Peony Dragon

Large Dragon, Any Alignment
FGFD

Peony dragons are hefty creatures that can grow up to 15 feet long and weigh as much as 450 pounds. They have fluffy, round petals that protect their heads. Their blossoms come in vibrant colors, including pink, red, orange, and yellow. When they sleep, peony dragons close their petals over their faces. They keep the same petals year-round and shed them on average four times throughout their 100-year lifespan. When this happens, the petals shrivel and fall off, leaving the dragon vulnerable until its petals grow back over ten to fourteen days. Young peony dragons hatch with white petals, which flush into their adult colors as they mature at around 15 years old.

As predators, peony dragons use their thick tails as powerful weapons to effortlessly knock their prey to the ground. They have sharp teeth and claws, which make them formidable hunters. To stake their claim on an area, peony dragons roar loudly. Once they have established their presence, they continue to roar on occasion to remind other creatures of their dominance. In contrast, during hunts away from their lairs, they are silent to avoid revealing their position to their prey.

AC 14

Initiative +2 (12)

HP 135 (18d10 + 36)

Speed 30 ft.

STR

17 (+3)

Save +6

DEX

15 (+2)

Save +2

CON

14 (+2)

Save +5

INT

6 (-2)

Save -2

WIS

13 (+1)

Save +1

CHA

8 (-1)

Save -1

Saving Throws STR +6, CON +5

Skills Perception +7, Stealth +8

Resistances Poison

Immunities Poisoned

Senses Passive Perception 17

Languages understands Draconic but can't speak

CR 6

Traits

Ambusher. In the first round of combat, the dragon has Advantage on attack rolls against any creature it has Surprised.

Surprise Attack. If the dragon surprises a creature and hits it with an attack during the first round of combat, the target takes an extra 10 (3d6) damage from the attack.

Actions

Multiattack. The dragon can use its Roaring Floral Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.

Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +6, reach 5 ft. Hit: 14 (2d10 + 3) Piercing damage.

Claws. Melee Attack Roll: +6, reach 5 ft. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) Slashing damage.

Tail. Melee Attack Roll: +6, reach 5 ft. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) Bludgeoning damage. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked Prone. If the target is Prone, the dragon can make one bite attack against it as a Bonus Action.

Roaring Floral Presence. The dragon emits a mighty roar. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 13, each creature within 60 feet that can hear it. Failure: 7 (2d6) Thunder damage and has the Deafened condition for 1 minute. Success: Half damage only. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the dragon's Floral Presence for the next 24 hours.

Legendary Actions

The dragon can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The dragon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Detect. The dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.

Tail Attack. The dragon makes one tail attack.

A Peony Dragon's Lair

Peony dragons make their lairs in earthen craters that they dig themselves, surrounded by tall peony flowers. They spend most of their time in the den caring for their blooming or hunting for food either in the field of peony flowers or nearby forests. A lair might be home to half a dozen adult peony dragons and their young.
Lair Actions. While fighting inside its lair, a peony dragon can make tactical use of its home environment to take 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.

  • Tall peony flowers grow rapidly, hiding the dragon from sight. To discern the dragon's location, a creature can use its action to find it and must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom (Perception) check. While it remains hidden in this way, the dragon has Half Cover. These effects last until the dragon attacks or uses another lair action.
  • The dragon kicks up a cloud of dirt from its den. One creature of its choice within 5 feet of it must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or be Blinded until the start of the dragon's next turn.
  • Peony flowers twist and writhe on the ground, tripping enemies of the dragon. Each creature in a Line 30 feet long and 5 feet wide originating from the dragon must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked Prone.

Regional Effects. The area in the vicinity of a peony dragon's lair is influenced by the dragon's presence, which creates one or more of the following effects:

  • Unnaturally tall peonies bloom 10 feet high within 30 feet of the lair and gradually expand to overtake the surrounding grasslands.
  • Patches of grassland where the tall peonies are growing are Difficult Terrain.
  • The population of vespons in the area is much higher than normal. There is a notable absence of other pollinators.

If all the dragons sharing the lair die or leave, these effects fade over the course of 2d6 months.