Buy me a coffeeDragon turtle, The Steam-Breathing Behemoth
“Terrifying Sea Monster: Meet the Dragon Turtle That Can Capsize Ships and Breathe Scalding Steam!”
Dragon turtles are gargantuan, majestic creatures that blend the imposing features of both dragons and colossal turtles. They possess a hulking, dome-shaped shell covered in jagged, rocky ridges that can reach up to 15 feet in diameter. Each dragon turtle’s shell is unique, its colors varying between deep oceanic greens, stormy blues, and rusty browns, often accented by streaks of silvery or golden hues that shimmer underwater.
Their draconic heads are adorned with sharp, horn-like protrusions, ridged brows, and eyes that burn with a predatory gleam. A dragon turtle’s limbs are muscular, with long, scaly digits ending in black, talon-like claws capable of ripping through wooden hulls and armored plating alike. Their powerful tails are lined with jagged spines and can extend almost as long as their entire bodies, serving as formidable weapons in combat.
Behavior
Dragon turtles are highly territorial and intelligent, acting more like cunning warlords than mere predators. They guard their domains fiercely, attacking intruders without hesitation. However, they are not mindlessly aggressive; a dragon turtle can be swayed by offerings of gold, magical artifacts, or other treasures. These creatures remember both tribute and disrespect, building long-standing grudges or alliances based on how they are treated. Dragon turtles often display a draconic sense of pride, responding favorably to flattery and careful negotiation. Once convinced of a party’s respect or value, they may offer safe passage through their waters or even act as temporary allies in exchange for the right price.
Habitat
Dragon turtles inhabit a wide range of aquatic environments, thriving in both saltwater and freshwater regions. They prefer deep ocean trenches, coastal caves, and submerged volcanic vents, choosing lairs that are hard to reach and easily defensible. Within these lairs, they establish opulent hoards of sunken ships, glittering treasures, and salvaged wrecks, turning their homes into macabre undersea museums of maritime misfortune. A typical dragon turtle’s territory spans 50 square miles or more, marked by clusters of shattered ships and warnings left for those who venture too close. These creatures often take up residence near important trade routes, using their strategic locations to extort tithes from passing vessels.
Modus Operandi
When confronting intruders, dragon turtles typically employ a brutal but strategic approach. They begin by stalking their prey silently from the depths, using their acute senses to assess the strength and potential value of their targets. If a ship is deemed worthy of their wrath, the dragon turtle will often surface beneath it, using its massive bulk to capsize the vessel in a single, devastating maneuver. Once the ship is overturned, it lashes out with its claws and tail, snapping masts and rending hulls to create maximum chaos.
If the crew attempts to resist, the dragon turtle unleashes its breath weapon, a blast of superheated steam capable of boiling sailors alive or setting ships ablaze even in the water. However, if a dragon turtle detects that the intruders are well-armed or capable of harming it, it may attempt a different tactic: emerging from the water to issue a booming, draconic ultimatum. Sailors wise enough to know the legends understand that it’s time to start throwing treasure overboard—quickly.
Motivation
Dragon turtles are driven by a combination of primal instincts, draconic greed, and territorial pride. Their primary motivation is to amass wealth, not out of need, but as a display of power and status. This wealth often takes the form of gold, jewels, and magical items, but a dragon turtle is also fond of rare or unique shipwrecks, which it collects to adorn its lair. These creatures are also motivated by a deep sense of sovereignty over their territory.
To a dragon turtle, their domain is a personal kingdom, and every ship that crosses their path is expected to pay homage. Those that do so may pass unharmed, while those that fail to recognize their dominion become little more than flotsam and jetsam.
In essence, dragon turtles are not merely creatures of the sea; they are its tyrants, guardians, and collectors—ancient forces that inspire both dread and reverence in all who ply the world’s oceans.
Dragon Turtle (5th Edition)
Dragon Turtle (3.5 Edition)
Dragon Turtle
- Gargantuan Dragon (Aquatic), Neutral
Armor Class: 22 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 409 (31d20 + 93)
Speed: 20 ft., swim 60 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 (+10) | 10 (+0) | 24 (+7) | 12 (+1) | 16 (+3) | 12 (+1) |
Saving Throws:
- Dex +7, Con +14, Wis +10
Skills:
- Perception +17, Stealth +7
- Athletics +18, Survival +10, Insight +10
Damage Resistances:
- Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities:
- Fire
Condition Immunities:
- Paralyzed, Prone, Stunned
Senses:
- Blindsight 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 27
Languages:
- Aquan, Draconic, understands Common but rarely speaks
Challenge: 20 (25,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus: +7
TRAITS
- Amphibious: The dragon turtle can breathe both air and water.
- Titanic Presence: The dragon turtle’s sheer size and power make it a devastating force. Whenever a creature within 30 feet of the dragon turtle fails a saving throw against becoming frightened, paralyzed, or stunned, it can choose to immediately make the creature prone as a free action.
- Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If the dragon turtle fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
- Mountainous Shell: When the dragon turtle retracts into its shell (using its Withdraw action), it gains a +6 bonus to AC and advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws until it emerges.
- Aquatic Sovereign: The dragon turtle’s control over the sea is unmatched. It can command marine life within a 1-mile radius and can telepathically communicate with aquatic creatures, influencing their behavior and summoning them to its aid.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack: The dragon turtle makes three attacks: one with its Bite and two with its Claws.
- Bite:
- Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target.
- Hit: 35 (4d12 + 9) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 22 Strength saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 22). Until this grapple ends, the dragon turtle cannot use its bite on another target.
- Claw:
- Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
- Hit: 25 (3d10 + 9) slashing damage.
- Steam Breath (Recharge 5–6):
The dragon turtle exhales scalding steam in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 22 Constitution saving throw, taking 78 (12d12) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Being underwater does not grant resistance against this damage. Any creature that fails this save is also blinded until the end of its next turn. - Capsize (Recharge 6):
The dragon turtle can swim under a ship and attempt to capsize it. The ship must be Large or smaller for this to have any effect. The dragon turtle makes a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the ship’s Strength (usually +0). On a success, the ship is knocked over, dumping its passengers into the water. Ships up to Huge size have a 50% chance to be capsized, while Gargantuan ships have a 20% chance. - Withdraw: The dragon turtle can use its action to retract into its shell, gaining the benefits of its Mountainous Shell trait. It can’t make attacks but can emerge as a bonus action on its next turn.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The dragon turtle can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The dragon turtle regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
- Claw Strike:
The dragon turtle makes a Claw attack. - Steam Surge (Costs 2 Actions):
The dragon turtle rapidly expels a burst of hot water, creating a 20-foot-radius wave around it. Each creature within the radius must make a DC 22 Strength saving throw or take 40 (8d8) bludgeoning damage and be pushed 30 feet away. On a successful save, the creature takes half damage and is not pushed. - Crushing Descent (Costs 3 Actions):
The dragon turtle leaps into the air and crashes down onto the ground or into the water, creating a 40-foot shockwave. Each creature within 40 feet must succeed on a DC 22 Dexterity saving throw or take 60 (10d10) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The terrain within this area becomes difficult terrain until the end of the dragon turtle’s next turn.
TACTICS
- Pre-Battle: A dragon turtle often remains hidden beneath the water, using Stealth to approach its prey undetected. It waits for the opportune moment to capsize ships, throwing its opponents into disarray.
- Combat Initiation: The dragon turtle typically opens combat with its Steam Breath, targeting clustered enemies. If facing a ship, it attempts to capsize it immediately, scattering foes into the water.
- On Land: When forced onto land, the dragon turtle fights defensively, using Withdraw and its legendary actions to disrupt attackers and make it difficult for melee combatants to reach it.
- Underwater Ambush: If fighting underwater, it employs Steam Surge to scatter and disorient opponents, then closes in with powerful Bite and Claw attacks, using its grapples to drag weaker foes deeper into the water.
Dragon Turtle
This long-tailed aquatic beast resembles a massive snapping turtle with draconic features.
Dragon turtles make their homes in both salt and fresh water, where they rank among the biggest threats to sailors and those who travel by ship through the waterways of the world. Skilled mariners know the territory they claim and frequently make offerings of gold and magic for safe passage or avoid the area entirely. For its part, a dragon turtle quickly grows to appreciate and even expect such tithes and gifts, and a dragon turtle that expects gifts but is ignored is a dangerous foe indeed.
A there shell varies in color between individuals. Some have dull shells of brown and rust red, while others have carapaces of a deep green-blue color with silver highlights across the rocky ridges. The coloration of the head, tail, and legs is slightly paler than the shell and contains golden streaks along the crest and spines.
Dragon turtles claim vast territories in the open seas, encompassing regions often in excess of 50 square miles. Here, these dangerous beasts capsize ships that fail to respect their territories, adding the sunken wrecks and their valuable cargoes to their lairs. Dragon turtles generally make their homes in deep caves only accessible through the water, and often decorate their lairs not only with the wealth seized from ships they’ve sunk, but the wrecks of these unfortunate ships themselves. Their territorial natures and fondness for these types of lairs put them in direct conflict with other undersea races such as merfolk and sahuagin.
Large fish, such as tuna, sturgeons, and even sharks, rank among dragon turtles’ favorite foods, but being omnivores, they also sometimes feed on large undersea fields of seaweed. They certainly aren’t above supplementing their diets with the passengers of ships they sink, although such feeding is not borne of any intrinsic evil or cruelty. Dragon turtles possess shells 15 feet in diameter, with their appendages stretching a few feet further, and measure over 25 feet long from the tip of their noses to the ends of their powerful tails.
| Dragon turtle | |
| Huge Dragon (Aquatic) | |
| Hit Dice | 12d12+60 (138 hp) |
| Initiative | +0 |
| Speed | 20 ft. (4 squares), Swim 30 ft. |
| Armor Class | 25 (–2 size, +17 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 25 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +12/+28 |
| Attack | Bite +18 melee (4d6+8) |
| Full Attack | Bite +18 melee (4d6+8) and 2 claws +13 melee (2d8+4) |
| Space/Reach | 15 ft./10 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Breath weapon, Snatch, capsize |
| Special Qualities | Darkvision 60 ft., immunity to fire, sleep, and Paralysis, Low-Light Vision, Scent |
| Saves | Fort +13, Ref +8, Will +9 |
| Abilities | Strength 27, Dexterity 10, Constitution 21, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 13, Charisma 12 |
| Skills | Diplomacy +3, Hide +7*, Intimidate +16, Listen +16, Search +16, Sense Motive +16, Spot +16, Survival +16 (+18 following tracks), Swim +21 |
| Feats | Blind-Fight, Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack, Snatch |
| Environment | Temperate aquatic |
| Organization | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating | 9 |
| Treasure | Triple standard |
| Alignment | Usually neutral |
| Advancement | 13–24 HD (Huge); 25–36 HD (Gargantuan) |
| Level Adjustment | — |
COMBAT
Dragon turtles are fierce fighters and generally attack any creature that threatens their territory or looks like a potential meal.
Breath Weapon (Su): Cloud of superheated steam 20 feet high, 25 feet wide, and 50 feet long, once every 1d4 rounds, damage 12d6 fire, Reflex DC 21 half; effective both on the surface and underwater. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Capsize (Ex): A submerged dragon turtle that surfaces under a boat or ship less than 20 feet long capsizes the vessel 95% of the time. It has a 50% chance to capsize a vessel from 20 to 60 feet long and a 20% chance to capsize one over 60 feet long.
Skills: A dragon turtle has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered.
It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
*Dragon turtles have a +8 racial bonus on Hide checks when submerged.