General Rules: Monsters - Drake, Watcher

Drake, Watcher (adapted from Draconic Lore)
Dragon

Special Attacks: Rake

Special Qualities: Bonded Skill, Group Bond, Immunities, Keen Senses, Long Range Bond, Mental Bond, Perfect Bond, Relay Sight, Relay Sound

Skills: Watcher 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: Watcher 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 ½; adult 1; old 2; elder drake 3

Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually neutral

Advancement: Elder drake 5+ HD (Small)

Watcher drakes are tiny drakes that bond to a companion as a group. They are often used as spies by the Rhadynnic Great Houses due to their ability to let their companions use their eyes and ears.

Watcher drakes resemble miniature bronze dragons, though they lack the back and tail ridges of their larger relatives. They have small, nimble claws that allow them to manipulate objects with the dexterity of a human. Their scales are a dull mottled gray, allowing them to blend into many different types of scenery.

These drakes mostly see use as spies and observers. Since an entire clutch of eggs (anywhere from three to seven) typically bonds with a single companion, it isn't unusual for such an individual to rise to become a spymaster. There have been reported instances of a blind or deaf companion using their bond with these drakes to offset their disability.

Combat
Watcher drakes only fight in self-defense or to protect their companion. When forced to do so, they use their bite and claw attacks.

Watcher Drakes by Age

Age	Size	Hit Dice (hp)	Initiative	Speed	Armor Class	Touch	Flat-Footed
Hatchling	D	1d12 (6)	+1	30 feet; fly 60 feet (good)	15 (+4 size, +1 Dexterity)	15	14
Adult	T	2d12+2 (15)	+1	30 feet; fly 60 feet (average)	17 (+2 size, +4 natural, +1 Dexterity)	13	16
Old	S	3d12+3 (22)	+1	30 feet; fly 60 feet (average)	18 (+1 size, +6 natural, +1 Dexterity)	12	17
Elder Drake	S	4d12+4 (30)	+1	30 feet; fly 60 feet (average)	19 (+1 size, +7 natural, +1 Dexterity)	12	18

Age	BAB/Grapple	Bite	2 Claws	2 Rakes	Tail Slap	Telepathy Range	Skill Bonus	Special Abilities
Hatchling	+1/-13	+3 (1d3-2)	-2 (1d2-2)	-2 (1d3-2)	-	1,000 feet	+2	Group Bond, Long Range Bond
Adult	+2/-7	+3 (1d4-1)	-2 (1d3-1)	-2 (1d4-1)	-	2,000 feet	+4	Relay Sight
Old	+3/-1	+4 (1d6)	-1 (1d4)	-1 (1d6)	-	4,000 feet	+6	Relay Sound
Elder Drake	+4/+1	+6 (1d6+1)	+1 (1d4)	+1 (1d6)	-	4 miles	+8	Perfect Bond

Age	Space/Reach	Fortitude	Reflex	Will	Strength	Intelligence	Wisdom	Dexterity	Constitution	Charisma
Hatchling	1 foot by 1 foot/0 feet	+2	+3	+2	6	7	10	12	11	6
Adult	2½ feet by 2½ feet/5 feet	+4	+4	+3	8	8	11	12	12	7
Old	5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet	+4	+4	+4	10	9	12	12	13	8
Elder Drake	5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet	+5	+5	+5	12	10	13	12	13	9

Bonded Skill (Ex): Watcher drakes grant a competence bonus to their bonded companion's Gather Information checks equal to the amount listed on the table above. Watcher drakes also receive this as a racial bonus to their own Gather Information checks.

Group Bond (Ex): Unlike other drakes, multiple watcher drakes can bond to a single companion. Only watcher drakes from the same clutch of eggs can share a bond in this manner, so no one has bonded to more than seven watcher drakes at once.

Immunities (Ex): Watcher drakes are immune to sleep and paralysis effects.

Keen Senses (Ex): A watcher drake has low-light vision. A watcher drake also has darkvision with a range of 50 feet per age category.

Long Range Bond (Su): The maximum range of a watcher drake's bond is twice the normal range for its age category.

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.

Perfect Bond (Su): The maximum range on the watcher drake's mental bond with its companion increases to four times the normal range for its age category. In addition, most things that would block a clairaudience/clairvoyance spell (such as lead sheeting or a nondetection spell) do not block the drake's relay sight and relay sound abilities, although those abilities may still be suppressed and dispelled as normal.

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.

Relay Sight (Su): If a watcher drake is in range to use its mental bond, the drake's bonded companion may choose to look through the drake's eyes. This ability acts like a clairaudience/clairvoyance spell, transmitting what the drake sees to its companion, except that the effect lasts as long as the companion maintains concentration and lacks the ability to send sound.

Spot checks can be made through the link using the drake's skill, allowing the companion to benefit from its darkvision and keen senses.

Relay Sound (Su): The watcher drake can send sound as well as sight when using its relay sight ability.

Listen checks can be made through the link using the drake's skill, allowing the companion to benefit from its keen senses.

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