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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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Dragon, Coral

Source Monster Core 2 pg. 120
Coral dragons are the primal guardians of the vast living coral reefs found in oceans across Golarion. Even by draconic standards, coral dragons stand out for their arrogance and vanity, boasting inordinate pride in the vibrant hues of their own coral-encrusted scales and the dazzling splendor of the reefs they protect. Coral dragons like to decorate their reefs, which they view as lairs, with objects of beauty, dotted with the occasional bit of valuables like coins. Those who seek the favor of a coral dragon often find the creature easily swayed by flattery, particularly when paired with shiny or brightly colored gifts that complement the scintillating beauty of the dragon and their underwater domain.

Members

Coral Archdragon (Creature 21)

No Icon Alternate Abilities

Some coral dragons can raise massive watery tentacles from the seas around them to pummel or grapple their foes. To make a dragon with this ability, replace Draconic Frenzy with the following.

Grasping Waves [two-actions] (primal, water) The dragon conjures five watery tentacles from unoccupied water-filled squares of their choice within 30 feet and attempts a single Athletics check against the Fortitude DC of every creature adjacent to a tentacle and no more than 10 feet above the water’s surface. On a success, the creature is grabbed (Escape DC equal to the DC of the dragon’s Hydraulic Breath). On a critical success, or a success against a creature already grabbed, the target is dragged below the surface and begins to drown. All tentacles disappear at the end of the dragon’s next turn unless the effect is Sustained and a new Athletics check is rolled for all existing tentacles.

The growths covering a coral dragon’s body can include many different species, some of which produce a potent natural poison. To make a dragon with this ability, replace Biomineralize with the following.

Palytoxin (poison) Any creature who takes damage from the dragon’s jaws, claws, or tail attack, or who Strikes and does damage to the dragon with an unarmed attack, takes 1d6 poison damage (2d6 for ancient and archdragons) and must attempt a Fortitude saving throw (DC equal to the DC of the dragon’s Hydraulic Breath).
Success The creature is unaffected.
Failure The creature’s enfeebled condition increases by 1 until the end of its next turn, to a maximum of 3. If the creature is already enfeebled 3, it becomes drained 1 instead.
Critical Failure As failure, except the creature’s enfeebled condition increases by 2 instead of 1.

The most powerful coral dragons can call upon the innumerable tiny creatures dwelling within their reefs for aid. To make a dragon with this ability, replace an ancient or archdragon’s Reef Armor with the following.

Primal Tide [three-actions] (concentrate, manipulate, water) Requirements The dragon is within the bounds of or no more than 25 feet away from their reef; Frequency once per hour; Effect The dragon calls tens of thousands of tiny marine creatures from the crevices in their reef, which pour over a 50-foot emanation in a clawing, biting, stinging swarm. Every creature in the area that is fully or partially submerged in water must succeed at a basic Reflex saving throw (DC equal to the DC of the dragon’s Hydraulic Breath) or take piercing damage equal to half that dealt by their Hydraulic Breath and an equivalent amount of poison damage. The dragon can specify any number of creatures within the area to be spared. All summoned creatures disperse at the end of the dragon’s turn.

Dragon

Related Groups Dragon, Adamantine, Dragon, Barrage, Dragon, Bog, Dragon, Brine, Dragon, Cinder, Dragon, Cloud, Dragon, Conspirator, Dragon, Crystal, Dragon, Delight, Dragon, Despair, Dragon, Diabolic, Dragon, Empyreal, Dragon, Executor, Dragon, Forest, Dragon, Fortune, Dragon, Horned, Dragon, Magma, Dragon, Mirage, Dragon, Mocking, Dragon, Oath, Dragon, Omen, Dragon, Phase, Dragon, Requiem, Dragon, Resurrection, Dragon, Rime, Dragon, Rune, Dragon, Sage, Dragon, Sea, Dragon, Sky, Dragon, Sovereign, Dragon, Stormcrown, Dragon, Time, Dragon, Umbral, Dragon, Underworld, Dragon, Vizier, Dragon, Vorpal, Dragon, Wailing, Dragon, Whisper, Dragon, Wish, Dragonet, Wyrmwraith
Dragons come in myriad forms, with many having magical abilities or connections to magic. Some dragons draw greater power from magic than others, allowing them to manifest abilities or alter their physiques with prolonged exposure to magic. These dragons become more powerful as they age and strengthen their connections with their magical origins. Scholars debate the classification of these dragons, with some preferring the name magical dragons and others using traditional dragons due to their connection to specific magical traditions. Regardless of their names, these dragons share a number of characteristics: their ability to tap into magical energies, intensified might and cunning as they grow older, and an inclination to hoard vast amounts of treasure and wealth.

Draconic Spellcasters

Each dragon features a sidebar on spellcasting dragons of that type. To make a dragon spellcaster, remove the dragon's Draconic Frenzy and Draconic Momentum abilities, and give them the spells outlined in their sidebar. You can swap out any number of these with other spells, provided you keep the same number of spells for each rank. You might also want to increase the dragon's Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma modifier by 1 or 2 to reflect their mastery of magic.

Sidebar - Additional Lore Draconic Groupings

The broader grouping of dragons is generally sorted into more granular categories, the first of which is based on the four magical traditions. Each dragon falls into one of these large categories, and dragons in a given category share a number of common traits.

Arcane Dragons: These dragons seem to have greater control over magic and their innate abilities. Many arcane dragons have mastery over a certain subset of magic, such as illusions or teleportation. Other arcane dragons have the ability to tap into or manipulate raw magical energies, regardless of their origins. Their bodies tend to be more slender than other dragons due to their reliance on magic for hunting. Their scales generally come in perfect patterns or very organized shapes.

Divine Dragons: While the name might suggest dragons directly related to deific entities, divine dragons instead derive their power from planes other than the mortal Universe. Similar to how a god grants power to a cleric, these dragons receive magical abilities and other influences from another plane. As such, divine dragons are among the most varied of dragons. These dragons generally take on an appearance similar to other native creatures of their influential planes, making it difficult for them to hide their planar connections.

Occult Dragons: At times alien and off-putting and other times alluring and mysterious, occult dragons derive their powers from the inexplicable and unknown. These dragons use magic that seems to exist within the crevices and shadows between other forms of magic. Whether it's due to this strange magical influence or something else, occult dragons are most likely to directly interact with other creatures. While generally sporting similar builds to other dragons, occult dragons make greater use of their wings as supplementary appendages, leaving their forward limbs free to use for other things. Their scales and plating generally feature strange shapes and patterns that are rarely seen in the natural world.

Primal Dragons: While all dragons are fierce and terrifying in their own way, primal dragons seem to embody the most bestial traits among dragons. These dragons derive their power from the magic of the natural world. While primal dragons aren't directly bound to serve nature, many of them choose to act as keepers of their habitats. Primal dragons are generally larger than other dragons and fall back on their instincts more often, making them particularly dangerous when threatened. Their scales typically have less elaborate shapes than other dragons, or will sometimes resemble natural terrain. Some dragons even grow natural features like small plants on their bodies.

Draconic Families: In addition to these classifications, dragons are sometimes grouped into families. These include the enigmatic esoteric dragons, the regal imperial dragons, the space-faring outer dragons, and the mighty skymetal dragons. Draconic families are sometimes made up of dragons with obvious physiological similarities, while other families seem to be made up of dragons of similar color, habitat, behavior, or other traits that make for vague connections. Often, families include dragons of varied magical traditions. As such, the members of a given family are sometimes the subject of debate and scholarly arguments.

Sidebar - Advice and Rules Shape-Changing Dragons

Though it's uncommon, some dragons can take humanoid forms. They gain the following ability:

Change Shape [one-action] (concentrate, polymorph); The dragon takes on the appearance of any Small or Medium humanoid. This doesn't change their Speed or attack and damage bonuses with their Strikes but might change the damage type their Strikes deal (typically to bludgeoning).