Dracohydra

Five dragon-like heads of varying colors rise from the sleek, serpentine body of this hideous monster.

Dracohydra (CR 10)

Huge Magical Beast
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +1
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Low-Light Vision, Scent; Perception +12

Speed: 30 feet, Swim 20 feet
Space: 15 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 20, touch 9, flat-footed 19 (+1 Dex, +11 natural, -2 size)
Hit Points: 105 (10d10+50) Fast Healing 10
Saving Throws: Fort +11, Ref +10, Will +5
All-Around Vision
Energy Resistance: acid 10, cold 10, electricity 10, fire 10

Offense

Melee: 5 bites +14 (2d6+5/19-20)
Reach: 10 feet

Special Attacks: 5 breath weapons (30-ft. cone, DC 19, 4d6 damage; see text), savage bite

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
21 (+5)	12 (+1)	19 (+4)	6 (-2)	11 (+0)	12 (+1)

Base Attack Bonus: +10
CMB +17
CMD 28 (can't be tripped)

Feats: Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Lunge, Toughness, Weapon Focus (bite)

Skills: Intimidate +6, Perception +12, Swim +13

• Racial Modifiers: +4 Perception

Languages: Common, Draconic

Special Qualities: hydra traits, regenerate head

Special Abilities

Breath Weapon (Su)

Each of a dracohydra's heads has a single breath weapon. To determine each head's color and the associated breath weapon, choose from or roll on the table below.

1d10	Head Color	Breath Weapon
1-2	Black	Acid
3-4	Blue	Electricity
5-6	Green	Acid
7-8	Red	Fire
9-10	White	Cold

Fast Healing (Ex)

A dracohydra's fast healing applies only to damage inflicted on the dracohydra's body.

Hydra Traits (Ex)

A dracohydra can be killed by severing its heads or slaying its body. Any attack that is not an attempt to sever a head affects the body, including area attacks or attacks that cause piercing or bludgeoning damage. To sever a head, an opponent must make a sunder attempt with a slashing weapon targeting a head. A head is considered a separate weapon with hardness 0 and 10 hit points. To sever a head, an opponent must inflict enough damage to reduce the head's hit points to 0 or less. Severing a head deals 10 points of damage to the dracohydra's body. A dracohydra can't attack with a severed head, but takes no other penalties.

Regenerate Head (Ex)

When a dracohydra's head is destroyed, two heads regrow in 1d4 rounds. The heads are of the same color as the one that was severed. A dracohydra cannot have more than 10 heads at any one time. To prevent new heads from growing, at least 5 points of acid or fire damage (after overcoming the dracohydra's resistances) must be dealt to the stump (a touch attack to hit) before they appear. Acid or fire damage from area attacks can affect stumps and the body simultaneously. A dracohydra doesn't die from losing its heads until all are cut off and the stumps seared by acid or fire.

Savage Bite (Ex)

A dracohydra applies 1-1/2 times its Strength bonus to damage dealt with its bite attack, and it threatens a critical hit on a 19-20.

Ecology

Environment: Any
Organization: solitary
Treasure: double standard


Believed to be either the mating of a hydra and a dragon or the offspring of a draconic deity, the dracohydra is truly a fearsome monster. Most intelligent creatures do their best to avoid trespassing on a dracohydra's domain for these creatures are extremely territorial, even more so than some dragons. Dracohydras prefer lairing in remote locations such as mountaintops and ruins, far away from civilization and far away from adventurous treasure seekers.

Dracohydras, while solitary, often make pacts with local humanoids; most often orcs, gnolls, and hobgoblins. Generally these pacts are lopsided deals that favor the dracohydra: give it food and it won't eat your village. Such food usually consists of herd animals or cattle, and sometimes humanoids if necessary to sate the dracohydra's voracious appetite. Humanoid sacrifices usually take the form of slaves or prisoners, but if either of those is in low numbers, tribes have been known to sacrifice their own to appease a dracohydra.

Betraying their draconic origin, dracohydras amass treasure in great quantities. Most treasures are left strewn about the lair, but some, such as rare gemstones and small trinkets are devoured by dracohydras. Dracohydras do not associate with other dracohydras, hydras, or dragons. Hydras are particularly reviled for unknown reasons, and are attacked on sight and slaughtered, their bodies being almost completely devoured by a dracohydra.

A dracohydra's body is usually dark gray or dark grayish-blue. Its dragon-like heads are scaled and vary in color blending into the body at the neckline. A dracohydra's eyes are always sapphire blue, regardless of the color of the dragon's head.