Evil Dragon Armor (Magic Armor)

In an era long past, an intrepid dragon-hunter and his wizard friend discovered that the hide of an evil dragon, if properly prepared, could be cut and formed into a suit of armor that provides protection against attack forms resembling the breath weapon of the dragon from which it was made.
To begin the process, an evil dragon (white, black, red, blue, or green) of at least adult age must be killed, without the use of magic and preferably by means of repeated attacks with blunt weapons. Even a single magical attack directed against a dragon, whether or not the spellcasting succeeds and whether or not the spell causes damage to the dragon, ruins the protective potential of the creature's hide and makes later attempts at enchantment ineffective. If the dragon is hit with edged weapons, there is a chance that the hide is cut and marred to such an extent that it becomes unusable as armor. For each successful hit on the dragon with an edged weapon (regardless of the amount of damage done), add 5% to the chance of the hide being damaged beyond use. (Thus, if a dragon takes 20 hits from edged weapons, there is no chance that the hide can be used as armor.) If and when the dragon is killed, the chance that the hide is spoiled must be exceeded on a percentage die roll in order for the armor-making process to continue.
The hide must be removed with care, and at this juncture a very sharp, edged weapon is essential to trim the hide as cleanly and efficiently as possible. The instrument must be able to be controlled with precision, which means it can't be any larger than a standard dagger blade. If the character doing the skinning uses a normal (nonmagical) blade, there is a 30% chance that, despite his or her best efforts, the hide does not separate cleanly from the body and the resulting scraps of dragon skin are unusable as armor. If an enchanted blade is employed, the chance of failure at this step of the process decreases by 10% for each “plus” of the instrument; thus, with any blade of +3 or greater, successful skinning is assured.
Once the hide is removed and transported to civilization (assuming the dragon wasn't killed in the village square), the services of skilled armorers, leather-workers, and tailors must be employed to fashion the hide into armor. This process takes 1d10+20 days for each suit of armor, and prices for the needed services are three times the standard rate. Only one set of armor may be fashioned from the hide of a single dragon.
The resulting suit of armor is equivalent to normal scale mail in Armor Class (6), maximum movement rate (6), and bulk (fairly bulky). It weighs about 30 pounds, compared to 40 pounds for normal scale mail. Unenchanted armor can be worn “as is,” but if the nonmagical armor is hit even once by an edged weapon, it cannot be enchanted again.
Enchanting the armor must be done by a magic-user of at least 16th level, who insists on a generous payment in gold pieces, or the promise (and proof) of some other benefit that might be offered. At least half the payment must be supplied in advance, with the rest due when the armor is delivered.
The magic-user must first successfully cast enchant an item on the armor, and then apply a second spell (which varies depending on the armor type) to act as a catalyst, triggering the armor's capability to resist a particular attack form. This second spell must be applied (the casting must have been begun) within 12 hours after the completion of enchant an item. If the enchanting process fails, either because the casting of enchant an item is unsuccessful or because the second spell is not applied within the required time, the wizard is under no obligation to make another attempt free of charge.
The second step in the process depends on the type (color) of dragon hide used. To complete white dragon armor, an ice storm spell must be cast on the hide; for black dragon armor, the finished hide must be immersed in acid for 1d12+12 hours; to complete green dragon armor, a stinking cloud spell must be cast on (around) the hide;
for blue dragon armor, a shocking grasp spell is needed, and for red dragon armor, burning hands. None of these spells or substances damage the armor when they are applied, their function is to activate the innate resistance in the hide that has already been “brought to the surface” by the enchant an item spell.
When the enchantment is complete, the armor is the equivalent to scale mail +1: Armor Class 5, movement 9, weight 15 pounds. In addition, each colored armor type affords the wearer resistance or immunity to a particular attack form. The special properties of each type are:
White dragon armor-Resistance against white dragon breath, winter wolf breath, cone of cold spells, and other attack forms involving cold, ice, or frost. 
Black dragon armor-Resistance against black dragon breath, giant slug spittle, anhkheg digestive acid, and other attack forms using acid or acid like effects. 
Green dragon armor-Resistance against green dragon breath, iron golem breath, cloudkill spells, and other attack forms using poisonous gases. 
Blue dragon armor-Resistance against blue dragon breath, lightning bolt spells, storm giant's lightning attack, and other sorts of natural or magical lightning or electricity. 
Red dragon armor-Resistance against red dragon breath, fireball spells, and other attacks using heat or fire.
“Resistance” includes these benefits: The wearer of the armor gains +1 on all saving throws against the specified attack form; the wearer is unaffected by any attack of the specified type that does six points of damage or less in a round. In all cases, the wearer is entitled to a -1 modifier on each and every damage die rolled (with a minimum of one point of damage per die). If the application of this modifier reduces damage taken in a round to six points or less, the wearer takes no damage (as stipulated above).
Although these suits of armor come from evil dragons, priests and fighters of all alignments may wear them.
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magic Armors