Despair Dragon (Young, Spellcaster)

Level 9

Creature· dragonLargeRemaster

AC 27

HP 140

Speed 40 ft.

Fort +16

Ref +16

Will +16

Perc +20

Size Large

Common

dragon occult

Immunities fear effects, paralyzed, sleep

Spells

Occult Prepared Spells (DC 28, attack +20)

4th Nightmare; 3rd Mind Reading, Slow; 2nd Darkness, Noise Blast, Paranoia, Stupefy; 1st Command, Ill Omen, Sleep, Ventriloquism; Cantrips Detect Magic, Figment, Haunting Hymn, Message, Telekinetic Projectile

Occult Innate Spells (DC 28, attack +20)

5th Truespeech (Constant); 1st Fear (At Will)

Languages common, draconic

Senses darkvision, scent 30 ft. (imprecise)

Speeds 40 ft., fly 120 ft.

Skills intimidation +20, athletics +19, deception +18, diplomacy +18, stealth +18, acrobatics +16, occultism +16, society +16

Recall Knowledge arcana DC 26

Attacks

Melee Jaws +19/+14/+9(magical, reach 10 ft.)

Damage: 2d10+12 piercing

Melee Claws +19/+15/+11(agile, magical)

Damage: 2d8+12 slashing

Melee Tail +17/+12/+7(magical, reach 15 ft.)

Damage: 2d6+10 bludgeoning

Abilities

Telepathy 60 feetinteraction(aura, magical, mental)

A monster with telepathy can communicate mentally with any creatures within the listed radius, as long as they share a language. This doesn't give any special access to their thoughts, and communicates no more information than normal speech would.

Fearsenseinteraction(emotion, mental, occult)

The dragon senses all creatures with the frightened condition at the listed range.

+2 Status to All Saves vs. Occultdefensive

Consume Fear↺defensive(occult)

Trigger A creature within 60 feet loses the frightened condition Effect The dragon feasts upon the fear that leaves the triggering creature's body, gaining 4d8 temporary Hit Points that last for 1 minute.

Frightful Presencedefensive(aura, emotion, fear, mental)

60 feet. DC 28 will A creature that first enters the area must attempt a Will save. Regardless of the result of the saving throw, the creature is temporarily immune to this monster's Frightful Presence for 1 minute. Critical Success The creature is unaffected by the presence. Success The creature is Frightened 1. Failure The creature is Frightened 2. Critical Failure The creature is Frightened 4.

Unbidden Thoughts↺defensive(emotion, fear, mental, occult)

Trigger The dragon is critically hit with a weapon or unarmed attack Effect The attacker's mind fills with visions of their worst fears that overwhelm their senses, and they must choose one of the following results: either the triggering attack becomes a normal success, or the critical hit is unaffected but the triggering creature becomes Frightened 2.

Shrieking Breath◆◆offensive(mental, occult, sonic)

The dragon lets out a cacophonous sound made of every scream the dragon has drawn from a terrified enemy, dealing 8d6 sonic damage in a 30-foot cone (DC 28 will save). Creatures who fail their Will save must spend the first action of their next turn doing nothing but screaming. The dragon can't use Shrieking Breath again for 1d4 rounds.

Description

Fear is one of the most powerful emotions, and despair dragons are masters of channeling those feelings of terror and hopelessness for their own benefit. As with other occult dragons, despair dragons are driven by an innate compulsion, in their case, the desire to strike terror in others. Despair dragons tend to settle near settlements, so they have a source of fear to draw from. The most common items in despair dragon hoards are scrolls, tomes, and relics that serve as research material. Through these, despair dragons learn of local folklore, urban legends, and more to better haunt their targets.