Sky Dragon, Adult

Huge dragon, lawful good

Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 212 (17d12+102)
Speed 40 ft., fly 150 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
26 (+8)	12 (+1)	23 (+6)	20 (+5)	21 (+5)	22 (+6)

Saving Throws Str +13, Con +11, Cha +11
Damage Immunities lightning
Skills Perception +10, Performance +11
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 20
Languages Auran, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Infernal, Sylvan
Challenge 16 (15,000 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Innate Spellcasting. The imperial sky dragon’s spell casting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 19). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
  • At will: detect good and evil, obscuring mist
  • 3/day each: glitterdust, invisibility, protection from energy
  • 1/day each: blink, control weather, lightning bolt
• Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the imperial sky dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
• Wind Cloak. All ranged weapon attacks against the imperial sky dragon have disadvantage to the attack roll.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The imperial sky dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 34 (4d12 + 8) piercing damage.
• Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d8 + 8) slashing damage.
• Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d8 + 8) bludgeoning damage.
• Frightful Presence. Each creature of the imperial sky dragon’s choice that is within 120 feet of the imperial sky 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 sky dragon’s Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
• Cloud Bender. A sky dragon can control any cloud, fog, or mist spell within 60 feet as a standard action. An effect that naturally moves, such as a cloudkill, can be redirected by the dragon, though it cannot increase the effects normal rate of speed. The area of effect can be changed to suit the dragon’s whim, though no portion of the effect can be moved more than 60 feet from the dragon.
• Lightning Breath (Recharge 5-6). The imperial sky dragon exhales electricity in a 50-foot cone. Each creature in that cone must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 26 (4d12) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

LEGENDARY ACTIONS

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

• Detect. The imperial sky dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
• Tail Attack. The imperial sky dragon makes a tail attack.
• Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions). The imperial sky dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 10 feet of the imperial sky dragon must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or take 15 (2d6 + 8) bludgeoning damage and be forced prone. The imperial sky dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.

LAIR ACTIONS

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

• An imperial sky dragon can summon one flying creature that is CR 2 or less to a space within 60 feet of it. This creature is loyal to the imperial sky dragon and will do anything to defend it.
• The imperial sky dragon can cause the winds to blow around all flying creatures to a space within its choice within 60 feet of the creature’s original position. These creatures must succeed a DC 18 Strength saving throw to avoid being forcefully moved like this.
• The imperial sky dragon can cause a 10-foot-radius whirlwind to buffet creatures in the area dealing 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage. A DC 18 Dexterity saving throw halves this damage.

REGIONAL EFFECTS

The region containing the imperial sky lair is shaped by the its titanic power, which creates one or more of the following effects:

• The skies within 5 miles of the imperial sky dragon’s lair become clear so that the sun or moon can be seen.
• No storms ever seem to start within 1 mile of the imperial sky dragon’s lair unless the dragon wills it.
• Lucky occurrences begin to happen within 1 mile of the imperial sky dragon’s lair. This can be anything from correctly being able to call the results of a coin flip to finding a natural bridge over an otherwise impassable raging river.

ABOUT

Benevolent and noble, sky dragons, or tienlungs, are fearsome champions of good and protectors of those in need. They are often sought out for their wise counsel, which they grant only to the deserving and true. These dragons twist gracefully though the sky when they fly, their scales reflecting the shifting hues of the heavens.

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.