Dragon, Scarlet
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Climate/Terrain | Temperate hills and mountains |
| Frequency | Very rare |
| Organization | Solitary or clan |
| Activity Cycle | Any |
| Diet | Special |
| Intelligence | Genius (17-18) |
| Treasure | Special |
| Alignment | Lawful Good |
| No. of Appearing | 1 (2-5) |
| Armor Class | -3 (base) |
| Move | 10, Fl 32 (C), Jp 3 |
| Hit Dice | 15 (base) |
| THAC0 | 5 (base) |
| No. of Attacks | 3 + special |
| Damage/Attack | 2-12/2-12/3-36 (3d12) |
| Special Attacks | Special |
| Special Defenses | Variable |
| Magic Resistance | Variable |
| Size | G (46' base) |
| Moral | Fanatic (17-18) |
| XP Value | Variable |
Description
| Age | Body Length | Tail Length | AC | Breath Weapon | (2nd, 3rd Rounds) | Spells Wizard/Priest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3-10 | 3-10 | 0 | 2d12+1 | (1,1) | Nil |
| 2 | 10-21 | 10-19 | -1 | 4d12+2 | (2,1) | Nil |
| 3 | 21-40 | 19-28 | -2 | 6d12+3 | (3,1) | Nil |
| 4 | 40-58 | 28-47 | -3 | 8d12+4 | (4,2) | 2 |
| 5 | 58-77 | 47-66 | -4 | 10d12+5 | (5,2) | 2 2 |
| 6 | 77-96 | 66-85 | -5 | 12d12+6 | (6,3) | 2 2 1 |
| 7 | 96-115 | 85-100 | -6 | 14d12+7 | (7,3) | 2 2 2 / 1 |
| 8 | 115-132 | 100-120 | -7 | 16d12+8 | (8,4) | 2 2 2 1 / 1 |
| 9 | 132-150 | 120-138 | -8 | 18d12+9 | (9,4) | 2 2 2 2 / 2 |
| 10 | 150-160 | 138-146 | -9 | 20d12+10 | (10,5) | 2 2 2 2 1 / 2 1 |
| 11 | 160-170 | 146-156 | -10 | 22d12+11 | (11,5) | 2 2 2 2 2 / 2 2 |
| 12 | 170-178 | 156-164 | -11 | 24d12+12 | (12,6) | 3 2 2 2 2 / 2 2 |
| Age | Magic Resistance | Treasure Type | XP Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nil | Nil | 3,000 |
| 2 | Nil | Nil | 4,000 |
| 3 | Nil | Nil | 6,000 |
| 4 | Nil | H | 8,000 |
| 5 | 35% | H, T | 10,000 |
| 6 | 40% | H, T | 12,000 |
| 7 | 45% | H, T, Z | 13,000 |
| 8 | 50% | H, Tx2, Z | 15,000 |
| 9 | 55% | H, Tx2, Z | 17,000 |
| 10 | 60% | H, Tx2, Zx2 | 18,000 |
| 11 | 65% | H, Tx2, Zx2 | 19,000 |
| 12 | 70% | H, Tx2, Zx3 | 20,000 |
Scarlet dragons are related to red and crimson dragons; in appearance, a scarlet dragon is nearly identical to a crimson dragon, with the following exceptions: it is larger (nearly the size of a red), has different color scales, and has no black throat and belly; instead it has a black stripe on the back of the head, body, and tail, and has black wing ribbings on the top side.
Like crimson dragons, a scarlet dragon can easily be mistaken for a red dragon. If viewed from above, the chances for a mistaken identity are the same as for a crimson dragon; if only the underside is visible, these chances are as follows: at ranges of 80' or more, it is impossible to differentiate a scarlet from a red; at closer distances, a successful intelligence check is required to do so (unlike the crimson, there is no minimum distance where the differences are automatically apparent in this situation.)
Scarlet dragons speak their own tongue, a tongue common to all good dragons and 18% of hatchling scarlet dragons have an ability to communicate with any intelligent creature. The chance to possess this ability increases 5% per age category of the dragon.
Combat
Under normal circumstances, a scarlet dragon will not attack unless provoked. If they do fight, their high intelligence allows them to quickly determine what attack mode to use; they are therefore, very unlikely to use up spells and breath attacks against weaker foes, and in most circumstances will have these abilities available for use against dangerous enemies. If faced with powerful opponents, they will be softened up with spells and breath attacks at a distance, before the scarlet dragon closes to fight in melee. When attacked, a scarlet dragon is a viscous fighter, and once the battle has been joined, will rarely back down.
Breath Weapon: A scarlet dragon's breath weapon is a cone of greek fire 100' long, 5' wide at the dragon's mouth, and 40' wide at the base. Anyone caught inside the area of effect may save vs. breath weapon for 1/2 damage. The flames caused by this attack will continue to burn for two additional rounds; anyone still in the area of effect suffers the damage given in the parenthesis (the numbers represent the damage taken in the second and third rounds, respectively), and is considered to be covered by the flaming material. Therefore, these victims do not get a saving throw. However, all items carried by these victims must make saves vs. magical fire in these additional rounds, or be consumed by the fire. Anyone not initially hit by the flames, but who moves into the area of effect, gets a normal saving throw vs. dragon breath for 1/2 damage.
Scarlet dragons cast spells and use their special abilites at 10th level, plus their combat modifier. They are born immune to fire and all types of heat; as they age, scarlet dragons gain the following additional powers:
| Age | Special Ability |
|---|---|
| Very young | Faerie fire (three times per day) |
| Juvenile | Flaming Sphere (three times per day) |
| Adult | Wall of force (twice per day) |
| Mature adult | Flame strike (once per day) |
| Old | Moonbeam (twice per day) |
| Wyrm | Prismatic sphere (three times per week) |
Habitat
Scarlet dragons inhabit temperate hills and mountains (they prefer hills, however.) Their lairs are most often deep within a hilly area, in a well hidden cave. Scarlet dragons will protect their lairs and territory with various types of traps, both magical and mundane.
Scarlet dragons are very family-oriented; they will protect their young and mates to the death if necessary. Even after their offspring have grown and left the lair, a mated pair of scarlet dragons will stay together more often than not. Scarlet dragons also enjoy the company of other good dragons, such as silver and gold dragons, and will form alliances with them in times of great need.
Like crimson dragons, a scarlet dragon will often be mistaken for a red dragon, and they are therefore, attacked unjustly at times. This is a source of great frustration for scarlet dragons, since they are often assailed by good-aligned creatures and adventurers; in these cases, instead of counter-attacking, a scarlet dragon will attempt to disable their attackers and explain to them their mistake. If this does not work, the scarlet dragon will try to fly away. If attacked by evil creatures, they will retaliate without mercy.
Ecology
Scarlet dragons prefer to eat meat, but will eat nearly anything if it is necessary. Like crimson dragons, the scarlet's prey is almost always non-intelligent creatures.
Scarlet dragons and red dragons are fierce opponents; because their territories sometimes overlap, fights between the two types are not uncommon. The scarlet will usually get the best of these confrontations, but the pure persistance of the red often pays off with a victory, or at least a draw.