Draconian, Rosak Invented by Todd M. Helfter
CLIMATE/TERRAIN Any
FREQUENCY Rare
ORGANIZATION Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE Any
DIET Special
INTELLIGENCE Exceptional (15-16)
TREASURE
ALIGNMENT Chaotic Good
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NO. APPEARING 1-2
ARMOR CLASS 1
MOVEMENT 6, Run 15* Glide 18
HIT DICE 8
THAC0 13
NO. OF ATTACKS 2 or 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK 1d4/1d4/1d6
SPECIAL ATTACKS Spells and Breath
SPECIAL DEFENSES +3 bonus to saves
MAGIC RESISTANCE 20%
SIZE M (7' tall)
MORALE Champion (15)
XP VALUE 6,000
*This movement rate applies when the draconian is running on all fours, flapping its wings.
Rosaks are the only draconians to have been created from evil dragon eggs. They are derived from the eggs of red dragons. They are soft spoken and warm hearted toward their friends, but savage and cunning when it comes to a fight. Rosaks average six-feet-tall and have trim torsos and long limbs. Their scales are a dark rosy color tinged with bright red. Small gray spines grow from the backs of their heads. They have long sharp teeth and recessed eyes that give them a look of intense cunning and ferocity. They speak with a deep authoratative voice that is both soft and forceful. Rosaks often outfit themselves in heavy armor, preferring to wear plate mail. If plate mail cannot be obtained then they will settle on chain mail.
COMBAT
Rosaks gain great satisfaction in bringing about the defeat of evil opponents of any race, but this feeling is the most intense when defeating evil draconians and dragons. They prefer to be in the front lines of combat where they hope to find the greatest excitement. Unlike a vast majority of the draconians, who relish the suffering of others above other things, Rosaks live for the excitement of battle and can be the fiercest of fighters. Like the red dragons that they were derived from, Rosaks have a natural immunity to fire, both magical and mundane.
Once per day, they can cast Obscure Alignment and twice per day they can polymorph into any other draconian that they have ever seen. The heightened senses of the Rosaks give them infravision to 60 feet, and the ability to detect hidden and invisible creatures within 40 feet.
Rosaks have three modes of attacks. First they can use any weapon appropriate to their class following the rules of that class. Second, they can exhale a fiery blast of breath that is ten feet long and one foot wide, three times per day. Any victims caught in the blast suffer 8d4 points of damage (a successful saving throw means half-damage). Third. Rosaks can attack with claws and fangs (1d4/1d4/1d6), though such attacks are rarely used.
Once per day, Rosaks can cast two wizard spells of 1st to 3rd level. They prefer fire based spells that include but are not limited to; Burning Hands, Flaming Sphere, and Fireball. Rosaks gain a +3 bonus to all saving throws. When a Rosak reaches 0 hit points, its body turns into a pool of clear fresh water ten feet in diameter which lasts for three rounds before evaporating. This transformation takes one complete round. Anyone touching the water has 1d4 hit points restored to them from the waters healing properties. Anyone drinking the water has 1d8 hit points restored. The water will evaporate even if it is placed in a sealed container.
HABITAT/SOCIETY
Because of their superior abilities, Rosaks are easily adaptable to all environments, thought they may seek to keep their true nature hidden for their own protection. They love all treasure, especially magical weapons and platinum coins.
ECOLOGY
Rosaks have a compulsive need to bring about the destruction of their evil cousins. There is no restriction to what a Rosak will eat, though most prefer meat and wine. They will consume other alcohol if they must, to keep up appearances, but will avoid them at other times. The use of a Rosak scale in addition to the regular components of any fire-based spell will increase the effectiveness of the spell by one level (i.e. a 5th level wizard could cast a 6 die Fireball). The scale is consumed even if the other components are not.
HISTORY
The existence of the Rosak draconians went largely unnoticed until very recently. According to the great historian, Astinius of Palanthas, they were created by Sorian, a renegade magic-user, and the Brass Dragon Brillianta, during the War of the Lance as an attempt to turn the tide against the armies of the evil dragons. No one is sure just how many were created, but the number couldn't have been many for Sorian was killed during the war defending his homeland from invaders.