Splinter Drake

Large plant, neutral evil

Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 114 (12d10 + 48)
Speed 40 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
17 (+3)	15 (+2)	18 (+4)	10 (+0)	12 (+1)	10 (+0)

Skills Perception +5, Stealth +6 (+10 in forest), Survival +5
Damage Resistances cold, fire
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion
Senses blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception 15
Languages Common, Sylvan
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)

Special Traits

• Land’s Stride. Moving through nonmagical difficult terrain costs the splinter drake no extra movement, and it can pass through nonmagical plants without being slowed by them and without taking damage from them.

Actions

• Multiattack. The splinter drake makes one bite attack and two claw attacks.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.
• Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage.
• Thorn Volley (Recharge 5-6). The splinter drake emits a spray of thorns in a 40-foot cone. Creatures within this area must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw, taking 21 (6d6) piercing damage and 28 (8d6) poison damage on a failed saving throw, or half as much damage on a successful saving throw.

About

This creature looks like a wingless dragon about 12 feet long whose flesh is actually dark-brown bark with a greenish hue. A bushy mane of twigs, branches, leaves, and vines circles its dragon-like head and a series of thorny spines runs the length of its back. Two backward-curved horns, apparently constructed of the same hardened bark as its body, jut from the creature’s head. A dark-brown snake-like tongue flicks across its fangs as it advances.

Splinter drakes are plant creatures that resemble large wingless dragons. They haunt dense forests and make their lairs amid the tangled underbrush, generally in hard-to-locate places. Much like true dragons, splinter drakes are extremely territorial and attack creatures that wander carelessly into their domain and remain for an extended amount of time.

A typical splinter drake’s territory covers an area of several square miles around its lair. Unlike true dragons, splinter drakes do not value nor keep treasure. Any treasure found in or around their lairs are likely all that remains of a past meal. They generally keep company with evil fey, evil druids, and corrupt rangers. Such allies are allowed a bit of leeway when treading on a splinter drake’s territory, but if certain boundaries are crossed or privileges abused, splinter drakes have no problems eating someone they once called friend.

Splinter drakes generally do not associate with others of their kind, except during mating season (early spring) when a mated pair is likely to be encountered. During mating, the female splinter drake deposits a host of eggs (or seeds) into the ground. Within several months, 1d4 new splinter drakes grow from the ground. Splinter drakes reach maturity within 1 year. A splinter drake is about 12 feet long and weighs around 800 pounds.

Splinter drakes typically ambush potential prey whenever possible, striking from surprise with their thorny breath weapon and poison. Once it releases its first blast, it charges into battle and slashes and tears at its foes with its claws and bites. If outnumbered or combat turns against it, a splinter drake seeks the quickest means of exit possible unless cornered, defending its lair, or starving, in which case it fights to the death.