Dragon, Chromatic, Brown
Brown Dragons
Brown Dragons require a lot of effort on the part of a would-be vanquisher because Brown Dragons take special effort to make as little effort as possible. That is, they are cautious and will always make the choice that will get them the most profit for the least amount of work and danger.
However, Brown Dragons eventually grow tired of a strict diet of buffalo or like beasts because they love nothing more than good cuisine. A Brown Dragon will take increasing risks to obtain exotic or favorite foods. A Brown Dragon's ultimate happiness comes from eating well with new tastes and spices.
Terrain and Habitat
Brown Dragons are especially suited to desert environments, where humanoid societies will leave them alone. They love the heat, and the sand is especially easy for them to burrow through. They are rarely found in any other environments.
Life Cycle
Brown Dragon eggs incubate for about 9 months, and are lain in clutches of 5 or 6. Half of them usually hatch. The oldest can live to be about 2,000 years old.
When a Brown Dragon dies of old age, the dry air and sand of its lair may mummify it.
Environmental Diffusion
When a Brown Dragon undergoes environmental diffusion, it creates an area of quicksand. (A trapped character must succeed on an Athletics or Acrobatics check to free themselves, DC equal to the dragon's challenge rating).
Lairs
Brown Dragons prefer lairs under the surface, such as old ruins overcome with sand or caverns of sandstone. They may also inhabit large ruins on the surface, like an old tomb. Usually the chambers of its lair are cut off from each other by walls of earth or shifting sand. These pose no problem for the dragon, who tunnels through them as needed.
Favored Treasure
Browns covet good food just as much as any other treasure.
They often keep a sizeable store of salt, oregano, thyme, and a variety of other spices according to the dragon's taste. The treasure they keep often takes the form of cutlery and crockery in all of its forms, but they appreciate all forms of treasure: coins, artwork, rare lore books, etc.
Tactics
During combat, Brown Dragons prefer to stay out of sight by burrowing underground and locating enemies using their tremorsense. When they burst from the ground and reveal themselves, they will try to frighten their foes with a sudden impressive display of power. More powerful adults or ancients will use their sandstorm as part of this display, as it gives the dragon cover and disorients its foes.
Occasionally, a Brown Dragon will take a bite out of a particularly scrumptious-looking enemy, especially if it is something the dragon has not tried before. The dragon will then comment loudly during combat on the taste of said morsel, and may drag the unfortunate creature underground where it can finish its meal in safety.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the dragon can't use the same effect two rounds in a row.
* Part of the ceiling collapses above one creature that the dragon can see within 120 feet of it. The creature must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take 10 (3d6) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone and buried. The buried target is restrained and unable to breathe or stand up. A creature can take an action to make a DC 10 Strength check, ending the buried state on a success.
* A cloud of sand swirls about in a 20-foot-radius sphere centred on a point the dragon can see within 120 feet of it. The cloud spreads around corners. Each creature in the cloud must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be blinded for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
* The dragon can choose a point it can see within 120 feet of it. The ground quakes in that area. All creatures standing on the ground within 20 feet of the point must make a DC 15 Strength Saving Throw or be knocked prone.
Regional Effects
The region containing a legendary brown dragon's lair is warped by the dragon's magic, which creates one or more of the following effects.
* Sandstorms rage within 6 miles of the lair.
* Quicksand (see "Wilderness Hazards" in chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master's Guide) spontaneously forms within 1 mile of the lair.
* Amber brought within 1 mile of the lair glows slightly and feels warm to the touch.
If the dragon dies, these effects fade over the course of 1d10 days. Any quicksand remains where it is.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
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