Frostfire Salamander

Overview

Frostfire Salamanders are captivating creatures, blending seamlessly into the icy landscapes yet standing out with their distinct, fiery veins. They can grow up to 5 feet in length and have smooth, slimy, and cold skin. The salamanders' eyes are a vibrant hue of gold, giving them keen sight even in the dimly lit areas of the Twilrocks. Their feet end in claw-like structures, allowing them to grip icy surfaces easily. These salamanders prefer the cold environment, especially places where ice and fire elements are in harmony, like hot springs shielded by glaciers. They feed on the small fish that thrive in icy waters and can often be seen skimming the water surface at dusk, hunting for their next meal. When threatened, the Frostfire Salamander exudes a steamy mist from its pores. This mist can be hot enough to cause minor burns and is used as a defensive mechanism.

Magical Uses

The blood of the Frostfire Salamander is highly sought after. A single drop, when ingested, can grant an individual resistance to extreme temperatures, both cold and hot, for several hours. Adventurers often hunt or trade for vials of this blood before heading into fiery dungeons or icy caverns. In addition, their skin is occasionally used in the creation of armor or clothing. Wearing gear crafted from Frostfire Salamander hide can provide a natural warmth in cold climates while also offering protection from fiery attacks. This makes the hide highly valuable and sought after, especially by elite adventurers and warriors.

Meta Info and Properties

Frostfire Salamanders, while highly hunted, are also very dangerous. Any creature that strikes a Frostfire Salamander with an unarmed, natural attack, or metal weapon in melee takes 2d6 fire damage as its steam is ejected. Frostfire Salamanders also have a breath weapon in a 15 foot cone they can use once per 1d6 rounds, causing 5d4 cold damage with a DC 18 Fortitude saving throw for half damage. For stats, I would use that stat block of a Greater Basilisk, but without the Gaze attack or Foul Breath attack.