# Steel Dragon >[!infobox]+ >![[BestiaryIndex.base#Steel Dragon]] > >| Formal Name Link | >| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | >| [[07 Monsters of Temnia/Monsters/D/Dragon (Metallic, Steel) Wyrmling Steel Dragon.md\|Wyrmling Steel Dragon]] | >| [[07 Monsters of Temnia/Monsters/D/Dragon (Metallic, Steel) Very Young Steel Dragon.md\|Very Young Steel Dragon]] | >| [[07 Monsters of Temnia/Monsters/D/Dragon (Metallic, Steel) Young Adult Steel Dragon.md\|Young Adult Steel Dragon]] | >| [[07 Monsters of Temnia/Monsters/D/Dragon (Metallic, Steel) Juvenile Steel Dragon.md\|Juvenile Steel Dragon]] | >| [[07 Monsters of Temnia/Monsters/D/Dragon (Metallic, Steel) Young Steel Dragon.md\|Young Steel Dragon]] | >| [[07 Monsters of Temnia/Monsters/D/Dragon (Metallic, Steel) Adult Steel Dragon.md\|Adult Steel Dragon]] | >| [[07 Monsters of Temnia/Monsters/D/Dragon (Metallic, Steel) Mature Adult Steel Dragon.md\|Mature Adult Steel Dragon]] | >| [[07 Monsters of Temnia/Monsters/D/Dragon (Metallic, Steel) Old Steel Dragon.md\|Old Steel Dragon]] | >| [[07 Monsters of Temnia/Monsters/D/Dragon (Metallic, Steel) Very Old Steel Dragon.md\|Very Old Steel Dragon]] | >| [[07 Monsters of Temnia/Monsters/D/Dragon (Metallic, Steel) Ancient Steel Dragon.md\|Ancient Steel Dragon]] | >| [[07 Monsters of Temnia/Monsters/D/Dragon (Metallic, Steel) Wyrm Steel Dragon.md\|Wyrm Steel Dragon]] | >| [[07 Monsters of Temnia/Monsters/D/Dragon (Metallic, Steel) Great Wyrm Steel Dragon.md\|Great Wyrm Steel Dragon]] | *This dragon’s body is somewhat feline. Its face is very expressive and humanlike, surrounded by spines, almost like a hair and a beard. The dragon smells of wet metal, and its scales shine like burnished steel.* LN Small Dragon (air) #### Base statistics **CR** 2; **Size** Small; **Hit Dice** 4d12 **Speed** 60 ft., fly 100 ft. (average) **Natural Armor** +3; **Breath Weapon** line, 1d6 acid **Str** 11, **Dex** 14, **Con** 13, **Int** 10, **Wis** 11, **Cha** 12 #### Ecology **Environment:** Temperate Plains **Organization** Solitary (1 dragon, any age), clutch (1d4+1 wyrmlings, very young, young, or juveniles or young adults), family (pair of mature adults and 1d4+1 offspring) **Treasure** Triple **Advancement** By age category Steel dragons are sociable, clever, and curious, and they prefer human form to their own. They are endlessly curious about the art, culture, history, and politics of civilized races. At birth, a steel dragon’s scales are a deep blue-gray with steely highlights. As the dragon gets older, its color lightens to a lustrous burnished steel, gaining increased shine as it continues to age. In human form, a steel dragon always has one steel-gray feature, such as hair, eyes, nails or sometimes a ring, tattoo, or other ornamentation. In its natural form, a steel dragon smells of wet metal. Steel dragons rarely live in caves. They prefer to live among humans and similar beings in a humanoid-style dwelling such as a mansion, castle, or other place of sufficient size to have a strongroom where they can keep treasure. They use their special abilities to infiltrate human society, masquerading as sages, scholars, wizards, or other intellectuals. Although they keep their true nature secret, steel dragons are always able to recognize one another. Though steel dragons prefer to dine in human form, they need to eat enough to maintain their true mass. They make monthly trips to hunt in dragon form, explaining these absences in ways consistent with the roles they take in human society. For example, a dragon in the guise of a historian might claim to have been off exploring records in another city’s library. ### Combat Steel dragons prefer talking to fighting, but if forced into a conflict, they usually begin with spells and avoid melee. If seriously threatened, a steel dragon reverts to its draconic shape and uses its breath weapon. Steel dragons try to use their spells and abilities to incapacitate foes unless their opponents have obvious lethal intent and the ability to inflict serious harm. If outmatched, a #### Special abilityies ### Acidic Bite (Su) An adult or older steel dragon deals acid damage with their bite attack equal to their age category. ### Arcane Shield (Su) While all steel dragons are resistant to magic, a young or older steel dragon is particularly resistant to arcane magic. Steel dragons gain a bonus to their spell resistance equal to their age category against arcane spells and spell-like abilities. ### Aura of Uncertainty (Su) A great wyrm steel dragon produces an aura of psychic energy that saps the resolve of those around it. Creatures with 30 feet of a steel dragon take a –2 penalty to Will saves. ### Enchanting (Su) An adult or older steel dragon has a charming nature that's difficult to resist. Creatures who succeed on a Will save against a steel dragon's spell-like abilities must make another save one round later against the same DC. ### Poison Breath (Su) Instead of a line of acid, a steel dragon can breathe a cone of poisonous gas. Creatures within the cone must succeed on a Fortitude save or take 1d2 point of Constitution damage. This poison effect persists for one round per age category of the dragon. A Fortitude save can be made each round to resist damage, but the poison can only be neutralized through magic. Steel Dragon Breath: Contact; save Fort DC varies; frequency based on age; effect 1d2 Constitution damage; cure —. Steel Dragon Breath: Contact; save Fort DC 13; frequency 1/round for 1 rounds; effect 1d2 Constitution damage; cure —. ### Spells A steel dragon casts spells as a sorcerer, and can cast spells from the cleric list and from the knowledge and trickery domain as well as those normally available to a sorcerer. Cleric spells are considered arcane spells for a steel dragon. ### Strong Jaw (Ex) An ancient or older steel dragon can reroll 1s on its bite attack damage dice. The rerolled damage must be accepted, even it is another 1. ## Steel Dragon Abilities by Age | Age | Special Abilities | CL | | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------- | ---- | | Wyrmling | Immunity to acid, poison breath, poison resistance | 1st | | Very young | Change shape | 3rd | | Young | Arcane shield | 5th | | Juvenile | Frightful presence, _enthrall_ | 7th | | Young adult | DR 5/magic | 9th | | Adult | Acidic bite, _charm person_ | 11th | | Mature adult | DR 10/magic | 13th | | Old | Enchanting, _suggestion_ | 15th | | Very old | DR 15/magic | 17th | | Ancient | Strong jaw, _mass suggestion_ | 19th | | Wyrm | DR 20/magic | 21th | | Great wyrm | Aura of uncertainty, _mass charm person_ | 23rd |