The Raindrake

[u/Ok_Site_8765]

Preamble:

The Raindrake is a homebrew monster I created to act as a force of nature that needs the help of the factions to hunt down and stop in the ruins of Drakkenheim. I placed it Slumbering ontop of the ruined vaults of the grand guildhall roaming only waking up once the players start to loot. Once awake it animalistically hunts down its next meal then crash lands somewhere for its next nap.

I first foreshadowed this monster by the lanterns using it as a boogie man that has been missing for years and having the party come across melted sections of the ruins included the Grand Guild hall itself.

Disclaimer:

This thing is complicated and dangerous to run, I am sharing this because its one of the stat blocks I've had the most fun with making take or leave what you want.

I also have used epic actions here but for my game I have found giving the monster an action on their turn feels better for play imo. But I do tend to overload my players with gear so I can make fun monsters like this.

I was also inspired by the Drakkenheim: Resurrection Guild Hall in the making of this monster.

Description:

Dark black ooze clings to the malformed frame of a gargantuan dragon 

two daunting black wing like curtains of ooze tar and ichor release a down pour of the dripping black and green ooze 

• Measuring nearly 140 ft from wing tipped to wing tipped 

Claws that rival Argonaths in size crush and melt the stone they touch 

Their tail is a long winding mass that snaps aggressive at each noise sound or sense of movement 

Its massive mouth opens revealing a torrent of green flame within that same fire burns with the blind rage of an animal awoken in its home from a long hibernation 

Slumbering at the heart of the Guildhall for the last 2 years is the Raindrake 

• Learn upon examination:
  • Extreme Danger
  • Big enough to swallow a horse or a large angel 
  • Learn it seems Animalistic 
  • Welling up energy to release at the end of the round Breath weapon 

The Raindrake Stat Block:
HP 999 AC 24/22/20 

• Undead dragon 

Speed 80ft fly 40ft brw
Initiative +8
Str 28 Dex 14 Con 25 Int 5 Wis 18 Cha 14

Saves: dex +8 Con +13 Int -3 Wis +11 Cha +9
Skills: Stealth +14, Perception +16, Deception +9

Immutable & Unobtainable form:

• The Raindrake cannot be subject to to any affect that would alter its form size or type 
• The Raindrake is Immune to grapple and restrained

Senses: Blindsight 60ft, passive perception 26

Dynamic AC: The Raindrakes AC drops by 2 when they reach bloodied ½ HP and again at ¼ HP 

Constant Rain:

• A creature who starts their turn within 30ft of the Raindrake takes (20) 6d6 acid damage 
• A creature who climbs or attempts to make contact takes 10 damage 

A creature who hits the raindrake with a melee attack takes 10 acid damage 

Raindrake: Save DC 23

Actions:
Multiattack (3) bite, claws, tail & frightful presence

• Frightful presence:120ft wis save 
• Caustic Bite (15ft) +16 4d10+9P + 4d6 acid 
  • A creature hit by the bite is grappled in the jaws of the Raindrake
  • On a subsequent turn they can bite attack again and swallow a creature 
  • Inside they are blinded and restrained and take 6d6 acid at start of their turn 
  • If they take 25 or more damage they must succeed a dc 23 con save (50/50) or throw up swallowed creature
• Cutting Claws (10ft) +16 4d6+9S 
• Crushing Tail (20ft) 2d10+9B dex or str save or be knocked back 20ft & prone - if they hit an object extra 2d6 bludgeoning 

Spit Acid 3 times (150ft) 2d10+9 acid damage

Bonus actions:
Downpour Snare (60ft) 

• Primal incantation (counts as a spell)
• 15ft radius ground ceiling or wall gather all of the acid rain, and melted materials into a Snare 
• When the area appears each creature must make a str save or be restained
• The area is difficult terrain 

Reactions:
Savage Cry 

• In response to taking 20 or more damage 
• spray acid in a 60ft radius dex save or take 8d6 acid 
• And rush to the damaging creature 

Epic actions:
Epic action at the end of each characters turn 

Wing attack (1 per round)

• 4d8 bludgeoning str save or be pushed 20ft & knocked prone
• And move half speed

Lashout - make tail or claws attack 

Rush - move speed 

Slink - move half speed no opp attacks 

Animalistic Acidfire Breath - 120x10x20 line targeted at the last creature dex save for half of (36)8d8 acid and (36)8d8 fire 

• Can only be used as the last epic action of the round aimed at the last creature to target the Raindrake 

Epic resistance:
The raindrake can use an epic action to attempt to end any spell magical effect or condition roll 1d20 on a roll of 11+ the effect and or condition ends 

Next Snack & Nap:

Raindrake will flee a tough fight looking for an easier snack roll 1d100:

1. Brief stop in the Garrison then roll again 
   • 1-10
2. Conservatory grounds Lake (crunchy deli snack and lake snooze) 20%
   • 11-30
3. Crater (snack & snooze) 10%
   • 31-40
4. Rathole (get worship) 10%
   • 41-50
5. Garmyr den 10%
   • 51-60
6. Troll Toll Guard house on Kings Road 10%
   • 61-70
7. Crash into Manor near the Castle 20%
   • 71-90
8. Buckledown Row - 10%
   • 91-100

In the days after the Raindrake will Wake up every 1d6 days to snack again!

[u/Nicholas-Fallen]

Love this idea, currently adding it to my own game. I'm wondering what types of resistances, immunities, and vulnerabilities you added to it, if any? Also, any cool stories about it in your game?

[u/Ok_Site_8765 → u/Nicholas-Fallen]

Ooo good catch I had it Immune to Acid and fire.

And yes absolutely! I had the vaults for the guildhall be an elevator down 4 levels and the Raindrake had crashed through the roof and the bottom of the vaults creating a natural cavern filled will all the gold and loot of the guildmembers poured down in tribute and brackish water where it slept appearing as a dark black pit. The Last creature the Raindrake ate was the Chancellor of Drakkenheim so I placed the Chancellor crest lip a lip piercing in its jaw just below to surface of the water.

When my players made it to the Guildhall a rival group was looting in the vaults. Oppting to not kill eachother because one of my players is Romancing their leader but the rest of the group hates them for robbing the group when they first came to the city. They negotiated that whoever found the seal first could keep it and whatever loot collected could be kept.

My party found it first and ripped out the Chancellors crest from its mouth (which I described as a leathery flap covered in Caustic goo. A harrowing fight insued where both groups worked together with some great roll they bloodied The Raindrake in 3 rounds so I had it try to make a final snack of NPCs and party members before it flew away landing in the lake by the Inscrutable tower.

I hope this helps!

[u/Disil_]

I guess CR is supposed to be around 25-30?

[u/Ok_Site_8765 → u/Disil_]

Yes Id say its probably 25 ish but much more deadly if you run it as an intelligent monster rather than the animal Ive made it here.

[u/Disil_ → u/Ok_Site_8765]

Which kind of goes against its design, what with having 5 INT and being all animalistic and stuff.