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River Dragon, Ancient

Scales of sparkling blue protect this powerful dragon. The scalding hot water it spits boils its dinner alive.

Ancient River Dragon CR 16

XP 76,800
CN Huge dragon (aquatic, fire)
Init +4; Senses dragon senses, watersight; Perception +29
Aura boiling (10 ft., 2d6 fire), frightful presence (300 ft., DC 25)

 DEFENSE

AC 36, touch 8, flat-footed 36 (+28 natural, -2 size)
hp 270 (20d12+140)
Fort +19, Ref +12, Will +18
DR 15/magic; Immune fire, paralysis, sleep; SR 27
Weaknesses vulnerable to cold

 OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., swim 60 ft.
Melee bite +31 (2d8+16) tail +26(2d6+16)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft. (15ft. with bite)
Special Attacks breath weapon (100-ft. line, DC 27, 20d6 fire), spit (60 ft)
Spell-like Abilities (CL 20th)

At will-control water, obscuring mist, passwall, soften earth and stone, water breathing

Spells Known (CL 13th)

6th (4/day)- (DC 21) antimagic field, move earth
5th (7/day)
- (DC 20) baleful polymorph, mind fog, transmute rock to mud
4th (7/day)
- (DC 19) fire shield, hallucinatory terrain, solid fog, wall of fire
3rd (7/day)
- (DC 18) dispel magic, fireball, gaseous form, haste
2nd (7/day)
- (DC 17) blur, cat’s grace, hideous laughter, pyrotechnics, resist energy
1st (7/day)
- (DC 16) color spray, expeditious retreat, identify, reduce person
0 (at will)
- arcane mark, detect magic, flare, ghost sound, mage hand, message, prestidigitation, read magic, resistance

 STATISTICS

Str 33, Dex 11, Con 24, Int 19, Wis 22, Cha 20
Base Atk +20; CMB +33 (+34 when spitting); CMD 43
Feats Alertness, Athletic, Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Initiative, Power Attack
Skills Appraise +27, Diplomacy +28, Intimidate +28, Linguistics +27, Knowledge (nature) +27, Perception +29, Spellcraft +27, Stealth +23, Survival, +29, Swim +34
Languages Aquan, Common, Draconic, Ignan, Sylvan and 27 others
SQ air breathing, speak with aquatic, watersight

 SPECIAL ABILITIES

Air Breathing (Ex)

The river dragon can breathe air just as naturally as water. This dragon can freely use its breath weapon, spells and other abilities in both air and water.

Boiling Aura (Su)

The adult and older river dragon radiates heat causing any water around it to boil. All creatures within 5 ft. of the dragon take 1d6 points of fire damage at the beginning of the dragon’s turn. An old dragon’s aura extends to 10 ft. An ancient dragon’s damage increases to 2d6. The river dragon can suppress or activate this ability at will as a free action.

Speak with Aquatic (Ex)

The young and older river dragon gains a constant spell-like ability to speak with animals of the aquatic subtype. This otherwise functions as speak with animals.

Spit (Ex)

The mature adult and older river dragon gains the ability to spit water at any target within 30 ft. as a ranged overrun attempt. This range increases to 60 ft. when it becomes ancient. The CMB check for the spit is the river dragon’s CMB but is one size category smaller than the river dragon and gains the benefits of the Improved Overrun feat. This does not grant the river dragon the benefits of the Improved Overrun feat when making a overrun attempt and not spitting.

Watersight (Ex)

The very young and older river dragon can see underwater four times better than a human.

Editor's Notes

A few things to note about this dragon:
1.  Saving throws are slightly off; they should be Fort +20, Ref +15, Will +19. (see feats below).
2.  The bite attack should be bite +32.  (see feats below)
3.  The tail attack is a secondary attack and should be made at full bonus.  It should be tail +31.
4.  Breath weapon DC should be 28.
5.  The dragon is short one 1st level spell.  We recommend shield.
6.  The Base Attack for a dragon with 22 HD is BAB +22.
7.  The CMB/CMD are a little off.  CMB +35 (+37 on bull rush); CMD 45 (47 vs. bull rush, cannot be tripped).  (see feats below)
8.  The dragon is short five feats.  We recommend the following:  Arcane Strike, Awesome Blow, Improved Bull Rush, Lightning Reflexes, Weapon Focus (bite).  These feats have been included in the stat adjustments described in this Editor's Note.
6.  Many of the skills seem to be short by 2 points.  The Stealth skill is missing the modifier for size, and the swim skill appears to be missing some modifiers.  The following skill amounts should be used:  Appraise +29, Diplomacy +30, Intimidate +30, Linguistics +29, Knowledge (nature) +29, Perception +31, Spellcraft +29, Stealth +17, Survival, +31, Swim +48
7.  Unlike most dragons, the river dragon lacks several key attacks, including claws, wings, crush, and tail sweep.  GM's may wish to reduce the creature's CR by 1 to reflect this reduced combat capability.

GM's are encouraged to use these revised stats.