gemstone dragons psionics
TRANSCRIPT
GEMSTONE DRAGONSA long-forgotten branch of the draco genus, draco crys-
tallus are primarily hexapods like their more common
cousins draco metallus and draco chromaticus. They are
older than the other draconic genera, which accounts
for their wider diversity in body type.
Many long ago abandoned their wings or let them
atrophy, relying instead on their innate mental powers
to lift and propel them telekinetically. They are now
rare, hunted for the gemstones that grant them—and,
for a brief time, anyone who holds one—their psionic
powers. Many have slumbered or hidden from civili-
zation for many thousands of years, only awakening
during times of catastrophic need.
They are sages and hoard knowledge rather than
treasure and so are often found in or near ancient
libraries. Their crystalline structure grants them
enhanced speed and agility, their nerve impulses being
conducted by the piezoelectric effect rather than mere
chemical signals.
As a result they are more agile, and their quasic-
rystalline skin grants them natural armor. Weapons
spark and chip jeweled fragments off their hides but
find little purchase there. They are harder to hit and
damage but have less raw health than their metallic
and chromatic cousins.
They are the keepers of forgotten lore and rarely take
sides in the battles between good, evil, law, and chaos.
Rather, they act to preserve the world, or knowledge, or
to prevent dangerous knowledge from falling into any
hands. They come in every flavor of neutral alignment,
but if one is neutral good, they’re more neutral good
than neutral good, if you take my meaning.
Unlike their more barbaric cousins, they rarely have
an affinity for one type of terrain over other (the emer-
alds being an exception) and so their lairs can be found
anywhere—caves, dungeons, libraries, cities, clouds,
pocket dimensions. There is no such thing as a “typical”
gemstone dragon lair.
PsionicsThe gemstone dragons are silico-organic organisms.
When hatched, they are almost entirely organic. As
they grow, their crystalline structure grows, as does
their psionic power.
The crystals that grow on and thread through their
bodies form a network of psionic filaments that capture,
conduct, amplify, and store charges of psionic energies,
which the dragons then convert into manifestations.
Each dragon begins with a number of charges based
on their age. They can expend these charges to cast any
psionic manifestation. Many of these manifestations
have a base cost and can be enhanced by expending
more charges.
Over time, the dragon’s crystals conduct more psionic
energies into its body, recharging its power. At the end
of each of its turns, roll the recharge die and restore
that many charges.
Each dragon also has a Fracture score. Each time it
takes more damage than its Fracture score in a single
turn, its crystalline form fractures, diminishing its
ability to recharge its power. Roll the recharge die and
reduce the dragon’s maximum charges by the result.
This damage heals itself upon finishing a long rest.
ManifestationsPsionic charges are used to manifest psionic abilities.
These manifestations are the primary source of a gem-
stone dragon’s power. All manifestations have a range
of 30 feet, unless noted otherwise.
The following manifestations are by no means the
only ones the dragons have access to. It is known that
the most powerful gemstone dragons can alter their
form at will in a manner that defies all inspection. But
these are the most well-documented and commonly
used manifestations available to all psionic creatures.
The save DC against a dragon’s manifestation is 8
plus the dragon’s proficiency bonus plus the dragon’s
Intelligence modifier.
AMPLIFY
Casting Time: 1 action Range: Self
Duration: 1 minute Charges: 4
The dragon focuses the power of its mind and wreaths
its teeth, claws, and tail in glowing psionic force. For
the next minute, all of its melee attacks deal an extra
3d8 psychic damage.
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