Bronze Dragon, Young adult

Metallic dragons make up the good branch of dragonkind, but they are every bit as aggressive as their evil cousins when threatened or challenged. They also tend to be covetous and proud.

Bronze dragons are inquisitive and enjoy polymorphing into small, friendly animals to observe adventurers. They are fascinated by warfare, eagerly joining an army for a just cause—and good pay.

A bronze wyrmling’s scales are yellow tinged with green, showing only a hint of bronze. As the dragon approaches adulthood, its color deepens slowly to a darker, rich bronze tone. Very old dragons develop Bronzea blue-black tint to the edges of their scales. Powerful swimmers, they have webbed feet and smooth, flat scales. The pupils of its eyes fade as a dragon ages, until in the oldest the eyes resemble glowing green orbs.

Bronze dragons like coastal hills near deep fresh water or salt water. They often visit the depths to cool off or hunt for pearls and sunken treasure. They prefer caves that are accessible only from the water, but their lairs are always dry—they do not lay eggs, sleep, or store treasure underwater. A smell of sea spray lingers about them. Bronze dragons eat aquatic plants and some varieties of seafood. They especially prize shark meat. They also dine on the occasional pearl.

Bronze dragons dislike killing animals and would rather bribe them (perhaps with food) or force them away magically. They use detect thoughts to learn intelligent creatures’ intentions. When attacking they blind their opponents with fog cloud and then charge or, if flying, snatch them up. Against seafaring opponents they conjure up a storm or use their tails to smash the vessels’ hulls. If a dragon is inclined to be lenient, ships might be merely becalmed, fogbound, or broken-masted.

Breath Weapon (Su): 80-ft. line, damage 10d6 electricity, Reflex DC 23 half; or 40-ft. cone, repulsion compelled to do nothing but move away from the dragon for 1d6+5 rounds, mind-affecting compulsion enchantment effect, Will DC 23 negate. Using a breath weapon is a standard action. Once a dragon breathes, it can’t breathe again until 1d4 rounds later.

Frightful Presence (Ex): A young adult or older dragon can unsettle foes with its mere presence. The ability takes effect automatically whenever the dragon attacks, charges, or flies overhead. Creatures within a radius 150-ft are subject to the effect if they have 17 HD or less.

A potentially affected creature that succeeds on a Will DC 23 remains immune to that dragon’s frightful presence for 24 hours. On a failure, creatures with 4 or less HD become panicked for 4d6 rounds and those with 5 or more HD become shaken for 4d6 rounds. Dragons ignore the frightful presence of other dragons.

Blindsense (Ex): Dragons can pinpoint creatures within a distance of 60 feet. Opponents the dragon can’t actually see still have total concealment against the dragon.

Keen Senses (Ex): A dragon sees four times as well a human in shadowy illumination and twice as well in normal light. It also has darkvision out to 120 feet.

Speak With Animals (Sp): At will—as speak with animals. Caster level 5th.

Water Breathing (Ex): Can breathe underwater indefinitely and can freely use breath weapon, spells, and other abilities underwater.

Alternate Form (Su): A young or older bronze dragon can assume any animal or humanoid form of Medium size or smaller as a standard action three times per day. The dragon can remain in its animal or humanoid form until it chooses to assume a new one or return to its natural form.

Spells: As 5th-level sorcerer. *Can also cast cleric spells and those from the Animal, Law and Water domains as arcane spells.

Typical Sorcerer Spells Known (6/7/5; save DC 14 + spell level): 0—dancing lights, detect magic, detect poison, mage hand, ray of frost, read magic; 1st—animate rope, calm animals, magic missile, shield; 2nd—calm emotions, hold animal.

Feats: This dragon has 7 feats available.

Skills: These skills are considered class skills for all dragons: Concentration, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Intimidate, Knowledge (any), Listen, Search, Sense Motive, Spot and Use Magic Device. These skills are considered class skills for bronze dragons: Disguise, Swim and Survival. This dragon has 210 skill points available.