Gargantuan dragon, neutral
Armor Class 20 (natural armor)
Hit Points 341 (22d20+10)
Speed 20 ft., swim 40 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +6
Proficiency Bonus +9 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 (+7) | 10 (+0) | 20 (+5) | 10 (+0) | 12 (+1) | 12 (+1) |
Saving Throws Dex +6, Con +11, Wis +7
Damage Resistance fire
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Aquan, Draconic
Challenge 17 (18,000 XP)
Amphibious. The dragon turtle can breathe air and water.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The dragon turtle makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws. It can make one tail attack in place of its two claw attacks.
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: (3d12 + 7) piercing damage.
- Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: (2d8 + 7) slashing damage.
- Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: (3d12 + 7) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 20 Strength saving throw or be pushed up to 10 feet away from the dragon turtle and knocked prone
- Steam Breath (Recharge 5-6). The dragon turtle exhales scalding steam in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw, taking 52 (15d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Being underwater doesn’t grant resistance against this damage.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
DESCRIPTION
A dragon turtle is a massive aquatic creature that resembles a cross between a dragon and a turtle. It has a long neck and tail, four powerful flippers, and a thick shell that covers its body. Its head has a golden crest along the center and a fearsome mouth full of sharp teeth. Its scales are usually green with silver highlights, allowing it to blend in with the water. A dragon turtle can grow up to 30 feet long and weigh up to 32,000 pounds.
A dragon turtle’s shell can reach up to 30 feet in diameter, and an adult turtle can measure over 40 feet from its snout to the tip of its tail. The turtle’s rough, deep green shell is much the same color as the deep water the monster favors, and the silver highlights that line the shell are patterned like light dancing on open water. The turtle’s legs and tail are of a lighter green, and they are flecked with golden highlights. The coloration of the creature’s head is similar to the legs and tail, but its crest spines are golden with dark green webbing connecting them.
COMBAT
A dragon turtle is an aggressive and territorial predator that will attack any intruders or rivals that enter its domain. It is intelligent enough to demand tribute from passing ships or settlements in exchange for safe passage, but it will not hesitate to sink or plunder those who refuse or offend it. A dragon turtle prefers to fight underwater, where it has the advantage of speed and maneuverability. It can also breathe air and water, allowing it to surface and surprise its enemies.
A dragon turtle has three main weapons: its bite, its claws, and its tail. It can use its bite to inflict severe wounds on its prey, its claws to slash and tear at its foes, and its tail to knock them back or sweep them off their feet. It can also use its tail to propel itself forward with great force, smashing into anything in its path.
The most fearsome ability of a dragon turtle, however, is its steam breath. The creature can exhale a blast of scalding steam that can burn and blind its enemies. The steam breath can reach up to 60 feet in a cone-shaped area, and is powerful enough to damage even those who are underwater. The dragon turtle can use this ability once every few minutes, depending on how quickly it can recharge its internal heat.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A dragon turtle lives in the depths of the sea or ocean, where it can find plenty of food and treasure. It prefers temperate climates and coastal regions, but it can also be found in lakes or rivers that are connected to the sea. A dragon turtle claims a large territory as its own, and will defend it fiercely from other dragon turtles or aquatic threats. It will also patrol its borders regularly, looking for potential prey or loot.
A dragon turtle is a solitary creature that only seeks out others of its kind for mating purposes. It does not form any lasting bonds or alliances with other creatures, except for those who worship it or pay it tribute. A dragon turtle is obsessed with gold and treasure, and will hoard any valuables it finds in its lair. It will also collect items that catch its interest, such as books, jewelry, or furniture.
A dragon turtle can communicate with other creatures using Aquan, Draconic, or Common languages. It is not very sociable or friendly, but it can be reasoned with or bribed if the offer is good enough. A dragon turtle respects strength and cunning, and will sometimes spare those who impress it or amuse it. A dragon turtle can also be loyal and grateful to those who help it or save it from danger.
Dragon turtles are extremely solitary creatures. Large, desolate sea caves and secret underground caverns that can be accessed only through the water are their favorite lairs. These lairs are difficult to find, but adventurers locating a dragon turtle’s cave will find it filled with treasures of all types. The turtle gathers this treasure, which it will protect to the death, from the ships sunk in its territory.
A dragon turtle’s territory is well-defined and may cover as much as 50 square miles of open water. Other dragon turtles are allowed into this area only during mating season, though turtles of the same sex will always fight to the death upon meeting. It is this hostility toward their own kind that keeps the number of dragon turtles relatively low.
Mariners of any experience recognize the territorial claims of dragon turtles and will often make extravagant tributes to the turtle controlling areas necessary for safe and speedy trade.
ECOLOGY
A dragon turtle is an apex predator that feeds on fish, sharks, whales, squid, and other aquatic creatures. It can also eat humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, or any other creatures that venture into the water. A dragon turtle can consume up to 10% of its body weight in a single meal.
A dragon turtle has a lifespan of several centuries, and ages slowly like a true dragon. It reaches maturity at around 100 years old, and can reproduce once every 10 years. A female dragon turtle lays a clutch of 2 to 8 eggs in a hidden underwater cave or crevice, and guards them until they hatch. The hatchlings are about 3 feet long and weigh about 50 pounds each. They are independent from birth, and will leave their mother’s territory as soon as they can fend for themselves.
A dragon turtle has few natural enemies, except for other dragon turtles or true dragons that might challenge it for territory or treasure. It can also fall prey to powerful magic or weapons that can pierce its armor or resist its steam breath. A dragon turtle’s body parts are highly valued for their magical properties or uses. Its scales can be used to make shields or armor that resist fire or steam damage; its shell can be used to make book covers, jewelry, furniture, or building materials; its teeth and claws can be used as weapons or tools; and its blood, bones, and organs can be used as spell components or ingredients.
Dragon turtle shells make outstanding shields and armor. Because of the shell’s strength and natural resistance to the dragon turtle’s own breath weapon, armor or a shield made out of this material gains +1 non-magical bonus to armor class.
Dragon turtles are one of the most beautiful, awesome, and feared creatures of the water. With their deadly jaws and breath weapon, and their penchant for capsizing ships, dragon turtles are dreaded by mariners on large bodies of water, both fresh and salt.
When a dragon turtle surfaces, it is sometimes mistaken for the reflection of the sun or moon on the water.
Conflict often arises between dragon turtles and the many intelligent aquatic races, like the locathah or mermen, because of competition for ideal lairs. Like many of their land-based relatives, dragon turtles are considered treacherous and selfish by all creatures that share their domain.
Dragon turtles speak their own highly-developed language.