18 feet long and weighs approximately 2,500 pounds.

Territorial. Scitalises covet territory and food more than the gold and gems that true dragons prize. They live in caves, forest grottoes, and rocky crags, and mark their territories with a combination of musk and their sour, bilescented sedative. Scitalises often range up to 5 miles from their nests every few days to hunt large herd animals and livestock.

Lacking forelegs with which to tear apart a meal, scitalises allow their kills to ripen for a day or so in their lairs before eating them. They keep some treasure and can be bribed, burying what they do attain in the walls and floors of their nests. Scitalises coexist with wyverns, but detest basilisks and griffons, which regularly devour the scitalises’ eggs when they run across them.

Eggs. Scitalises lay clutches of one to three eggs, and males and females share duties guarding the nest. The pair remains together until the juveniles reach maturity after 2 years.

These eggs sell for 5,000 gp in large cities, and juveniles can command prices of 8,000 gp.