Despair Dragon (Young)

CREATURE 9

Fear is one of the most powerful emotions, and despair dragons are masters of channeling those feelings of terror and hopelessness for their own benefit. As with other occult dragons, despair dragons are driven by an innate compulsion, in their case, the desire to strike terror in others. Despair dragons tend to settle near settlements, so they have a source of fear to draw from. The most common items in despair dragon hoards are scrolls, tomes, and relics that serve as research material. Through these, despair dragons learn of local folklore, urban legends, and more to better haunt their targets.

Perception +20; darkvision, scent (imprecise) 30 feet; fearsense (imprecise) 60 feet

Languages Common, Draconic; Telepathy 60 feet, Truespeech

Skills Acrobatics +16, Athletics +19, Deception +18, Diplomacy +18, Intimidation +20, Occultism +16, Society +16, Stealth +18

Str +6, Dex +3, Con +2, Int +3, Wis +4, Cha +5

Telepathy 60 feet (aura, magical, mental)

A monster with telepathy can communicate mentally with any creatures within the listed radius, as long as they share a language. This doesn't give any special access to their thoughts, and communicates no more information than normal speech would.

Fearsense (emotion, mental, occult)

The dragon senses all creatures with the frightened condition at the listed range.

AC 27; Fort +16, Ref +16, Will +16

HP 140; Immunities fear effects, paralyzed, sleep

+2 Status to All Saves vs. Occult

Consume Fear (occult)

Trigger A creature within 60 feet loses the Frightened condition

Effect The dragon feasts upon the fear that leaves the triggering creature's body, gaining 4d8 temporary Hit Points that last for 1 minute.

Frightful Presence (aura, emotion, fear, mental)

60 feet. DC 28 Will

A creature that first enters the area must attempt a Will save.

Regardless of the result of the saving throw, the creature is temporarily immune to this monster's Frightful Presence for 1 minute.

Critical Success The creature is unaffected by the presence.

Success The creature is Frightened 1.

Failure The creature is Frightened 2.

Critical Failure The creature is Frightened 4.

Unbidden Thoughts (emotion, fear, mental, occult)

Trigger The dragon is critically hit with a weapon or unarmed attack

Effect The attacker's mind fills with visions of their worst fears that overwhelm their senses, and they must choose one of the following results: either the triggering attack becomes a normal success, or the critical hit is unaffected but the triggering creature becomes Frightened 2.

Speed 40 feet, fly 120 feet

Melee Jaws +19 (magical, reach 10), Damage 2d10+12 piercing

Melee Claws +19 (agile, magical), Damage 2d8+12 slashing

Melee Tail +17 (magical, reach 15), Damage 2d6+10 bludgeoning

Occult Innate Spells DC 28, attack +20; 4th Fear (At Will); Constant (5th) Truespeech

Draconic Frenzy

The dragon makes two claw Strikes and one tail Strike in any order.

Draconic Momentum

The dragon recharges their Shrieking Breath whenever they score a critical hit with a Strike.

Shrieking Breath (mental, occult, sonic)

The dragon lets out a cacophonous sound made of every scream the dragon has drawn from a terrified enemy, dealing 8d6 sonic damage in a 30-foot cone (DC 28 basic Will save). Creatures who fail their Will save must spend the first action of their next turn doing nothing but screaming. The dragon can't use Shrieking Breath again for 1d4 rounds.

Pathfinder Monster Core 2ORC