Baneslayer Dragon (Creature, dragon)

**Dragon (Earth, Good)**

**Environment:** Mountain Caves, Underground Caverns

**Organization:** Solitary

**Challenge Ratings:** Wyrmling 10, Very Young 13, Young 15, Juvenile 18, Young Adult 20, Adult 23, Mature Adult 26, Old 28, Very Old 29, Ancient 30, Wyrm 32, Great Wyrm 34

**Treasure:** Triple standard

**Alignment:** Always Good, usually Neutral

**Advancement:** Wyrmling 12-15 HD; Very Young 18-19 HD; Young 21-22 HD; Juvenile 24-25 HD; Young Adult 27-28 HD; Adult 30-32 HD; Mature Adult 34-36 HD; Old 38-39 HD; Very Old 41-42 HD; Ancient 44-45 HD; Wyrm 47-48 HD; Great Wyrm 50+ HD

**Level Adjustment:** Wyrmling +6; Others --

*The dragon before you is large even in comparison with other dragons and has two grandiose, sepia-toned horns that sprout from its brow, curving away from its head, and slanting behind it. Its face is hard, stern, and menacing, its large eyes furrowed deeply within its sturdy skull. Its long neck curves gracefully into its mighty chest and torso which is covered in thick, dark, scales with a grainy, ore-like texture. From the dragon's broad shoulders extend it's black, bat-like wings, the edges of which are wickedly sharp. The air about this dragon is filled with both wisdom and rage, with both fear and sanctum. The dragon smells of burning leaves and peppermint and its dull scales catch the light only in the scarcest glittery hints.*

Baneslayer Dragons are terrifying creatures, brutal and merciless in combat, they will stop at nothing to protect their loved ones and stamp evil creatures into pools of ichor. Despite their propensity to battle with evil and to protect good creatures they are quickest to show disdain or even hatred. They live almost universally alone and espouse a generally bleak view of their world.

Baneslayer Dragons are not noted for their social graces; however one would be very unwise to believe the dragon to be weak willed, or otherwise easily manipulated. They are direct, to the point, and always truthful (often harshly so). Their ability to read the thoughts of others is almost unparalleled and they have no qualms with bringing others' darkest thoughts to light.

6d8 (18)

18

8d8 (23)

22

10d8 (26)

24

12d8 (30)

28

14d8 (34)

31

16d8 (36)

33

18d8 (39)

36

20d8 (42)

40

22d8 (45)

43

24d8 (47)

45

26d8 (49)

48

28d8 (51)

51

[/table]

**Special Abilities**

**Spells (Sp):** A Baneslayer Dragon casts divine spells as a Cleric, and knows all Sanctified Spells (BoED 84) of the appropriate level. Further, he has access to a few spell-like abilities based on age category as follows: 3/day -- Daylight, Ayailla's Radiant Burst (Wyrmling or older); 3/day --Warcry, Dispel Magic (Juvenile or older); 3/day -- Dimensional Anchor, Break Enchantment (Adult or older); 1/day Antimagic Field, Blinding Glory (Old or older); 1/day Sanctify the Wicked (Ancient or older).

**Breath Weapon (Su):** A Baneslayer Dragon's breath weapon deals 1/2 fire damage and 1/2 pure divine energy damage which is not subject to any form of energy resistance. Evil creatures are dealt double normal divine energy damage from this breath weapon, and creatures with the Evil subtype are dealt triple normal divine energy damage and are *immobilized* if they fail their Reflex saves as long as the Baneslayer Dragon can't use this breath weapon. A creature *immobilized* this way cowers if it is also *panicked*.

**Mindsight (Su):** A Baneslayer Dragon, in addition to the normal blindsense all True Dragons have, can detect and pinpoint beings that are not mindless (anything with an Intelligence score of 1 or higher) within range of its frightful presence. This works much like blindsense--the dragon knows what square each thinking being is in, but it does not see the being, and the being still has total concealment unless the dragon can see it by some other means. The dragon also perceives several observable characteristics about each being detected with mindsight, including the being's type and Intelligence score. The dragon need not take any additional or special actions to gain this information; it is as obvious to mindsight as the being's race and clothing would be to eyesight.

**Discern Alignment (Su):** A very young or older Baneslayer Dragon knows the alignments of any beings he perceives with his Mindsight ability.

**Aura Resistance (Ex):** A very young or older Baneslayer Dragon is immune to all area emanation effects of creatures with the Evil subtype or that were created through spells or effects with the [Evil] descriptor.

**Whispers in the Dark (Su):** A juvenile or older Baneslayer Dragon continually reads the thoughts of creatures he perceives with his Mindsight ability as if through the 3rd round portion of the *Detect Thoughts* spell (Will DC 10+1/2Dragon's HD+Dragon's Cha modifier negates). Creatures who successfully save against this effect are immune for 24 hours. Creatures with the Evil subtype that fail their saves are *panicked* during any rounds they remain within range of the dragon's Mindsight.

**Truesight (Su):** An adult or older Baneslayer Dragon cannot be fooled by appearances, benefiting from a permanent, supernatural *True Seeing* effect, as the spell.

**Overwhelming Presence (Su):** A mature adult or older Baneslayer Dragon's presence is so unsettling that it has the ability to unhinge lesser minds or convert the most evil creatures to the side of good. Any non-good creature that has failed its Will save against the dragon's Whispers in the Dark ability takes 2 Wisdom and Charisma damage each round it remains within range of the dragon's Mindsight (Will DC 10+1/2Dragon's HD+Dragon's Cha modifier negates, unless the creature is evil in which case it merely halves).

Evil creatures that are cowering may, before saving against this damage, choose to renounce their evil ways and convert to good as per the Redemption portion of the *Atonement* spell. If a creature chooses to do this, the Baneslayer Dragon gains 1 negative level, but that creature gains 5 negative levels.

**Thought like Flame (Su):** An old or older Baneslayer Dragon deals 2d6 damage each round to any Evil creature he perceives with his Mindsight ability, 1/2 of which is Fire damage, the other 1/2 being pure divine energy damage. Creatures with the Evil subtype are dealt double normal divine energy damage from this ability.

In addition, this ability blocks the telepathic communication of any Evil creatures or creatures with the Evil subtype within the range of the dragon's Mindsight making conversation, or any other ability linked to such creatures' telepathy impossible.

**Megiddo Flame (Su):** An ancient or older Baneslayer Dragon is able to unleash unspeakable destruction whenever he uses his breath weapon, if he desires. Whenever he uses his breath weapon a Baneslayer Dragon may choose to deal an extra 12d8 points of bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage to all creatures in the area that aren't of the Good subtype. This damage overcomes all but Epic damage reduction. If he chooses to do so, the area of the breath weapon becomes difficult terrain (permanently) as if severely obstructed by dense rubble and sloped or angled in all squares. Further, his breath weapon can't be used for 1d10+1 rounds, rather than the standard 1d4 rounds.

**Baneslayer's Judgment (Su):** A Great Wyrm Baneslayer Dragon shows no mercy to his hated foes and is able to put them to a final, if brutal, death. Evil creatures dealt damage by the dragon's Bite or Claw attacks take 2 points of Constitution, Wisdom, and Charisma damage each time (Will DC 10+1/2Dragon's HD+Dragon's Con modifier negates, unless the creature is of the Evil subtype in which case it gets no save). Evil creatures slain by a Great Wyrm Baneslayer Dragon are bodily transported to an appropriate Lower Plane to suffer eternal punishment. Such creatures may only be resurrected by first making contact with a Deity via the *Miracle* spell, and then only if the Deity intervenes personally.