Homebrew Deep Dragon Species Details

Making their lairs in the depths of the Underdark, deep dragons are nightmarish cousins of chromatic dragons. The warped magical energy of their subterranean realm gives them the ability to exhale magical spores that instill fear and scar the mind. Deep dragons’ black-and-gray hide is smooth like a salamander’s, and their eyes are pale. As they age, their spore breath causes fungi to bloom across their skin, especially around the head and neck. Their wings are attached to their front legs and can fold in close to the body, allowing deep dragons to easily maneuver through relatively narrow tunnels. Deep dragons often hoard secrets, delighting in knowledge of far-off lands. Many seek out new insights and tricks that they can use against other denizens of the Underdark, preferring social manipulation and crafty dealmaking to exerting themselves in combat. Deep dragons look down on any creature that isn’t useful to them, though they are willing to bargain for knowledge they lack.

Creating a Deep Dragon

Use the Deep Dragon Personality Traits and Deep Dragon Ideals tables to inspire your portrayal of distinctive deep dragon characters, and use the Deep Dragon Spellcasting table to help select spells for a spellcasting dragon.

d8	Trait
1	I will not risk injury at the hands of weaker creatures—especially while I can turn them against one another and have them fight in my stead.
2	It is difficult for anyone not of dragonkind to penetrate the twisting labyrinth of my thoughts.
3	I might disagree with other dragons, but we are superior beings and should not lower ourselves to direct conflict.
4	I have no interest in going to the surface world. It’s where one sends one’s servants.
5	While the petty squabbles of other creatures bore and irritate me, I might hear out those who demonstrate an appreciation for the finer things in life by bringing me delicacies like clams or aboleth flesh.
6	I might be willing to exert myself to take out a mind flayer. Those disgusting creatures must be stopped.
7	I dream of seeing the deepest places in the ocean.
8	I find I rather enjoy the company of people—as long as they remain unaware of my true nature.

d6	Ideal
1	Understanding. True power comes from the ability to discern other creatures’ motivations better than they can discern yours. (Any)
2	Kindred. All dragons are kin to one another, and we would all do well to prioritize that kinship. (Any)
3	Mystery. I appreciate a question I cannot answer, so I strive to be an enigma for other creatures. (Any)
4	Adaptability. Whether taking on a new form, making new allies, or trying a new strategy, flexibility keeps one youthful. (Chaotic)
5	Superiority. Weaker creatures cannot be trusted, so I constantly remind my servants of my power. (Evil)
6	Patience. All creatures might teach me something, and I’m willing to wait and find out what that might be rather than acting in haste. (Good)

Connected Creatures

Deep dragons appreciate the company of other dragons. Although they view most other species as inferior to dragonkind, having worth only as servants or tools, the rare individuals who impress them can sometimes earn respect as partners—albeit junior ones.

d6	Connected Creatures
1	An ogre has acquired a deep dragon wyrmling as a pet, ignoring the fact that the dragon is an intelligent creature who will grow extremely large.
2	An inquisitive deep dragon wyrmling has made it to the surface world. Lost and confused, the wyrmling has been captured by a group of cruel adventurers.
3	A deep dragon wyrmling whimsically rules over a worshipful group of kobolds, sending them to the surface to fetch delicacies the wyrmling craves.
4	An exclusive auction in an enclave of Lolth-worshipers features a deep dragon egg just about to hatch.
5	A deep dragon wyrmling with an experimental bent has created a “garden” of gray oozes.
6	An orphaned deep dragon wyrmling is cared for by a giant constrictor snake that is the recipient of a druid’s awaken spell.

Deep Dragon Traits

A Deep Dragon has the following racial traits;

Deep Dragon Senses

You have natural blindsight up to 10 ft. The radius increases to 30 ft. at 5th Level & finally reaches a maximum of 60 ft. at 11th Level.

You have natural darkvision up to 90 ft. The radius increases to 150 ft. at 5th Level & finally reaches a maximum of 300 ft. at 18th Level.

Your base passive Perception is 13. This base value increases to 15 at 5th Level, 17 at 11th Level & finally reaches a maximum of 20 at 18th Level.

Deep Dragon Resistances

You are resistant to Poison & Psychic damage.

You are immune to the Charmed, Frightened and Poisoned conditions.

You gain a +1 Natural bonus to your AC. This bonus increases to +2 at 5th Level, +3 at 11th Level and +4 at 18th Level.

Deep Dragon Physiology

You have the physiology of a Deep Dragon. You cannot use any of your class features, equip humanoid equipment, nor equip weapons designed for humanoids, until you assume a Visage Form at 5th level.

Starting at 1st Level, your true form is a Deep Dragon Whelpling.

At 5th Level, your true form is instead a Young Deep Dragon.

At 11th Level, your true form is instead an Adult Deep Dragon.

At 18th Level, your true form is instead an Ancient Deep Dragon.

Languages

Your character can speak, read and write in Common, Undercommon & Draconic plus one additional language of your choice.

Natural Weapons

At 1st level, you can make a melee weapon attack while in your true form using your jagged teeth to bite a target.

You may only make a bite attack while in your true form. This action is unavailable when you are in your chosen visage form.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing damage.

Starting at 5th Level, you can make a melee weapon attack while in your true form using your sharp claws to rend a target.

You may only make a claw attack while in your true form. This action is unavailable when you are in your chosen visage form.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d6 + 5) slashing damage.

Starting at 11th Level, you can make a melee weapon attack while in your true form using your large tail to sweep or swat your target.

You can only make a tail attack while in your true form. This action is unavailable when you are in your chosen visage form.

Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Ability Score Increases

When determining your character's ability scores, increase your Strength score by 2 and your Charisma score by 1.

Breath Weapon (Nightmare Breath)

The dragon exhales a cloud of spores in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 5 (1d10) psychic damage, and it is frightened of the dragon for 1 minute. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage with no additional effects. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Visage Form

A Deep Dragon may choose from select humanoid races to best represent them while in Visage Form. They can freely shift between their Visage form and Draconic form whenever they will it. Depending on which Visage race is chosen from the below list, the Deep Dragon receives one of the following benefits;

- Dark Elf (Drow)

You gain a +1 bonus to your Charisma Score while in visage form and gain the ability to cast the 'Darkness' spell once per Long Rest.

- Drow Half-Elf

You gain a +1 bonus to your Dexterity Score while in visage form and gain the ability to cast the 'Darkness' spell once per Long Rest.

- Deep Gnome (Svirfneblin)

When performing Stealth Checks while in visage form, you always roll with advantage. Additionally, you gain the ability to cast the 'Nondetection' spell once per Long Rest.

- Duergar

You gain a +1 bonus to your Constitution Score while in visage form and gain the ability to cast the 'Enlarge/Reduce' spell on yourself once per Long Rest.

Commanding Spores

The dragon releases spores around a creature within 30 feet of it that it can see. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or use its reaction to make a melee weapon attack against a random creature within reach. If no creatures are within reach, or the target can’t take a reaction, it takes 5 (1d10) psychic damage.

This is treated as a bonus action.

Spore Salvo

The dragon releases poisonous spores around a creature within 30 feet of it that it can see. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or take 17 (5d6) poison damage and become poisoned for 1 minute. The poisoned creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.