Crystal Dragon [Gem]

Glossy white at hatching, a crystal dragon's scales grow clear with age. Starlight and moonlight make them glow; full sun makes them so dazzling that looking at the dragon hurts. Besides their own language they know the shared gem-dragon tongue, and 10% of hatchlings can talk with any thinking creature, plus 5% per age category.

Of all gem dragons these are the most sociable and curious. They seldom go looking for company, but anyone who does not try to rob them is welcome to chat, and the dragon often casts charm person early in the talk. It does not hide at first; when guests turn hostile it pulls back immediately, watches them through its powers and plans. Its opening is usually its breath, to weaken and confuse, then spells and powers as needed, with tooth and claw saved for last.

That breath is a 60-foot cone of glowing crystal splinters, 5 feet across at the snout and 25 at its end. Victims save vs. breath weapon to halve the damage and must make another such save or go blind for a turn per age level. The splinters shine like daylight and can be seen for miles, and anyone within 60 feet who fails a save vs. breath weapon is dazzled, taking -2 on attacks for a turn per age level. It casts and uses powers at 5th level plus combat modifier.

Hatchlings are immune to normal cold and light-based attacks and can charm person at will. Later: juvenile, color spray 3/day; mature adult, suggestion 3/day; very old, a once-daily luckscale, turning one of its scales into a stone of good luck that lasts an hour per age category and is usually handed to a friendly guest; wyrm, control winds 3/day.

Psionics: clairsentience (precognition, clairvoyance, clairaudience, plus any devotion).

Crystals like cold, open land with clear skies and are avid stargazers. Pranksters at heart, they build snow forts, sculpt snow into lovely shapes and lob snowballs at targets. As parents they are fond but a little irresponsible.

They prefer to eat gems and metal ores. Some white dragons prey on them, though a rare crystal will adopt a white youngster and try to teach it friendliness. Their deepest hatred is for giants, who occasionally attempt to enslave them.