General Rules: Monsters - Drake, War

Drake, War (adapted from Draconic Lore, originally Planar Drake)
Dragon

Special Attacks: Rake

Special Qualities: Blink, Bonded Skill, Ethereal Jaunt, Immunities, Keen Senses, Magical Flight, Planar Adaptation, Plane Shift, Teleport without Error

Skills: War drakes have (6 + Intelligence modifier) skill points per Hit Die and purchase the following skills at 1 rank per Hit Die: Climb, Jump, Listen, Search, and Spot. Remaining skill points are typically spent on physical skills such as Swim rather than mental or social skills such as Knowledge or Diplomacy.

Feats: War drakes have one feat plus an additional feat per 4 hit dice. Drakes favor Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Skill Augmentation (Listen and Spot), Weapon Focus (Bite), and Weapon Focus (Claw). Drakes can also choose from the following dragon feats: Flyby Attack, Hover, and Wingover.

Environment: Any land

Organization: Solitary or pack (2 - 4)

Challenge Rating: Hatchling 6; adult 9; old 12; elder drake 15

Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral

Advancement: Hatchling 10 HD (Medium); adult 12 HD (Large); old 14 HD (Large); elder drake 16 - 18 HD (Large)

War drakes are draconic creatures with the innate ability to travel between worlds. They are prized as steed by members of the Rhadynnic Great Houses who need to regularly visit many worlds.

A war drake has sleek, graceful lines, shining green scales, and a large sapphire in the center of its forehead. This gem is the source of the creature's magical abilities, and is sometimes called a "planar gem". A newborn war drake's wings are too small to carry it, and it is only when the drake learns to use the magical energies in the planar gem that it becomes capable of flight. If removes or the war drake dies, the sapphire turns to dust.

War drakes are often somewhat spoiled and mischievous. A war drake's bonded companion is often the victim of the drake's low sense of humor. Despite this, a drake will not willingly place its companion in danger. Therefore, a war drake will occasionally teleport away leaving its companion faced with a long walk home, but it would never leave its companion alone in a dangerous situation.

Combat
A war drake makes good use of its powers in combat, using its blink ability to stay out of harm's way while attacking with its bite and claws. Should the drake be obviously outmatched in a fight, it will use its other powers to flee unless protecting its bonded companion.

War Drakes by Age

Age	Size	Hit Dice (hp)	Initiative	Speed	Armor Class	Touch	Flat-Footed
Hatchling	M	9d12+18 (76)	+0	40 feet	17 (+7 natural)	10	17
Adult	L	11d12+33 (104)	+0	40 feet, fly 120 feet (poor)	19 (-1 size, +10 natural)	9	19
Old	L	13d12+52 (136)	+0	40 feet, fly 120 feet (poor)	21 (-1 size, +12 natural)	9	21
Elder Drake	L	15d12+75 (172)	+0	40 feet, fly 120 feet (poor)	23 (-1 size, +14 natural)	9	23

Age	BAB/Grapple	Bite	2 Claws	2 Rakes	Tail Slap	Telepathy Range	Skill Bonus	Special Abilities
Hatchling	+9/+9	+11 (1d8+2)	+6 (1d6+1)	+6 (1d8+1)	+6 (1d4+3)	500 feet	+2	Blink, Bonded Skill
Adult	+11/+15	+13 (2d6+3)	+8 (1d8+1)	+8 (2d6+1)	+8 (1d6+4)	1,000 feet	+4	Magical Flight, Teleport without Error
Old	+13/+17	+15 (2d6+3)	+10 (1d8+1)	+10 (2d6+1)	+10 (1d6+4)	2,000 feet	+6	Ethereal Jaunt
Elder Drake	+15/+19	+18 (2d6+4)	+13 (1d8+2)	+13 (2d6+2)	+13 (1d6+6)	1 mile	+8	Planar Adaptation, Plane Shift

Age	Space/Reach	Fortitude	Reflex	Will	Strength	Intelligence	Wisdom	Dexterity	Constitution	Charisma
Hatchling	5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet	+8	+6	+6	15	7	10	10	15	6
Adult	5 feet by 10 feet/10 feet	+10	+7	+7	16	8	10	10	17	7
Old	5 feet by 10 feet/10 feet	+12	+8	+8	17	8	10	10	19	8
Elder Drake	5 feet by 10 feet/10 feet	+14	+9	+9	18	9	10	10	21	9

Blink (Sp): A war drake can use blink twice per day, as a 20^th-level sorcerer. This is a free action. The drake can also choose to affect its rider and any equipment the two are carrying with the spell.

Bonded Skill (Ex): War drakes grant a competence bonus to their bonded companion's Ride checks equal to the amount listed on the table above. Also, once per day, if a war drake's bonded companion is riding on the drake's back, the companion may reroll a failed Ride check.

Ethereal Jaunt (Sp): A war drake can use ethereal jaunt once every three days as a 20^th-level sorcerer. The drake can also choose to affect its rider and any equipment the two are carrying with the spell.

Magical Flight (Su): A war drake's ability to fly is a supernatural ability. If this ability is suppressed or dispelled, the drake can only glide (as a feather fall spell that affects the drake and its rider, except that the drake can travel forward 10 feet for every 5 feet it falls).

Mental Bond (Su): Drakes posses a telepathic bond that lets them communicate with other members of their species. This ability is used to cry for help when in danger or to seek a mate. The maximum range of this ability is determined by its age category.

Occasionally, a drake finds another sentient creature that greatly impresses it in some fashion. When this happens, the drake may extend a mental invitation to that creature to become its companion. If the invitation is accepted, the drake and its companion are linked for life and the drake can use its mental bond to communicate with its new companion. In addition, each type of drake confers certain instincts to its companion through this link that gives the companion a competence bonus in a certain skill. The extent of this bonus is equal to twice the drake's age category and is only granted when the drake and its companion are within telepathic range of one another.

An individual can only bond with one drake of any type at a time.

Planar Adaptation (Su): The war drake is immune to the damaging planar effects of any plane it visits. The drake can also choose to protect its rider and any equipment the two are carrying with this ability as long as its rider remains within 30 feet of the drake.

Plane Shift (Sp): Once per day, the war drake can use plane shift as a 20^th-level sorcerer. The drake can also choose to affect its rider and any equipment the two are carrying with the spell.

Rake (Ex): Rake attacks deal the listed damage. Before a drake can use its rake attacks against an opponent, it must first hit that opponent with both its claw attacks that round. If the drake is grappled, a drake can use bite, claw, and rake attacks. The claws do not need to hit for a drake to be able to use its rake attacks if it is grappled.

Teleport without Error (Sp): A war drake can use teleport without error once per day as a 20^th-level sorcerer. This is a free action. The drake can choose to affect its rider and any equipment the two are carrying with the spell.

Home     Three Worlds     Monsters