The Firedrake

The dragon began to belch out flames
and burn bright homesteads; there was a hot glow
that scared everyone, for the vile sky-winger
would leave nothing behind in its wake.
Everywhere the havoc he wrought was in evidence.

Lines 2312-2316 Beowolf

The sinuous dragon in front of you bares its dripping fangs menacingly. It has a long serpentine neck, topped by a head almost too large for its body.. Great black wings stretch behind it, as does a powerful tail tipped by a wicked bone hook. The dragon’s color is a deep red, and its eyes glow a coppery orange.

Originally Posted by demiurge1138 of the En World forums.

On this Thread

The firedrake was an ancient and immensely powerful dragon that lurked in the dark corners of the earth, searching for treasure to guard. Lacking magical power, but physically dangerous, the firedrake limited itself to stealing treasure from barrows and ancient vaults. It slept for centuries on a bed of gold and jewels left behind by some long-forgotten king, until a slave, fleeing his master, stole a gem-encrusted goblet. Upon awakening, the firedrake searched for an entire day for the goblet before taking his ire out on the Geats by burning their villages from the sky.

The king of the Geats, the old hero Beowulf, set out with his men to slay the firedrake, but all of them fled in terror, save Beowulf and his steward Wiglaf. They slew the dragon after a fierce and bloody battle, but not before Beowulf had been injected with the firedrake’s deadly poison. Beowulf died that day, leaving the Geats to an uncertain future.

The Firedrake
Gargantuan Dragon (fire)
Hit Dice	28d12+ 252 (434 hp)
Initiative	+4
Speed	40ft, Fly 200ft (clumsy)
Armor Class	33 (-4 size, +27 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 33
Base Attack/Grapple	+28/+58
Attack	Bite +38 melee (6d6+14 plus poison)
Full Attack	Bite +38 melee (6d6+14 plus poison), 2 claws +36 melee (2d8+7), 2 wings +36 melee (2d6+6), tail slap +36 melee (2d8+21)
Space/Reach	20ft/15ft (20ft with bite)
Special Attacks	Breath weapon, crush, frightful presence, poison
Special Qualities	Blindsense 60ft, cold vulnerability, Darkvision 120ft, DR 15/magic, immunities (fire, Paralysis, sleep), keen sight, SR 24
Saves	Fort +25, Ref +16, Will +23
Abilities	Strength 39, Dexterity 10, Constitution 28, Intelligence 11, Wisdom 20, Charisma 21
Skills	Intimidate +36, Knowledge (history) +31, Listen +38, Search +31, Sense Motive +36, Spot +38
Feats	Alertness, Cleave, Hover, Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Improved Sunder, Iron Will, Multiattack, Power Attack, Wingover
Environment	Cold mountains and underground
Organization	Unique
Challenge Rating	20
Treasure	Triple standard
Alignment	Neutral evil
Advancement	29-56 HD (Gargantuan), 57-84 HD (Colossal)

Combat

The firedrake prefers to breath fire as often as possible, and not close in combat unless necessary. If directly confronted, it barrages its foe with its powerful physical attacks, including its venomous bite.

Breath Weapon (Su)

The firedrake has one breath weapon, a cone of fire 70 feet long. Any creature within the area must make a Reflex save (DC 33 half) or take 16d10 points of fire damage

Crush (Ex)

When flying, the firedrake can land on its opponents, crushing them underneath its body. The firedrake can affect as many Medium-size or smaller creatures as can fit underneath its body. Creatures within the area must make a Reflex save (DC 33) or be pinned and take 4d6+21 points of damage. Creatures passing the save are not pinned and take half damage. The firedrake must make grapple checks every round if it wishes to maintain the pin, and pinned creatures take crush damage every round.

Frightful Presence (Ex)

All creatures with as many or fewer Hit Dice as the firedrake within 240 feet of the firedrake when it charges, attacks or flies overhead must make Will saves (DC 29) or be panicked for 4d6 rounds if they have less then 5 HD, or be shaken for 4d6 rounds if they have 5 or more HD. A creature that succeeds this save is immune to the firedrake’s frightful presence for 24 hours. The firedrake is immune to the frightful presence of other dragons.

Keen Sight (Ex)

The firedrake can see four times as well as a human in shadowy conditions and twice as well in normal light.

Poison (Ex)

The poison of the firedrake causes immense searing pain as the victim’s internal organs burn. Bite, Fort DC 33 negates, 2d6 Constitution and sickening (as the condition)/2d8 Constitution