Lesser Death Dragon

Large Undead, Typically Chaotic Evil
DSDQ

Death dragons are the Undead skeletal remains of metallic or chromatic dragons, infused with the lingering fires of the Cataclysm by foul magic. Rarely, death dragons arise when a dragon meets its end in a way that torments its soul and consumes it with a need for vengeance. Regardless of how it arose, a death dragon retains a shadow of its former personality. The stronger the death dragon, the more it fights the hate consuming it, holding on to some vestige of its memories.
A death dragon's bones burn with violet Cataclysmic fire, which it can unleash in a horrific mockery of the breath weapon it possessed in life. The breath snuffs out life force and infuses undeath into corpses it touches. These zombies burn with Cataclysmic fire and serve the death dragon's will, typically going on rampages to destroy all living creatures in sight.

Most death dragons are pale imitations of their former selves. They remember flashes and echoes, and sometimes things or creatures they encounter painfully remind them of what they once had. These fleeting moments of lucidity quickly burn away in rage and anguish, driving the dragons to destroy the would-be memento.

AC 15 (natural armor)

HP 199 (21d10 + 84)

Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft.

STR

20 (+5)

Save +5

DEX

10 (+0)

Save +4

CON

18 (+4)

Save +4

INT

5 (-3)

Save -3

WIS

10 (+0)

Save +4

CHA

5 (-3)

Save -3

Saving Throws DEX +4, WIS +4

Skills Perception +4, Stealth +4

Resistances Piercing

Immunities Necrotic, Poison

Condition Immunities Exhaustion, Poisoned

Senses Blindsight 30 ft., Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 14

Languages Understands Common and Draconic but can't speak

CR 10

Traits

Unusual Nature. The dragon doesn't require air, food, drink, or sleep.

Actions

Multiattack. The dragon makes one Bite attack and two Claw attacks.

Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +9, reach 10 ft. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) Piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) Necrotic damage.

Claw. Melee Attack Roll: +9, reach 5 ft. Hit: 8 (1d6 + 5) Slashing damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it has the Grappled condition (escape DC 15). Until this grapple ends, the target has the Restrained condition. The dragon has two claws, each of which can grapple only one target.

Cataclysmic Breath (Recharge 5-6). Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 16, each creature in a 30-foot Cone. Failure: 36 (8d8) Necrotic damage. A creature dies if this damage reduces it to 0 Hit Points. Additionally, any Medium or smaller Humanoid killed by this damage, as well as every corpse of such a creature within the cone, becomes a Zombie under the dragon's control. The zombie acts on the dragon's Initiative but immediately after the dragon's turn. Absent any other command, the zombie tries to kill any non-Undead creature it encounters. Success: Half damage only.