Dragon Slayers (CWS)

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This section contains some expanded rules that you might want to add to the Council of Wyrms setting (or another setting in the case of the Dragon Slayers), as well as important charts and tables, and character sheets for the various PC types described in this volume.
==Dragon Slayers==
Dragons aren't the only new PC types introduced in this volume. A new kit for humans-the dragon slayer-is presented as a nonplayer character (NPC) foe for the dragon PCs. In this section, we'll promote the dragon slayer to PC status for use in other AD&D campaign settings, provide a new slayer mage kit, and give both types additional attack forms to employ against their mortal enemies. Much of this information can also be used to beef up a DM's slayer NPCs in a dragon-PC campaign. Finally you'll find a new Monstrous Manual page describing the undead dragon slayers that still haunt the dragon isles.
===Who are the Dragon Slayers?==
As described in Chapter Five, the dragons of the Io's Blood island chain were once constantly at war with each other. The greater god Io, the Concordant Dragon, sent his avatar to bring a message of peace and harmony to the dragon clans. The clans refused to listen, and the wars continued. Io decided that the only way to end the wars was to send a greater threat against the dragons. It would be a threat so deadly that the dragons would have to put aside their own conflicts and work together to tum it back. Otherwise, the dragon clans would continue to stand alone, and alone each would be destroyed.
Io's avatar searched far and wide across the rest of the world, looking for some foe worthy and powerful enough to threaten the dragon clans. It found a thriving human civilization in the lands far from the dragon islands. The avatar appeared before these humans in all its glory as a great wyrm, playing upon their fears and hatreds concerning dragons, and upon their willingness to appease a god. For the humans saw the avatar as a god, and were not at all bothered that their god should appear to them in the form on their most hated enemy. In fact, they saw this as a true sign of their calling.
The avatar harnessed the natural hatred the humans felt, focused it, and manipulated the humans into becoming the instrument of Io's will in the world. The avatar taught them how to fight dragons, how to forge weapons to kill dragons, how to craft armor to protect themselves from claws and teeth, and how to build ships to travel across the seas to the dragon isles. The humans, meanwhile, listened to every word as though it was a divine common. To them, this was a call to wage holy war-a call direct from their god.
The avatar turned the humans into dragon slayers.
A single human can't match the size or power of a single dragon, but humans are more prolific that dragons, and they are as numerous as the drops of water in the Blood Sea. With the added knowledge and skills provided by the avatar, the dragon slayers were turned into formidable opponents for Io's wayward children.
The dragon slayers invaded the Io's Blood isles and laid waste to the unprepared clans. It took the near extinction for the dragons to realize their only chance of survival was to work together. They did, and the invaders were wiped out. The humans' ships were sunk, their weapons and armor destroyed, and their numbers reduced from many thousands to a scattered few. This was many ages past, but the dragons still remember the war with the humans. The few slayers who survived had no way to return to their own lands, and within a generation they devolved into harmless savages roaming the wilderness between the dragons' cities. Back in the human lands, with their population decimated and their faith in the dragon god broken, the once-mighty dragon slayers almost disappeared. A small, devoted sect is all that remains, and it doesn't have the power or the strength of numbers to contemplate launching another holy war.
===Dragon Slayer PC===
The dragon slayer kit included in Chapter Three works fine as a PC kit with one major change. As humans are extremely rare in the Io's Blood isles, and any encountered wearing the trappings of a slayer would be instantly attacked, they can't be used as PCs in this setting. By removing much of the background and religious overtones, however, a dragon slayer can easily pop up in a more traditional AD&D campaign world.
In other words, dragon slayers still can consider themselves holy warriors, but such a back ground isn't necessary. However, it is up to DMs and players to determine a reason for why the warrior dedicated himself to battling dragons. The requirements, weapon, and nonweapon proficiencies, equipment, special hindrances, and wealth options remain the same as those listed in Chapter Three, with the following modifications.
The list of special attacks available to dragon slayers has been expanded. Using the rules listed in the kit description, any of the new attack forms may be substituted for those in Chapter Three.
An additional option exists if a slayer PC takes the new attack-form specialization. It costs one weapon proficiency slot to specialize in slayer attack forms, and it must be purchased by the time the slayer reaches 3rd level. (The PC can use the new slots gained upon reaching 3rd level to purchase the specialization.) Note the character's Intelligence score can be used only to gain additional nonweapon proficiency slots, not weapon proficiency slots.
With the slayer attack-form specialization, a dragon-slayer PC increases the number of special attacks he can learn, as well as the rate at which he can learn them. Instead of learning three special attacks over the course of a career at 1st, 4th and 7th level, a specialized slayer can learn five-one each at 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th level respectively.
===Special Attack Forms===
In the dragon-slayer kit description, three special attack forms are described. These are Wing Attack, Breath Stun, and Great Blow. Other slayer attack forms include Weapon Throw, Breach Attack, Double Damage, Dazzle, and Dodge Attack.
All special attacks must be declared before any attack rolls are made by either side in a combat round. A dragon slayer can't use special attacks two combat rounds in a row. For example, if Daress the dragon slayer uses a Wing Attack in the first round of combat, she can make no special attacks in the second round. If a slayer fails to hit after the attack form is declared, the special attack is still considered to have been used in that combat round. In a round in which a slayer gets to make more than one attack, only certain forms can be used more than once. These are Wing Attack, Breath Stun, and Double Damage. All special attacks are effective only against dragons. They do not work against nondragon foes.
Weapon Throw allows a dragon slayer to toss his primary weapon at a flying dragon. A primary weapon is any weapon listed in the dragon slayer kit description under weapon proficiencies that the slayer has spent slots on. Short range for thrown weapons is up to 15 feet, medium is up to 30 feet, and long range is up to 45 feet. Attack rolls are made with a -2, -4, and -6 penalty at short, medium, and long range respectively, since this is an unusual use of a heavy weapon. Damage is determined normally, and all Strength and damage bonuses are applied. No other special attack form can be used in combination with a Weapon Throw attack.
Breach Attack allows a slayer to search for a vulnerable spot in dragon's armor. The slayer must spend a full combat round without making any attacks as he searches for an opening. He must be facing a dragon's underbelly, from the neck under its maw to its lower abdomen where its rear legs meet its body. The attack must be aimed at this region. In the round of searching, the slayer makes an Intelligence check to find the breach. A successful check gives the slayer a clear look at the spot, and the attack roll in the next round is made with a +6 bonus. If the check fails, the bonus is only +2. Attacks may be made against the slayer during the round of searching, and the slayer takes damage normally. Damage, however, will not hinder his breach attack unless he is knocked unconscious or killed. Slayers with the Double Damage Attack form can use it in combination with a Breach Attack.
Double Damage allows a slayer to call on his knowledge of dragon physiology to inflict greater damage with a single attack. This attack can be used alone or in combination with a breach attack. When used with a successful attack roll, the slayer's weapon inflicts double damage. No damage bonuses are doubled, just the base damage of the weapon type. However, damage bonuses are applied normally. For example, a slayer with a long sword would cause 2d12 (instead of 1d12) plus any damage bonuses.
Dazzle is an attack form designed to confuse a dragon and hinder its ability to cast spells or use innate powers. The slayer twirls his weapon in such a way as to captivate and disorient his dragon foe. The twirling weapon disrupts the dragon's concentration for the round, making it impossible to gather the merest thoughts necessary to activate a spell or innate power.
Dodge Attack is a combination defense and attack form that a slayer can use to avoid damage and deliver his own deadly blow in the same round. A dodge attack requires a successful Dexterity check, otherwise none of the following benefits apply. If successful, the slayer's armor class is improved by +4 for the round against the dragon's physical attacks, and saving throws versus breath weapons receive a +2 bonus. In addition, after making the dodge the slayer puts himself in a better position to deliver his own attack. In the round, a slayer's attack rolls receive a +2 bonus.
Category:Character Kit