Sovereign Dragon, Adult

Huge dragon, neutral

Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 279 (18d12+162)
Speed 50 ft., fly 125 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
29 (+9)	8 (-1)	29 (+9)	26 (+8)	27 (+8)	26 (+8)

Saving Throws Str +15, Con +15, Cha +14
Skills Intimidation +26, Persuasion +26
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 18
Languages Abyssal, Auran, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Ignan, Infernal, Terran; telepathy 100 ft.
Challenge 20 (25,000 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Innate Spellcasting. The imperial sovereign dragon’s spell casting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 26). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
  • At will: true seeing, charm person
  • 3/day each: locate creature, suggestion
  • 1/day each: calm emotions, confusion, dominate person
• Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the imperial sovereign dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The imperial sovereign dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, 1reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 35 (4d12 + 9) piercing damage.
• Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, 1reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 27 (4d8 + 9) slashing damage.
• Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, 1reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 27 (4d8 + 9) bludgeoning damage.
• Frightful Presence. Each creature of the imperial sovereign dragon’s choice that is within 120 feet of the imperial sovereign 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 sovereign dragon’s Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
• Cyclical Breath (Recharge 5-6). The imperial sovereign dragon’s voice booms with authority in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that cone must make a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw, taking 33 (6d10) damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The type of damage depends on the season. During the springtime, its breath weapon deals lightning damage. During the summer months, its breath weapon deals fire damage. During autumn, its breath weapon deals thunder damage. During the winter months, its breath weapon deals cold damage.
• Sacred Tear (1/year). An imperial sovereign dragon may shed a single tear with miraculous healing properties. When the tear comes in contact with the ground, all creatures within 50 feet will be affected as if by heal. Should the tear hit a single creature instead, it will be affected as if by the true resurrection spell. The tear can be bottled and used later, though after 24 hours it will become only normal water.

LEGENDARY ACTIONS

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

• Detect. The imperial sovereign dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
• Tail Attack. The imperial sovereign dragon makes a tail attack.
• Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions). The imperial sovereign dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 10 feet of the imperial sovereign dragon must succeed on a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw or take 19 (3d6 + 9) bludgeoning damage and be forced prone. The imperial sovereign dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.

LAIR ACTIONS

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

• An imperial sovereign dragon can teleport one humanoid that is CR 2 or less to a space within 60 feet of it. This creature is loyal to the imperial sovereign dragon and will do anything to defend it.
• The imperial sovereign dragon target one creature within its lair to turn into a stone statue. The creature must succeed a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or their base speed is reduced by half. If they fail the first saving throw, the creature must succeed a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or it takes disadvantage on all melee and rolls. If a creature fails its second saving throw, it must succeed a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or become petrified. A success on any of these saving throws ends its effects. A dispel magic spell ends this effect early, and the dragon can end it as an action. The petrified creature can see and hear the dragon while petrified, and the sovereign dragon usually takes the opportunity to instruct a petrified creature on its faults and how to become a better person after they are released.
• The imperial sovereign dragon can force one creature within its lair to make a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or it becomes charmed for 1 round and unable to take any negative actions towards the imperial sovereign dragon.

REGIONAL EFFECTS

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

• Humanoids within 5 miles of the imperial sovereign dragon’s lair become more subservient towards their masters or lords.
• Random metallic objects within 1 mile of imperial sovereign dragon’s lair begin to transmute into gold.
• People within 5 miles of the imperial sovereign dragon’s lair are aware of the dragon’s tendency to hear about injustice throughout the nearby lands, and out of either fear or respect they tend to become fairer in their dealings and less likely to cheat, deceive, or permit injustice. This effect ends if they move out of this range or the imperial sovereign dragon dies.

ABOUT

This magnificent dragon is covered in splendid gold scales, and horns jut from its head like a crown. Guardians of balance, sovereign dragons were placed in the skies by the gods themselves to safeguard harmony in the world. Like sky dragons, sovereign dragons are sometimes winged.

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.