Adult Li Lung

Spirits of the earth, li lungs command earthquakes and are tasked with punishing the wicked.

A li lung is unique among dragons, for it and bears little resemblance at all to others of its kin. It’s body and tail resemble that of a lion and it’s face is that of a man. Unlike other lung dragons it also has wings, which are feathered and resemble those of a peacock. Its eyes are golden with black pupils. When it first transforms from a yu lung the li lung has scales of light green, and as it grows large those scales darken and from between them sprouts dark fur which forms a thick coat. By the time it is ancient, the dark green fur of a li lung is barely imperceptible from black.

Hermetic Existence. Li lungs dwell in deep caves far from civilisation, choosing to avoid other creatures. They like their lonely existence, and rarely leave their cavern unless required to go on a mission for the Celestial Bureaucracy. They don’t even seek out the company of other dragons, cooperating with them only when to do is required by their orders.

Just Rewards. When they are sent out into the world the task of a li lung is typically to bring appropriate punishment to those who have done great evil. Sometimes, however, they may have a happier errand. They are occasionally asked to assist needy communities, which they accomplish by giving them the means to help themselves. For instance they might show the way to the location of a nearby treasure mine, or underground springs.

Cautious Creatures. Li lungs are powerful but prefer to avoid combat, even if their lairs are subject to trespass. Rather than fight they will simply hide within shadows or burrow under rubble. They don’t even hunt, despite their fierce looks - they are happy to subsist on earth and stone, though if they can get them they much prefer to eat precious metals. If forced to fight, the li lung opens with its Earthquake or Bones of the Earth ability.

The lair of a li lung suits its hermetic existence, little more than a barren cave. In its cave it can make best use of its powers if it needs to defend itself, although its first choice is always to hide and wait to see if the interlopers will give up on and move on.

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the dragon can't use the same effect two rounds in a row.

• Magical darkness spreads from a point the dragon chooses within 60 feet of it, filling a 15-foot-radius sphere until the dragon dismisses it as an action, uses this lair action again, or dies. The darkness spreads around corners. A creature with darkvision can’t see through this darkness, and nonmagical light can’t illuminate it. If any of the effect’s area overlaps with an area of light created by a spell of 2nd level or lower, the spell that created the light is dispelled.

• Part of the ceiling collapses above one creature that the dragon can see within 120 feet of it. The creature must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take 10 (3d6) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone and buried. The buried target is restrained and unable to breathe or stand up. A creature can take an action to make a DC 10 Strength check, ending the buried state on a success.

• A tremor shakes the lair in a 60-foot radius around the dragon. Each creature other than the dragon on the ground in that area must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone.

The region containing a legendary li lung’s lair is warped by the dragon’s magic, which creates one or more of the following effects:

• Small earthquakes are common within 6 miles of the dragon’s lair.

• Stone walls block off areas in the dragon’s lair. Each wall is 6 inches thick, and a 10-foot section has AC 5, 15 hit points, vulnerability to thunder damage, and immunity to lightning, cold, necrotic, poison, and psychic damage.

If the dragon dies these effects fade within 1d10 days.