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Pest Drake SwarmCreature 9


LargeDragonSwarm
Source Pathfinder Lost Omens Draconic Codex
Perception +19 (darkvision)
Languages none
Skills Acrobatics +20, Athletics +16, Stealth +20
Str -1, Dex +6, Con +4, Int -4, Wis +4, Cha +0

AC 27; Fort +17; Reflex +21; Will +15;
HP 120
Speed 20 feet (fly 50 feet)
Immunities acid, paralyzed, precision, prone, restrained, grabbed, sleep, swarm mind
Weaknesses Area Damage 10, Splash Damage 10
Resistances Bludgeoning 12, Piercing 12, Slashing 6

Swarm Mind

This monster doesn't have a single mind (typically because it's a swarm of smaller creatures), and is immune to mental effects that target only a specific number of creatures. It is still subject to mental effects that affect all creatures in an area.

Flummoxing Flurry Reaction (mental)

Trigger The swarm takes damage


Effect The swarm's frenzied flapping intensifies as the dragonets attempt to confuse their foes. Each creature in the swarm's space must succeed at a DC 28 will save or become Dazzled until they are outside of the swarm's space.

Acrid Bites One Action

Each enemy in the pest drake swarm's space takes 3d6[piercing],2d6 persistent,acid damage (DC 28 reflex save).


Pest drakes are the feral descendants of valuable racing "pace drakes." Prized for their colors, speed, and homing ability, pace drakes have been bred, traded, and raced throughout Golarion. Their popularity invariably led to the establishment of feral populations, as these naturally nervous creatures used their homing ability to establish protective flocks. Readily agitated, these rat-sized dragonets are dangerous in large numbers. They are easily overlooked in urban areas, however, as familiarity breeds complacency from those who see these dragonets every day with little incident.

Many pest drakes are a dun or dusty brown in color, though some flocks retain the brilliant blues, reds, and greens of their captive relatives. Both varieties have many tiny spines that resemble hairs and short, stubby noses that earned them the derogatory nickname of "dragon-winged rats." Much like other urban animals, pest drakes are highly adaptable, adept at scavenging food from trash piles or discarded foodstuffs. People likewise find the tiny dragons cute and will feed them, despite laws or warnings.

Pest drakes live in cities and ruins. They build their lairs atop hidden stone ledges and within inaccessible monument alcoves. There, their acidic mess often does irreparable damage before it is discovered and removed. Such lairs are usually full of tiny trinkets swiped off the street, such as earrings, coins, and nails they pull from cart wheels.


Though dragonets are smaller and lacking the raw power of great dragons, they are every bit as varied and fascinating as their larger relatives. Like dragons, dragonets have strong ties to magic. These ties influence the contrasting natures exhibited by different dragonet types. For example, @UUID[Compendium.pf2e.pathfinder-monster-core.Actor.Fey Dragonet]{Fey Dragonets} and @UUID[Compendium.pf2e.pathfinder-monster-core-2.Actor.House Drake]{House Drakes} make fascinating pets and companions, and thus are a popular familiar for spellcasters. Tidepool dragonets, on the other hand, are arrogant and untamable.

Assuming dragonets are harmless due to their size, or the fact that they often live near people, is dangerous. Pest drakes, for instance, are weak and shy individually but are inclined to form dangerous swarms when unsettled. By contrast, pearl dragonets are gentle oddities that seem naturally friendly.

Dragonets range in size from little bigger than songbirds to no larger than house cats. Unlike most great dragons, they stop growing after reaching maturity. They vary greatly in intelligence; fey dragonets are known for their tricks and wit, while feral racing drakes have the average problem solving capacity of a pigeon. Each type of dragonet has its own lairing and hoarding habits, and they have unique abilities that reveal their magical nature.


Traits

Common

Anything that doesn't list another rarity trait (uncommon, rare, or unique) automatically has the common trait. This rarity indicates that an ability, item, or spell is available to all players who meet the prerequisites for it. A creature of this rarity is generally known and can be summoned with the appropriate summon spell.

Dragon

Dragons are reptilian creatures, often winged or with the power of flight. Most can exhale magical energy and are immune to sleep and paralysis.

Swarm

A swarm is a mass or cloud of creatures that functions as one monster. Its size entry gives the size of the entire mass, though for most swarms the individual creatures that make up that mass are Tiny. A swarm can occupy the same space as other creatures and must do so in order to use its damaging action. A swarm typically has weakness to effects that deal damage over an area (like area spells and splash weapons). Swarms are immune to the grabbed, prone, and restrained conditions.