Monster: Brainstealer Dragon

Monster: Brainstealer Dragon

The brainstealer dragons combine the powerful body of a dragon and the powerful mind of an illithid. They cannot be controlled even by the elder brains, so they typically act independently from the mind flayer colonies. They lack breath weapon and spell-like abilities, their wings are too weak to serve as weapons, but they possess an array of psionic abilities.

 

Brainstealer Dragon [Dragon Magazine #337, page 25]

947 points
Attribute Modifiers: ST+25 (Size Modifier, -40%) [150]; IQ+4 [80]; HT+5 [50].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: SM+4; Will+1 [5]; Per+2 [10]; FP+5 [15]; Basic Move +1 [5].
Advantages: Discriminatory Taste [10]; DR 6 [30]; Enhanced Move 1 (Ground) [20]; Extended Lifespan 5 [10]; Extra Attack 1 [25]; Extra Legs (Four Legs) [5]; Flexibility [5]; Flight (Cannot Hover, -15%; Winged, -25%) [24]; High Pain Threshold [10]; Immunity to Mind Control [30]; Immunity to Paralysis [10]; Infravision [10]; Magic Resistance 1 (Improved, +150%) [5]; Nictitating Membrane 6 [6]; Night Vision 5 [5]; Parabolic Hearing 1 [4]; Peripheral Vision [15]; Protected Vision [5]; Reduced Consumption 3 [6]; Sharp Teeth [1]; Talons [8]; Temperature Tolerance 6 [6]; Unfazeable [15]; Universal Digestion (Matter Eater, +300%) [20]; Vibration Sense (Air) [10].
    Draconic Strikers [4]: Striker (Tail; Crushing; Cannot Parry, -40%; Clumsy 2, -40%; Long 1, +100%; Weak, -50%) [4].
    Acid Resistance [68]: DR 20 (Includes Eyes, +10%; Includes Internal, +20%; Limited, Acid, -40%; Tough Skin, -40%) [50] + Immunity to Noxious Acidic Effects [10] + Internal Sealed (Acid-Resistant Only, -60%) [2] + Sealed (Acid-Resistant Only, -60%) [6].
    Dissolving Enzyme: Corrosion Attack 2d (Accessibility, Can only be delivered with mouth tentacles, -10%; Costs Fatigue, 2 FP, -10%; Melee Attack, Reach C, Cannot Parry, -35%; Nuisance Effect, Effect decreases depending on the number of tentacles, -5%; Takes Extra Time 1, -10%) [6].
    Mouth Tentacles: Extra Arms 4 (Extra-Flexible, +50%; Short, -50%; Weak, 1/2 ST, -25%) [30].
Disadvantages: Bad Grip 2 [-10]; Greed (12) [-15]; Ham-Fisted 1 [-5]; Horizontal [-10]; Loner (12) [-5]; Miserliness (12) [-10]; No Sense of Smell/Taste (No Smell only, -50%) [-2]; Selfish (12) [-5].
Perks: Eye for Distance [1]; Penetrating Voice [1]; Scales [1].
Quirks: Dull Touch 8 [-8]; Methodical [-1]; Staid [-1].
Racial Psionic Abilities: Mental Blow 4 [28]; Suggestion 4 [35]; Telecontrol 5 [90]; Telereceive 4 [45]; Telesend 4 [24]; TK Grab 10 [70].
Racial Psionic Skills: Mental Blow (H) Will-2 [1]; Suggestion (H) IQ-2 [1]; Telecontrol (H) IQ-2 [1]; Telereceive (H) IQ-2 [1]; Telesend (H) IQ-2 [1]; TK Grab (H) IQ-2 [1].
Creature Type: Dragon.

Knowing Your Own Strength [951] Replace ST+25 (Size Modifier, -40%) [150] with ST+13 [130] Add HP+12 [24]

 

Sapient-Only Telepathy [+16] Mental Blow 4 [28] -> Mental Blow 4 [27] Suggestion 4 [35] -> Suggestion 4 [30] Telecontrol 5 [90] -> Telecontrol 5 [120] Telereceive 4 [45] -> Telereceive 1 [40] Telesend 4 [24] -> Telesend 4 [21]

Typical Stats - Small

ST:	25 (KYOS: 18)	HP:	25	Speed:	6.25
DX:	10	Will:	13	Move:	7 ground, 12 air (cannot hover)
IQ:	12	Per:	14
HT:	15	FP:	20	SM:	+3
Dodge:	9	Parry:	10 (unarmed)	DR:	3, 20 (vs. acid)

    Bite (14): thrust 3d-1 cutting, Reach C-1.
    Front Claw (14): thrust 3d-1 cutting or impaling, Reach C-2.
    Hind Claw (12): thrust 3d cutting or impaling, Reach C-2.
    Tail (12): thrust 3d crushing, Reach C-3.
    Tentacles (14): The brainstealer dragon has four short tentacles that encircle its mouth. These are treated as four short arms with Reach C and effective ST of 12 (KYOS: 9). The brainstealer dragon can use tentacles to attack for 1d-1 crushing damage (KYOS: 1d-3 crushing damage), but usually uses the tentacles for grappling and manipulating objects. The tentacles are considered to be “off-hands” for the purpose of penalties, but not for the purpose of determining the arc of attack.
    Dissolving Enzyme (14): The mouth tentacles have ducts that can transmit a powerful dissolving enzyme. This takes time – the brainstealer dragon must first perform a Ready maneuver, and only then follow-up with a Reach C melee attack with one or more of its tentacles. If it succeeds, it deals 2d corrosion damage. If it only has three tentacles in contact with the victim, then decrease it by 25%; if it only has two tentacles in contact with the victim, then decrease it by 50%; if it only has one tentacle in contact with the victim, then decrease it by 75%. Usually, the brainstealer dragin uses this attack when grappling the skull with all four tentacles to corrode its way through the skull and extract the brain. Each use costs 2 FP.

    Traits: Bad Grip 2; Discriminatory Taste; Dull Touch 6; Enhanced Move 1 (Ground); Extended Lifespan 5; Extra Attack 1; Extra Legs (Four Legs); Eye for Distance; Flexibility; Flight (Cannot Hover; Winged); Greed (12); Ham-Fisted 1; High Pain Threshold; Horizontal; Immunity to Mind Control; Immunity to Noxious Acidic Effects; Immunity to Paralysis; Infravision; Internal Sealed (Acid-Resistant Only); Loner (12); Magic Resistance 1 (Improved); Methodical; Miserliness (12); Nictitating Membrane 3; Night Vision 7; No Sense of Smell/Taste (No Smell only); Parabolic Hearing 1; Penetrating Voice; Peripheral Vision; Protected Vision; Reduced Consumption 3; Scales; Sealed (Acid-Resistant Only); Selfish (12); Staid; Temperature Tolerance 6; Unfazeable; Universal Digestion (Matter Eater); Vibration Sense (Air).
    Skills: Brawling-14; Diplomacy-12; Fast-Talk-12; Innate Attack (Breath)-14; Tactics-12.
    Racial Psionic Abilities: Mental Blow 4; Suggestion 4; Telecontrol 5; Telereceive 4; Telesend 4; TK Grab 8.
    Racial Psionic Skills: Mental Blow-14; Suggestion-13; Telecontrol-13; Telereceive-13; Telesend-13; TK Grab-13.
    Creature Type: Dragon.

Typical Stats - Medium

ST:	35 (KYOS: 23)	HP:	35	Speed:	6.25
DX:	10	Will:	15	Move:	7 ground, 12 air (cannot hover)
IQ:	14	Per:	16
HT:	15	FP:	20	SM:	+4
Dodge:	9	Parry:	11 (unarmed)	DR:	6, 20 (vs. acid)

    Bite (16): thrust 4d+2 cutting, Reach C-1.
    Front Claw (16): thrust 4d+2 cutting or impaling, Reach C-3.
    Hind Claw (14): thrust 5d-1 cutting or impaling, Reach C-3.
    Tail (14): thrust 5d-1 crushing, Reach C-5.
    Tentacles (16): The brainstealer dragon has four short tentacles that encircle its mouth. These are treated as four short arms with Reach C and effective ST of 17 (KYOS: 11). The brainstealer dragon can use tentacles to attack for 1d+2 crushing damage (KYOS: 1d-1 crushing damage), but usually uses the tentacles for grappling and manipulating objects. The tentacles are considered to be “off-hands” for the purpose of penalties, but not for the purpose of determining the arc of attack.
    Dissolving Enzyme (16): The mouth tentacles have ducts that can transmit a powerful dissolving enzyme. This takes time – the brainstealer dragon must first perform a Ready maneuver, and only then follow-up with a Reach C melee attack with one or more of its tentacles. If it succeeds, it deals 2d corrosion damage. If it only has three tentacles in contact with the victim, then decrease it by 25%; if it only has two tentacles in contact with the victim, then decrease it by 50%; if it only has one tentacle in contact with the victim, then decrease it by 75%. Usually, the brainstealer dragin uses this attack when grappling the skull with all four tentacles to corrode its way through the skull and extract the brain. Each use costs 2 FP.

    Traits: Bad Grip 2; Discriminatory Taste; Dull Touch 8; Enhanced Move 1 (Ground); Extended Lifespan 5; Extra Attack 1; Extra Legs (Four Legs); Eye for Distance; Flexibility; Flight (Cannot Hover; Winged); Greed (12); Ham-Fisted 1; High Pain Threshold; Horizontal; Immunity to Mind Control; Immunity to Noxious Acidic Effects; Immunity to Paralysis; Infravision; Internal Sealed (Acid-Resistant Only); Loner (12); Magic Resistance 1 (Improved); Methodical; Miserliness (12); Nictitating Membrane 6; Night Vision 7; No Sense of Smell/Taste (No Smell only); Parabolic Hearing 1; Penetrating Voice; Peripheral Vision; Protected Vision; Reduced Consumption 3; Scales; Sealed (Acid-Resistant Only); Selfish (12); Staid; Temperature Tolerance 6; Unfazeable; Universal Digestion (Matter Eater); Vibration Sense (Air).
    Skills: Brawling-16; Diplomacy-14; Fast-Talk-14; Innate Attack (Breath)-16; Tactics-14.
    Racial Psionic Abilities: Mental Blow 4; Suggestion 4; Telecontrol 5; Telereceive 4; Telesend 4; TK Grab 10.
    Racial Psionic Skills: Mental Blow-16; Suggestion-15; Telecontrol-15; Telereceive-15; Telesend-15; TK Grab-15.
    Creature Type: Dragon.

Typical Stats - Large

ST:	50 (KYOS: 30)	HP:	50	Speed:	6.25
DX:	10	Will:	16	Move:	7 ground, 12 air (cannot hover)
IQ:	15	Per:	18
HT:	15	FP:	20	SM:	+5
Dodge:	9	Parry:	11 (unarmed)	DR:	9, 20 (vs. acid)

    Bite (16): thrust 7d-1 cutting, Reach C-1.
    Front Claw (16): thrust 7d-1 cutting or impaling, Reach C-5.
    Hind Claw (14): thrust 7d cutting or impaling, Reach C-5.
    Tail (14): thrust 7d crushing, Reach C-7.
    Tentacles (16): The brainstealer dragon has four short tentacles that encircle its mouth. These are treated as four short arms with Reach C and effective ST of 25 (KYOS: 15). The brainstealer dragon can use tentacles to attack for 3d-1 crushing damage (KYOS: 2d crushing damage), but usually uses the tentacles for grappling and manipulating objects. The tentacles are considered to be “off-hands” for the purpose of penalties, but not for the purpose of determining the arc of attack.
    Dissolving Enzyme (16): The mouth tentacles have ducts that can transmit a powerful dissolving enzyme. This takes time – the brainstealer dragon must first perform a Ready maneuver, and only then follow-up with a Reach C melee attack with one or more of its tentacles. If it succeeds, it deals 2d corrosion damage. If it only has three tentacles in contact with the victim, then decrease it by 25%; if it only has two tentacles in contact with the victim, then decrease it by 50%; if it only has one tentacle in contact with the victim, then decrease it by 75%. Usually, the brainstealer dragin uses this attack when grappling the skull with all four tentacles to corrode its way through the skull and extract the brain. Each use costs 2 FP.

    Traits: Bad Grip 2; Discriminatory Taste; Dull Touch 10; Enhanced Move 1 (Ground); Extended Lifespan 5; Extra Attack 2; Extra Legs (Four Legs); Eye for Distance; Flexibility; Flight (Cannot Hover; Winged); Greed (12); Ham-Fisted 1; High Pain Threshold; Horizontal; Immunity to Mind Control; Immunity to Noxious Acidic Effects; Immunity to Paralysis; Infravision; Internal Sealed (Acid-Resistant Only); Loner (12); Magic Resistance 2 (Improved); Methodical; Miserliness (12); Nictitating Membrane 9; Night Vision 7; No Sense of Smell/Taste (No Smell only); Parabolic Hearing 1; Penetrating Voice; Peripheral Vision; Protected Vision; Reduced Consumption 3; Scales; Sealed (Acid-Resistant Only); Selfish (12); Staid; Temperature Tolerance 6; Unfazeable; Universal Digestion (Matter Eater); Vibration Sense (Air).
    Skills: Brawling-16; Diplomacy-16; Fast-Talk-16; Tactics-16.
    Racial Psionic Abilities: Mental Blow 4; Suggestion 4; Telecontrol 5; Telereceive 4; Telesend 4; TK Grab 12.
    Racial Psionic Skills: Mental Blow-17; Suggestion-16; Telecontrol-16; Telereceive-16; Telesend-16; TK Grab-16.
    Creature Type: Dragon (Earth).

Typical Stats - Gargantuan

ST:	75 (KYOS: 42)	HP:	75	Speed:	6.25
DX:	10	Will:	18	Move:	7 ground, 12 air (cannot hover)
IQ:	17	Per:	20
HT:	15	FP:	20	SM:	+6
Dodge:	9	Parry:	11 (unarmed)	DR:	12, 20 (vs. acid)

    Bite (16): thrust 10d+2 cutting, Reach C-1.
    Front Claw (16): thrust 10d+2 cutting or impaling, Reach C-7.
    Hind Claw (14): thrust 11d-1 cutting or impaling, Reach C-7.
    Tail (14): thrust 11d-1 crushing, Reach C-10.
    Tentacles (16): The brainstealer dragon has four short tentacles that encircle its mouth. These are treated as four short arms with Reach C and effective ST of 37 (KYOS: 21). The brainstealer dragon can use tentacles to attack for 5d-1 crushing damage (KYOS: 4d-1 crushing damage), but usually uses the tentacles for grappling and manipulating objects. The tentacles are considered to be “off-hands” for the purpose of penalties, but not for the purpose of determining the arc of attack.
    Dissolving Enzyme (16): The mouth tentacles have ducts that can transmit a powerful dissolving enzyme. This takes time – the brainstealer dragon must first perform a Ready maneuver, and only then follow-up with a Reach C melee attack with one or more of its tentacles. If it succeeds, it deals 2d corrosion damage. If it only has three tentacles in contact with the victim, then decrease it by 25%; if it only has two tentacles in contact with the victim, then decrease it by 50%; if it only has one tentacle in contact with the victim, then decrease it by 75%. Usually, the brainstealer dragin uses this attack when grappling the skull with all four tentacles to corrode its way through the skull and extract the brain. Each use costs 2 FP.

    Traits: Bad Grip 2; Discriminatory Taste; Dull Touch 12; Enhanced Move 1 (Ground); Extended Lifespan 5; Extra Attack 3; Extra Legs (Four Legs); Eye for Distance; Flexibility; Flight (Cannot Hover; Winged); Greed (12); Ham-Fisted 1; High Pain Threshold; Horizontal; Immunity to Mind Control; Immunity to Noxious Acidic Effects; Immunity to Paralysis; Infravision; Internal Sealed (Acid-Resistant Only); Loner (12); Magic Resistance 2 (Improved); Methodical; Miserliness (12); Nictitating Membrane 12; Night Vision 7; No Sense of Smell/Taste (No Smell only); Parabolic Hearing 1; Penetrating Voice; Peripheral Vision; Protected Vision; Reduced Consumption 3; Scales; Sealed (Acid-Resistant Only); Selfish (12); Staid; Temperature Tolerance 6; Unfazeable; Universal Digestion (Matter Eater); Vibration Sense (Air).
    Skills: Brawling-16; Diplomacy-18; Fast-Talk-18; Tactics-18.
    Racial Psionic Abilities: Mental Blow 4; Suggestion 4; Telecontrol 5; Telereceive 4; Telesend 4; TK Grab 14.
    Racial Psionic Skills: Mental Blow-19; Suggestion-18; Telecontrol-18; Telereceive-18; Telesend-18; TK Grab-18.
    Creature Type: Dragon (Earth).

Brainstealer dragons in Karilan

Ortimaze, a powerful iron dragon, was terrorizing dwarven tribes where the modern Iron Theocracy lies. After many years of raids, the dragon disappeared (not without leaving her descendants), because she was captured by the illithids. After the process of ceremorphosis, she became the first brainstealer dragon. As even the elder brains could not control such a creature, Ortimaze fled to the deeper parts of the Underdark, where she carved out a small empire of her own, using brainwashed slaves. Even now, her descendants stalk the Lowerdark among the other horrors of that place.