Saturday, August 8, 2020

Monster of Folklore: Sun Drake

Large dragon, unaligned

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 51 (6d10+18)
Speed 20 ft., fly 80 ft.

STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
19 (+4)10 (+0)16 (+3)5 (−3)12 (+1)6 (−2)

Skills Perception +4
Damage Resistances cold, fire, necrotic, poison, force, slashing
Damage Immunities piercing, radiant
Damage Vulnerability lightning
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages --
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)

Solar Wings. The drake's wings alternate with the passing of day & night.
  • Day. The wings glow with the brightness of a bonfire.
  • Night. The wings take the form of a cloak of shadow, granting advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks against those using eyesight. During this time, the wings are not functional for flight.
  • Dusk/Dawn. A dim glow on par with a torch, maintaining flight requires concentration.

Actions
Multiattack. The sun drake makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its stinger. While flying, it can use its claws in place of one other attack.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature. Hit: 11 (2d6+4) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8+4) slashing damage.
Stinger. Melee Weapon Attack +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6+4) piercing damage. The target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 24 (7d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one.

Lore
More commonly known in the Sword, the region of sandy dunes in the Anauroch, these creatures were originally the chosen of At'ar the Merciless. They have become rare and reclusive since the rise of Amaunator, having chosen to spend much of their time sleeping.

Reflecting the sun, their wings shine brightly during the day and turn into a cloak of darkness during the night. Cloud cover does not change this, which makes sun drakes uncomfortable with storms during the day, strongly preferring to not leave whatever shelter they've found. Retaining their original patron's blessing, their hide cannot be pierced, not even by the rays of the sun. Their weakness to lightning is a sign of Kozah's punishment for At'ar's infidelity.

When active, sun drakes are commonly scavengers, attracted to sites of death and carnage.