Onyx Dread

Before the first dragons emerged, their precursors, giant lizard-like creatures called dinosaurs roamed Amurel. Most of them went extinct at the end of the wild era, however, some of their relatives persist to this day. The Onyx Dread is one of those creatures, a primitive relative of dragons who adapted himself to a fully aquatic lifestyle it bears some similarities with its distant cousins like their size, ferocity, and affinity for magic.

## Statistics

### Senses

Darkvision 37m, Blindsight (while underwater) 18m, Passive perception 18.

## Modifiers

### Resistances

Bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical attacks.

### **Description**

The Onyx Dread is a reptile of immense size often measuring up to 15 meters in length and weighing an astonishing 30 tons. Onyx Dreads never stop growing and ancient specimens might reach even greater sizes. They resemble large reptile-like creatures with streamlined bodies, four large fins, a large dorsal fin that runs across their entire body length, and a powerful tail.  They have a large and powerful jaw adorned with equally large and powerful teeth which much like their bodies never stop growing. Their mouth can open to an almost 180º angle like snakes which allows them to swallow creatures even larger than themselves. They are mostly black with a light blue underbelly and red eyes. Their color schemes may vary, however, with older specimens being usually darker in color, and females’ coloration being slightly lighter. Males are larger than females and therefore more dangerous, they are also more aggressive and prone to attack without provocation.

### **Biology**

Onyx Dread’s usually inhabit the deeper parts of the ocean, diving deep to hunt squids and other large fish although they have been seen hunting sharks and whales near the surface. Despite their aquatic lifestyle Onyx Dreads breathe air and as such, they must surface to breathe; however, they can remain submerged for up to two hours.

### **Life Cycle**

Onyx dreads mate once a year during autumn. During this time females gather near the shore. These gatherings that can only be seen at this time of year are called harems. Males are attracted to these harems by pheromones released into the water by the females. Once a male reaches a harem it will attempt to mate. Females may fight back to test the male, and the male usually then fights and subdues the female before mating, if the male fails to subdue the female it is killed and eaten. If more than one male arrives at the harem a fight occurs, these fights can end in the death of one or both males although usually one yields and retreats. Only one male will mate with all the females in the harem this male is called the alpha and it is the strongest and largest Onyx Dread in the region, defeated males do not get a chance to reproduce.

After mating the gathering disbands. The female gives birth to the young 10 months later. Onyx dreads only giving birth to one baby at a time. While in the mother’s uterus the baby will fight and eat its siblings to sustain itself through maturation. Only one Onyx Dread emerges in the end, already a trained killer. The mother immediately separates themselves from the young and they are left to fend for themselves. A newborn Onyx dread is between 3 and 5 meters long and can weigh up to a ton. A baby Onyx Dread is called a pup. Onyx dreads can live up to 400 years and reach maturity at 3 years old.

### **Abilities**

Despite their impressive physical might by far, the most terrifying thing about Onyx Dreads is their affinity with fire magic. Onyx Dreads can create powerful explosions from their mouth akin to a dragon’s fire breath. Onyx Dreads use this in a peculiar way, however, by swallowing stones and propelling them with the explosions created in their mouths. They utilize this as a hunting tool as well as to fight among themselves. This ability is terrifyingly destructive and it is what earned them their names as many ships were sunk when venturing into Onyx Dread territory. Onyx Dreads are not born with this ability and only develop it after fully maturing into adults.

Despite being related to dragons Onyx Dreads do not possess the same level of intelligence and are not capable of speech or shapeshifting.

### **Usage and Importance to the economy.**

Due to their fame for sinking ships and damaging trade routes Onyx Dreads began being hunted in the Shattered Isles. Their meat is somewhat edible although not very tasty, their teeth and bones serve as amulets and trophies and their scales can be used to make fireproof clothing and armor.

Due to their dangerous nature and the fact they did not provide much in terms of materials the Onyx Dread hunters were few. This all changed when an alchemist by the name of *Lenourious Stronghem* first dissected and analyzed an Onyx Dread. Inside their bowels, these creatures have a special pouch in which a bright blue liquid is produced, this liquid is incredibly flammable and highly reactive, exploding even if slightly disturbed. *Lenourious* worked with this liquid and through alchemical means was able to turn it into a much more stable powdered form, this form of the liquid which he called Dread Powder only ignites in contact with fire, however, the explosions it creates are as powerful as its liquid counterpart.

Dread powder quickly became highly sought after for its destructive properties, booming the hunt for Onyx Dreads, and skyrocketing the price of one’s carcass. Lenourious became rich at the cost of his discovery.

Behind his back, his apprentice designed Dread Powder-powered weapons. These new weapons made to mimic the power of an Onyx Dread himself consisted of a heavy metal cylinder to contain and direct the explosion and a metal projectile that would be propelled by the explosion. When Lenourious discovered the designs, he sought to take credit for them. However, he was ultimately killed by his apprentice who stole the formula for Dread Powder. The apprentice, named Canonrious sold these weapons to pirates and governments alike and they quickly became a staple in marine combat.

The formula for Dread Powder has since been stolen and replicated by a few skilled craftsmen, and quickly became one of the main exports of the Isles, with Dread Powder craftsmen, as well as Dread Powder, being highly sought after.

 **Armor Class:** 17 (Natural Armor)
**Hit Points:** 162 (18d12 + 54)
 STR
 21 (+5)
 **Saving Throws:** CON +7, STR +9, WIS +8
**Skills:** Perception +8, Stealth +4
**Damage Immunities:** Fire
**Condition Immunities:** None
**Senses:** Blindsight (while underwater) 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 18
**Languages:** None
**Challenge 12** (8,400 XP)
**Siege Monster.** Onyx Dreads deal double damage to objects and structures.

**Bite.**: Melee weapon attack: +9 to hit, reach 5ft. Hit: 12(2d6+5) piercing damage. If the target is a large or smaller creature, the target must make a DC: 16 dexterity save or be swallowed. While swallowed, the creature is blinded and restrained, it has total cover against attacks and other effects outside the Onyx Dread, and it takes 20(6d6) acid damage at the start of each of the Onyx Dreads turns. If the Onyx Dread takes 25 damage or more on a single turn from a creature inside it, the Onyx Dread must succeed on a DC 20 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or regurgitate all swallowed creatures, which fall prone in a space within 10 feet of the Onyx Dread. If the Onyx Dread dies, a swallowed creature is no longer restrained by it and can escape from the corpse using 15 feet of movement, exiting prone.

**Tail.** Melee weapon attack: +9 to hit reach 10 ft. One target Hit: 15(3d6 +5) bludgeoning damage. If the attack hits the target must make a DC 16 strength save or be pushed 10 ft back.

**Action 1:** **Deafening Screech.** The Onyx Dread releases a terrible high-pitched screech Each creature within 120ft of the Onyx Dread must make a DC 16 saving throw or be stunned for 1 turn.

**Action 2: Dread Bomb.** The onyx dread opens its mouth to almost 180 degrees and creates a powerful explosion. All creatures within a 60 ft cone in front of the Onyx Dread make a dc 15 dexterity save on a failure they take 40 (12d6) fire damage on success damage is halved.