Aconite dragons are hulking creatures with wide mouths and thick, muscular limbs. Among its most notable features are the three bioluminescent lures that hang over its head and back to attract prey in the dark. The feet of an aconite dragon are webbed, and its suckered toes allow it to adhere to trees and wait for prey. Its flowers bloom in shades of purple. A thin layer of slime coats the dragon’s skin to keep it from drying out when it isn’t submerged in water. This slime is exuded from glands on its back, which are mottled light green. Young aconite dragons are darkest in color; older dragons become lighter as they age.

Most aconite dragons are around nine feet long and live between 150 and 200 years. Female aconite dragons are larger and heavier than males and are capable of growing up to three heads. These heads only grow on the most bloodthirsty aconite dragons; a female dragon must consume several other aconite dragons to grow another head. These three-headed dragons are known as greater aconite dragons.

Aconite dragons have two hearts, one inside their chests and one in their bulbous heads. The second heart-like structure in its head circulates a tarry substance called ikvor instead of blood, pumping the black fluid throughout its body and to its huge maw. This deadly ikvor is a paralytic and poisonous agent the dragon secretes through the roof of the mouth and into tiny canals in the teeth. An aconite dragon constantly drools this mixture, coating its prey in such vast quantities that the toxin can’t be easily washed off, even in the dragon’s boggy habitat. Greater aconite dragons have ikvor-hearts in all three of their heads.

Creature from Hit Point Press and their book The Field Guide to Floral Dragons.

Aconite dragons lair in filthy swamps and marshes. While in its lair, an aconite dragon is empowered by the fetid conditions and has access to special actions.

Lair Actions

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:

• The dragon exudes pheromones that react with the polluted water around it, producing a 20-foot-radius sphere of fog centered on a point the dragon chooses within 30 feet of it. The sphere’s area is heavily obscured. The fog disperses at the start of the dragon’s next turn.
• The dragon uses the foul bog water in the lair to overpower its foes. The dragon can target any number of creatures it sees in swamp water within 90 feet of it. A target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take 7 (2d6) poison damage and be poisoned until the end of its next turn. A target in a boat or otherwise not in direct contact with the water has advantage on this saving throw.
• Corrupt vegetation growing in and around the swamp grasps all creatures in a 20-foot cube within 60 feet of the dragon that it can see. Each creature in the area must succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be pulled up to 20 feet into the water and knocked prone. A target in a boat or otherwise not in direct contact with the water has advantage on this saving throw.

Regional Effects

The region containing a legendary aconite dragon’s lair is poisoned by the dragon’s presence, which creates one or more of the following effects:

• Trees within 1 mile of the dragon’s lair have white bark and gnarled branches.
• Water sources within 1 mile of the dragon’s lair are tainted with toxic drool, rendering it unsuitable for drinking, washing, or cooking. It cannot be boiled clean. The purify food and drink spell removes the toxicity, but the water retains its sludgy viscosity.
• The aconite flowers that grow within 1 mile of the dragon’s lair make especially potent toxins.

If the dragon dies, these effects fade over the course of 1d10 days.