Multiattack. The guard drake makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its tail.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 2). The guard drake uses one of the following breath weapons. Can only have one of the two breath weapons per metallic guard drake. Can regain all charges after finishing a long rest.
- Fire Breath. The guard drake exhales fire in a 10-foot cone. Each creature in that line must make a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw, taking 10 (1d10) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
- Sleep Breath. The guard drake exhales sleep gas in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or fall unconscious for 1 minute. This effect ends for a creature if the creature takes damage or someone uses an action to wake it.
Description
A guard drake is a reptilian creature created out of dragon scales by means of a bizarre and grisly ritual. When trained properly, a drake is obedient, loyal, and territorial, which makes it an excellent watchbeast that can follow simple commands.
Gifts from Dragons. The ritual to create a guard drake was originally devised by the cult of Tiamat, but has spread to other groups that are skilled in arcana and associated with dragons (such as the cult of Bahamut). The cooperation of a dragon is necessary for the ritual to succeed, and a dragon typically provides its help when it wants to reward its allies or worshipers with a valuable servant.
The ritual, which takes several days, requires 10 pounds of fresh dragon scales (donated by the dragon allied with the group), a large amount of fresh meat, and an iron cauldron. When the process is complete, a halfling-sized egg emerges from the cauldron and is ready to hatch within a few hours.
Eager to Learn. A newly hatched guard drake imprints upon the first creature that feeds it (usually the one planning to train it), establishing an aggressive but trusting bond with that individual. A guard drake is fully grown within two to three weeks and can be trained in the same length of time. One is the equivalent of a guard dog in terms of what it can be trained to do.
A guard drake resembles the type of dragon it was created from, but with a wingless, squat, muscular build. A drake can’t reproduce, nor can its scales be used to make other guard drakes.
Variant: Metallic Guard Drakes
Despite being a grisly practice among the cult of Tiamat, the cult of Bahamut have used this ritual for rare and noble purposes such as guarding precious artifacts and entrances to secret temples dedicated to the Platinum Dragon. At rare occasions when adventurers prove themselves worthy to the followers of Bahamut, they are gifted a chance to earn one to accompany them on their journeys. They treat each metallic guard drake as a companion rather than a minion or a simple guard dog and deserves to be loved and respected as one.
Each type of metallic dragon’s scales and blood creates a guard drake that resembles a wingless, stunted version of that type of dragon, with unique abilities related to that type. Unlike their Chromatic guard drake cousins, they retained a much lesser form of breath weapons of the dragons they're created from (with the parent dragon's blessing first). Once a blessing is given, the scales are enchanted to have one of the two breath weapons the person chooses. Each has the special features described below.
Brass Guard Drake. A brass guard drake has a burrowing speed of 15 feet and resistance to fire damage. It can have either one of the two lesser versions of Fire Breath or Sleep Breath.
Bronze Guard Drake. A bronze guard drake is amphibious (it can breathe air or water), has a swim speed of 20 feet and resistance to lightning damage. It can have either one of the two lesser versions of Lightning Breath or Repulsion Breath.
Gold Guard Drake. A gold guard drake is amphibious (it can breathe air or water), has a swimming speed of 30 feet, and has resistance to fire damage. It can have either one of the two lesser versions of Fire Breath or Weakening Breath.
Copper Guard Drake. A copper guard drake has climbing speed of 30 feet and resistance to acid damage. It can have either one of the two lesser versions of Acid Breath or Slowing Breath.
Silver Guard Drake. A silver guard drake has a burrowing speed of 20 feet, a climbing speed of 30 feet, and resistance to cold damage. It can have either one of the two lesser versions of Cold Breath or Paralyzing Breath.
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