Green Dragon [Chromatic]

Hatchlings have tiny, thin scales of a green so dark it looks black. They grow larger and lighter with age, through forest, emerald and olive shades that blend with the woods, yet always stay thinner, smoother and more flexible than other dragons' scales. Greens speak their own tongue and the evil dragon tongue, and 12% of hatchlings can talk with any intelligent creature, rising 5% per age category.

Spiteful, rude and cruel, green dragons hate goodness, adore intrigue, and start fights with creatures of any size on the slightest pretext. A target that intrigues the dragon or looks hard to handle is stalked under cover until it chooses the ideal moment and tactics. Formidable foes face breath, magical powers and spells first. Weak ones are shown the dragon early, since it loves to inspire terror, and when the game bores it, it finishes them with claws and teeth to prolong their agony.

It may also choose to rule a human or demihuman through intimidation and suggestion, and enjoys quizzing men, especially adventurers, about their society, abilities, local events and treasure nearby.

The breath is a 50 by 40 by 30 foot cloud of poisonous chlorine, halved by a save vs. breath weapon. Spells work at 6th level adjusted by combat modifier. Greens are immune to gases from birth and gain water breathing (juvenile), suggestion once daily (adult), warp wood three times daily (mature adult), plant growth once daily (old), entangle once daily (very old) and pass without trace three times daily (wyrm).

Greens live in subtropical and temperate forests, ideally ancient woods with huge trees, and claim the whole woodland, whose sights and smells they love. They try to enslave its other creatures, slaying those they cannot cow or control, and sometimes let evil forest dwellers live in return for news. A green whose forest covers a hillside tries to enslave the hill giants, its archenemies. The lair lies in caverns deep below the trees.

Most are alone, but if a family is met, the female attacks while the male takes the young to safety before joining in. Evil as they are, parents guard their young fiercely and will die for them.

They eat almost anything, even shrubs and saplings in hard times, but elves are a prized delicacy. Hill giants, in turn, hunt young greens as a treat.