Drake, Forest

This green-scaled dragon has two powerful legs and a pair of long, leathery wings. A long spike adorns its thrashing tail.

Drake, Forest (CR 4)

Large Dragon (Earth)
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Initiative: +6
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Low-Light Vision, Scent; Perception +11

Speed: 30 feet, Fly 60 feet (average), Swim 30 feet
Space: 10 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 17, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+2 Dex, +6 natural, -1 size)
Hit Points: 42 (5d12+10)
Saving Throws: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +4
Immunity: acid, paralysis, sleep

Offense

Melee: bite +8 (1d8+4), tail slap +3 (1d8+2)
Reach: 10 feet

Special Attacks: acidic cloud

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
19 (+4)	14 (+2)	14 (+2)	9 (-1)	11 (+0)	12 (+1)

Base Attack Bonus: +5
CMB +10
CMD 22

Feats: Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Perception)

Skills: Fly +8, Intimidate +9, Perception +11, Stealth +6, Swim +20

Languages: Draconic

Special Qualities: aquatic adaptation, speed surge

Special Abilities

Acidic Cloud (Su)

A forest drake can, as a standard action, spit a ball of acid that bursts into a cloud on impact. This attack has a range of 60 feet and deals 4d6 points of acid damage (Reflex DC 14 half) to all creatures within the resulting 10-foot-radius spread. The cloud remains for 1d4 rounds once created, acting as a 10-foot-radius obscuring mist (it no longer causes damage), but a strong wind disperses it in a single round. Once a forest drake has used its acidic cloud breath, it cannot do so again for 1d6 rounds. The Reflex save is Constitution-based.

Aquatic Adaptation (Ex)

A forest drake can breathe underwater indefinitely and can freely use its breath weapon and other abilities while underwater. The acidic cloud created by that attack dissipates after 1 round if used underwater.

Speed Surge (Ex)

Three times per day as a swift action, a forest drake may draw on its draconic heritage for a boost of strength and speed to take an additional move action in that round.

Ecology

Environment: Any Forests
Organization: solitary, pair, or rampage (3-12)
Treasure: standard


Forest drakes are the degenerate cousins of green dragons, possessed of cruel cunning but little actual wit. Like most drakes, forest drakes are bullies, prowling deep forests in search of their favorite prey—elves and fey. Forest drakes eagerly attack communities of such forest creatures unless driven off with arrows or other shows of force.

Like many other drake types, forest drakes organize themselves in packs called \"rampages,\" and keep communal lairs in secluded forest locations. Such packs are usually made up of siblings who break from the pack only during mating season. A forest drake pack has a distinct pecking order, with younger and newer members receiving the least desirable portions of pack kills and the fewest mating options.

Forest drakes mate once a year, but do little to raise their offspring. A female lays a clutch of four to eight eggs, but abandons her young as soon as they hatch. Forest drake hatchlings immediately band together in a pack.

While few survive so long, forest drakes can live up to 200 years. Forest drakes are typically about 10 feet long with equally long tails, and weigh around 1,000 pounds.