Night Stalker. The Blade Drake was created as a nocturnal ambush predator, as such it makes stealth rolls to sneak up on its chosen prey with advantage, and favors attacking with an element of surprise.
No Flight. Strahd created the Blade Drake as a means to terrorize those he wishes dead, as such he suppressed the base instinct of running from danger, making this monster's only survival option the death of it's opponents.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5ft, 1 target. Hit 15 (2d10) Piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 10ft, 1 target. Hit 10 (2d6) Slashing damage. Make a strength or dexterity check DC 16. On a fail the target takes half damage and is grappled.
Tentacles. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 15ft, 1 target. Hit 10 (2d6) Piercing damage.
Pounce. As a Bonus action, if the Blade Drake is not within Melee Range of a target, it can jump up to its movement speed towards a target. Make a DC 15 DEX saving throw, on a success the target is knocked prone. On a failure, the target is grappled, prone, and takes 10 (2d6) Bludgeoning damage.
Dodge. The Blade Drake's creator saw fit to give them remarkable reflexes, when attacked by a creature it can see or hear roll 1d6. Add the value of the roll to the Blade Drake's AC. If this reaction results in a miss, make 1 tentacle attack.
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Description
Created by a mad scientist with a penchant for dramatic flair, the Blade Drake serves a singular purpose; the tracking, ambush, and violent death of those opposed to it's master. Originally created by Strahd as a new boogey-man to terrorize the landscape of his domain, several specimens slipped their binds and fled into the forests, presumably making nesting grounds somewhere in the mountains surrounding Vallaki. Adult Blade Drakes are terrifying and efficient hunters, mottled grey scaley hides ripple over copious muscle. Exposed teeth like a caiman gnash as it homes in on its prey. Capable of Bipedal and Quadrupedal movement these monsters can cover large distances quickly, and when on the hunt will rarely rest before closing in for the kill. Once it sets up and executes an ambush the Blade drake will use its armory of razor-sharp teeth and claws, or the tentacles tipped in foot long blades which gave it its name, to eviscerate its prey before slinking off into the night once more.
Lair and Lair Actions
Blade Drake's were created in a lab by combining the genes of several monsters, however escaped specimens seek out isolated cave systems where they feel most at home to raise the young they were never meant to have. Blade Drakes will rarely leave active nesting grounds undefended, active ground can be identified by the stone cairns built over the clutches to protect them from predators. Caves holding cave drakes are kept meticulously clean by their inhabitants, with little concealment for an advance from neredowells.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 1,5, or 10, the Blade Drake takes a lair action; the Blade Drake can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:
- Alarm. The Blade Drake rears back and looses a piercing cry into the night sky. If another Drake is in the area, it will return as fast as possible to aid in defending the lair.
Regional Effects
The region containing a Blade Drake’s lair is well stalked, which creates one or more of the following effects:
- Native predators have a reduced presence in the area. Having been lowered on the food chain.
- Native prey populations dwindle as Blade Drakes seek to grow their numbers and establish their lair by building nests and birthing young.
- Hunters in the area either disappear from their hunting grounds or return with stories of brutal kills and the feeling of being watched.
- Sightings of the Blade Drake by locals are often dismissed as fantasy, but are told around campfires nonetheless.
If the Blade Drake dies, these effects fade over the course of 4d100 days.
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