River Dragon, Elder

These cruel river dragons crawl from their wet shells an icy blue color highlighted by tiny white spines in rows along their backs and limbs. Their long sinuous bodies are powerfully muscled making them excellent swimmers. As they age they spend long periods lying amongst the rocks and mud at the bottoms of progressively deeper rivers.  As they do their hides take on the coloration of the river they inhabit, be it mossy, muddy, or rocky as their scales become impregnated with those materials.

River dragons live in rivers; from cold mountain headwaters at young ages, to wide deltas once older. They spend their long lives hiding underwater, controlling currents, overwhelming boats and capriciously drowning people. They tend to bury their hordes in caches and caves they dig at the bottom of their rivers and in cavernous aquifers.

Occasionally, as they age and move slowly from their mountaintop springs to deeper waters, they will encounter another river dragon. When these encounters take place the two dragons will generally fight for dominance and control of the river.  Losers are slain if they cannot escape back upriver.  On the occasions when they are of opposite sexes mating may occur before or after the fight for dominance.  The victor will send the loser upriver to hide the eggs amongst the stones at the springs and headwaters of the river.

River Dragon, Elder✦ Level 16 Solo Controller
Large natural magical beast (dragon, aquatic, cold) ✦ XP 7,000
Initiative +13 ✦ Senses Perception +11; darkvision
HP 628; Bloodied 314
AC 30; Fortitude 28, Reflex 28, Will 28
Resist 10 cold
Saving Throws +5
Speed 4, Swim 9

Action Points 1

Powers
Bite (melee 2; Standard; At-Will)
The dragon lashes out in a spray of water and a flash of teeth, catching its prey and tearing at it.
+21 vs. AC; 2d8 + 7 damage, and the target is grabbed (until escape). Cannot make bite attacks while grabbing a creature this way.  A grabbed creature takes ongoing 10 damage.

Claw (melee 1; Standard; At-Will)
+21 vs. AC; 1d10 + 7 damage.

Tailslap (close blast 3; Standard; At-Will)
+19 vs. Reflex; 2d8 + 7 damage.

Claw / Claw / Bite (Standard; At-Will)
The river dragon can make two claw attacks and a bite attack.

Breath Weapon (close blast 5; standard; recharge 5,6) ✦ Cold
The dragon unleashes a torrent of icy water, overwhelming those caught within.
+19 vs. Reflex; 3d10 + 6 cold damage, and the target is pushed 4 squares.
Miss: half damage.

Maelstrom (area burst 4 within 10; standard; encounter) ✦ Cold
With a flick of its mighty tail, the river dragon creates a freezing whirlpool.
+19 vs Reflex; 3d10 + 6 cold damage, and all affected creatures are immobilized (save ends).
Effect: The maelstrom creates a zone of powerful, frigid eddies.  Any creature that enters or starts their turn in the eddies takes 10 cold damage.

Bloodied Breath (free, when first bloodied, encounter) ✦ Cold
The dragon's breath weapon recharges automatically, and the dragon uses it immediately.

Frightful Presence (Close burst 10; targets enemies; standard; encounter) ✦ Fear
+19 vs. Will; the target is stunned until the end of the dragon’s next turn. Aftereffect: The target takes a –2 penalty to attack rolls (save ends).

Change Shape (minor; at-will) ✦ Polymorph
A river drake can alter its physical form to take on the appearance of any small to huge humanoid, including a unique individual.

Alignment Evil ✦ Languages Draconic, Common
Skills Arcana +17, Bluff +17, Stealth +18
Str 24 (+15) Dex 21 (+13) Wis 16 (+11)
Con 21 (+13) Int 18 (+12) Cha 19 (+12)


Tactics: River dragons are rarely found out of their rivers, and use the water as cover from which to make quick strikes and then disappear.  Often they will create a Maelstrom around them so that those attacking them take ongoing damage.

River Dragon Lore: The following can be learned with an Arcana check:
Arcana DC 10: These aquatic dragons are known to attack anything on their rivers without provocation.
Arcana DC 15: Highly adapted to the cold waters in which they are hatched, these dragons have some resistance to the cold. They can also control the waters of their rivers.
Arcana DC 20: These cruel dragons have the ability to mimic the shapes of people to trick their prey.