Sea Linnorm [Dragon]

A hatchling is nearly transparent; its scales thicken into a pearly coat with age. From the young stage it can recolor them at will.

Sea linnorms see every land dweller as a threat to ocean life. From the young stage they surface under ships to roll them: the vessel's seaworthiness check is reduced by five times the dragon's combat modifier, so a longship with a 60% base facing an old linnorm (modifier 8) keeps only a 20% chance. Breath, spells and powers then deal with survivors, with bite and barbed tail held in reserve.

Coastal raids happen after dark. The linnorm crawls ashore, blasts structures and ships with magic and breath, then hunts survivors with breath, bite and tail. Badly wounded, it slips back into the sea to plan revenge.

Its breath, useless underwater, is a 60 x 60 x 30-foot cloud of stinging acid spray, save for half. It casts at level 8 plus its combat modifier, using the Animal, Elemental and Weather spheres. Each age adds a power usable 2/day: wall of fog, fog cloud, gust of wind, solid fog, airy water, death fog, raise water, part water, transmute dust to water, reverse gravity, and finally shape change at great wyrm. Its color shifting gives it the same percentage as its magic resistance to stay unseen and gives a +4 modifier on surprise rolls.

Found in cool seas, sea linnorms are as agile above water as below but live mostly in the deeps, in multichambered caves. Mature adults and older are often guarded by a kraken, 1d4 giant squid or 1d4 giant sea turtles. Hoards favor gems, jewelry and art over coin, mixed with wreckage like anchors, sails and bits of docks. Besides their own language they can talk with all sea creatures, and each age category adds a 5% chance that it knows a human or demihuman tongue.

Despite their savagery they are plant eaters with modest appetites. Dried seaweed is the great treat: a linnorm lays strands out on sunny rocks and waits for the afternoon heat to cure them.