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Reflexes, assuming the base dragon meets the prerequisites and doesn’t already have the feats. Organization: Solitary or guarded (1 plus 2–5 vampire spawn). Challenge Rating: Same as the base dragon +2. Treasure: Triple standard. Alignment: Always chaotic evil. Advancement: Up to +2 HD. Level Adjustment: +5.
CHAPTER 4:
ZOMBIE DRAGON A zombie dragon is created by use of the animate dead spell or by a vampiric dragon (see above). It functions as a normal zombie in most ways, though it retains a few of its draconic abilities and qualities even after death A zombie dragon stinks of death, and its once glorious scaled hide sports gaping holes chewed by worms. Because of the creature’s utter lack of intelligence, the instructions given to a newly created zombie dragon must be very simple, such as “Destroy anything that comes within sight.” Zombie dragons are often used as sentries (although they aren’t capable of calling for help, the sounds of the battle usually serve to raise the alarm) or guardians. Draconic spellcasters capable of creating such creatures may use the bodies of dead rivals or, in the case of particularly vile necromancers, deceased family members.
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Special Qualities: A vampiric dragon retains all the special qualities of the base dragon (except for any subtypes it possessed) and gains those noted below. If the base dragon had any immunities based on its subtype (such as immunity to fire for the fire subtype), it keeps those immunities despite losing the subtype. Fast Healing (Ex): A vampiric dragon heals 5 hit points of damage each round so long as it has at least 1 hit point. If reduced to 0 hit points or lower, a vampiric dragon automatically assumes gaseous form (fly speed 40 feet, otherwise as the spell) and attempts to escape. It must reach its hoard within 2 hours or be utterly destroyed. (It can travel up to 18 miles in 2 hours.) Once at rest upon its hoard, it rises to 1 hit point after 1 hour, then resumes healing at the rate of 5 hit points per round. For obvious reasons, a vampiric dragon prefers to keep its hoard well concealed from adventurers and would-be thieves. Resistance (Ex): A vampiric dragon has resistance to cold 20 and electricity 20. Turn Resistance (Ex): A vampiric dragon has +4 turn resistance (see page 317 of the Monster Manual). Undead Traits: A vampiric dragon is immune to mindaffecting effects, poison, magic sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save unless it also works on objects or is harmless. It is not subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability damage to its physical ability scores, ability drain, energy drain, fatigue, exhaustion, or death from massive damage. It cannot be raised, and resurrection works only if it is willing. It has darkvision out to 60 feet (unless the base creature had a greater range). Vampiric Weaknesses: Vampiric dragons share the typical vampire’s vulnerability to sunlight. Direct sunlight slows a vampiric dragon, allowing it only a single standard action or move action each round. A vampiric dragon can survive exposure to direct sunlight for a number of consecutive rounds equal to its age category, after which it is utterly destroyed. Driving a wooden stake through a vampiric dragon’s heart slays it, just as with a normal vampire (though for larger dragons, you’ll need a stake the size of a spear). Unlike other vampires, vampiric dragons are not injured by immersion in water. Vampiric dragons are not repelled by garlic or mirrors (though they don’t keep mirrors in their hoards), and they can freely cross running water. They can’t enter a home unless invited, but most simply destroy the home and then pick through the rubble for their victims. Saves: As undead, vampiric dragons are immune to anything that requires a Fortitude save unless it affects objects. Abilities: Increase from the base dragon as follows: Str +4, Dex +6, Int +2, Wis +2, Cha +4. As undead creatures, vampiric dragons have no Constitution score. Skills: Vampiric dragons have a +8 racial bonus on Bluff, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive, and Spot checks. Feats: Vampiric dragons gain Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Initiative, and Lightning
CREATING A ZOMBIE DRAGON “Zombie” is a template that can be added to any dragon of at least adult age (referred to hereafter as the base dragon). The creature uses all the base dragon’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here. Size and Type: The creature’s type changes to undead, and it loses any subtypes it had in life. Do not recalculate the creature’s base attack bonus, saves, or skill points. Size is unchanged. Hit Dice: The base dragon’s Hit Dice remain the same, but it loses any Constitution bonus to its hit points (see Abilities, below). However, a zombie dragon gains bonus hit points equal to twice its HD. Speed: Reduce flight maneuverability by one category (to a minimum of clumsy). Armor Class: Reduce natural armor bonus to one-half the base dragon’s value (rounding down). Special Attacks: A zombie dragon retains any exceptional special attacks of the base dragon (such as improved grab), except for special attacks with a save DC based on the base dragon’s Charisma (such as frightful presence). It loses all supernatural and spell-like special attacks possessed by the base dragon, except for any breath weapon attack, which is altered as noted below. Breath Weapon (Su): A zombie dragon keeps the base dragon’s breath weapon (if any), though it deals only half the listed damage. Breath weapons that don’t deal damage (such as the brass dragon’s sleep breath weapon) are unchanged. The save DC to resist the dragon’s breath weapon is 10 + 1/2 zombie dragon’s HD + zombie dragon’s Cha modifier.
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