Shunaiman, the Emperor of Elmoreden, used this place to store gold required to build the Tower of Insolence. After his death, it became occupied by Kresous the Gold Dragon. Twisted by the evil inherent in the tower (or perhaps overcome by gluttony, this gold dragon has become paranoid and twisted to evil.
KRESOUS
Ancient Gold Dragon
Gargantuan dragon, neutral evil
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 (+10) | 14 (+2) | 29 (+9) | 18 (+4) | 17 (+3) | 28 (+9) |
Amphibious. Kresous can breathe air and water.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Kresous fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Multiattack. Kresous can use his Frightful Presence. He then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target.
Hit: 21 (2d10 + 10) piercing damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 17 (2d6 + 10) slashing damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target.
Hit: 19 (2d8 + 10) bludgeoning damage.
Frightful Presence. Each creature of the dragon’s choice that is within 120 feet of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 24 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. 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 Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6). The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons.
Fire Breath. The dragon exhales fire in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 24 Dexterity saving throw, taking 71 (13d10) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. When Kresous uses fire breath as part of this action he also raises aloft and stays aloft until the start of his next turn.
Make it Rain. Gold coins magically rain from the sky in a 20-foot radius sphere centred on a point Kresous can see. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 24 Strength saving throw, taking 71 (13d10) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, and gaining vulnerability to bludgeoning damage for 1 minute or half as much damage on a successful one and no bludgeoning vulnerability. This movement does not provoke an attack of opportunity.
Change Shape. The dragon magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating no higher than its own, or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (the dragon’s choice). In a new form, the dragon retains its alignment, hit points, Hit Dice, ability to speak, proficiencies, Legendary Resistance, lair actions, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. Its statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that form.
REACTIONS
Inflation. As a reaction, after taking damage, Kresous intones a spell of duplication – creating a copy of the creature that triggered the reaction. This duplicate looks identical to the original except it has a golden sheen and clearly mindless. Pick an appropriate NPC of a CR equal to or less than half the targets level (minimum of 1).
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The dragon can take 3 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 a tail attack.
- Wing Buffet (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 15 feet of the dragon must succeed on a DC 25 Dexterity saving throw or take 17 (2d6 + 10) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.
- Sons of Kresous (1/Day, Costs 3 Actions). Kresous summons 1d6+2 silver dragon wyrmlings. These creatures are his offspring and are utterly loyal to their father. The wyrmlings are identical to a standard silver dragon wyrmling but have neutral evil alignment and no lair actions or regional effects. When sons of kresous is used it also creates an equivalent number of large chests – one per wyrmling. These chests are scattered around the room. Each chest will provide Kresous with a +1 to damage rolls. Each time a chest is destroyed (and action) two things happens – Kresous treasure is doubled and Kresous, in a rage, gets a +5 bonus to all damage. For example, if three chests are destroyed Kresous will have triple the normal treasure of an ancient gold dragon but gain a +15 damage bonus to all attacks until the end of the encounter.
KRESOUS’ LAIR
Kresous makes his home in the ruins of the Tower of Insolence. He does not claim the whole tower but only the treasure vaults in the basement and the ruins surround and leading to it. He has the normal lair actions of an ancient gold dragon.
REGIONAL EFFECTS
Kresous has the normal regional effects of a legendary ancient gold dragon with the following addition.
- All creatures within 1 mile of the Tower of Insolence become greedy for gold and gluttonous. This has no mechanical effect but is expressed as a coveting nature and temptations in intelligent creatures near Kresous lair.
If Kresous dies, these effects end immediately.
LOOT
Standard x the number of treasure chests destroyed.