Bronze Dragon

    Fascinated by the endless rhythms of the sea, bronze dragons spend hours studying their seaside dominions, transfixed by the flight paths of birds, the migrations of fish, or the accumulation of sea foam against a mossy rock. Some bronze dragons even make their lairs near humanoid settlements, so as to more closely watch the ships as they sail in and out of port.

    Curious and Mysterious. Though fascinated with the natural world, bronze dragons prefer to make

    their observations from afar. They avoid influencing the objects of their scrutiny, but on the odd occasion they are exposed, bronze dragons make the best of it, asking intrusive questions and analyzing the answers they receive for days on end.

    Tests and Trials. When a creature seeks a bronze dragon’s wisdom, the dragon always knows they’re coming. It sets out a number of trials to test the knowledge-seeker, so as to better gauge their motivations before they arrive. Such ordeals rarely involve the dragon appearing personally, but they can be perilous nonetheless.

    Butterflies and Hurricanes. No one knows better than a bronze dragon that a small action can have far-reaching consequences. Bronze dragons sometimes dispatch agents to gather specific information about the world around them. This might mean

    infiltrating a warlord’s inner circle to discover where her warships will sail this season, or exploring the interior of a long-deserted isle. Though such knowl edge might seem irrelevant to adventurers bent on saving the world, the dragon requires it to further its efforts to promote the greater good. Legends and Lore With an Arcana or Nature check, characters can learn the following:

    DC 10 Bronze dragons are fascinated by the sea. They make their lairs in oceanside cliffs or deep beneath the waves.

    DC 15 A bronze dragon’s breath weapon is composed either of lightning or a torrent of seawater.

    DC 20 After centuries spent observing the ebb and flow of nature, ancient bronze dragons gain the ability to scry on far-off locations and predict the future.

    Bronze Dragon Encounters Bronze dragons make their lairs in sea caves, sunken ships, coral reefs, and other aquatic environments.

    CR 3–4 bronze dragon wyrmling Treasure 250 gp, 500 sp, coral gemstone

    (100 gp), potion of greater healing CR 5–10 young bronze dragon; bronze dragon wyrmling with 1d8 + 4 lizardfolk, merfolk, or sprites Treasure 50 pp, 200 gp, 6 pearls (100 gp), sheaf of spy reports, deck of illusions CR 11–16 young bronze dragon with 2 sea hags, sirens (see harpy), or spies

    Treasure 3,000 gp, pearl-embroidered hat (750 gp), fine silk cape (250 gp), 3 potions of healing, armor of invulnerability, +1 longsword (with a coral blade; its wielder can breathe water), feather token (anchor)

    CR 17–22 adult bronze dragon Treasure 12,000 gp, 4,000 ep, 20 pearl and

    coral gemstones (100 gp each), 30 rare books (125 gp each), 3 spell scrolls of eyebite, flesh to stone, and sunbeam, cloak of protection CR 23–30 ancient bronze dragon; adult bronze dragon with 2 merfolk knights, merrow mages, or water elementals Treasure 25,000 gp, sailing ship (10,000 gp), trade goods (5,000 gp), 10 pieces of jewelry (750 gp each), 3 arrows of fiend slaying, instant fortress, +3 chain mail CR 31+ ancient bronze dragon with marid, sea chimera, or spymaster Treasure 10,000 pp, 30,000 gp, 4 diamonds (5,000 gp), potion of storm giant strength,

    dimensional shackles, rod of alertness

    Signs

    1 Brilliantly colored plants and seaweed

    2 Rapidly changing weather: sunny one minute, pouring rain the next

    3 Strange echoes of distant music

    4 Pearlescent fog

    Behavior

    1 Pearl diving or hunting for fish

    2 Watching from a distance, gathering information

    3 In the form of a merfolk paladin, looking for evil to battle

    4 With an unusual request

    Bronze Dragon Lair Features The save DC for the following effects is 13 + the dragon’s proficiency modifier. Choose or roll one or more of the following lair features:

    1 When a creature first enters the lair, it makes a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the dragon is aware of the creature and knows its Destiny (if applicable) as well as its current, most pressing fear.

    2 When a creature draws a metal weapon in the lair, it makes a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, it takes 7 (2d6) lightning damage from a sudden static jolt and can’t take reactions until the end of its next turn.

    3 Floors throughout the lair are damp and slippery. A creature that takes the Dash action to move along the ground makes a Dexterity saving throw at the end of its movement, falling prone on a failure.

    4 A flooded tunnel leads into a labyrinthine sprawl of underwater passageways. If a creature attempts to navigate these tunnels without the dragon’s invitation, it makes a Wisdom saving throw, becoming lost on a failure.