Yellow Dragon

Primary-color theory led sages to predict this dragon long before anyone actually saw one, only a few years back. Soft tan hatchling scales harden and fade to the gray-yellow of desert sand, and every surface, even teeth and claws, has a dusty, matte finish that never catches the sun. Its language differs from other evil dragons', and it learns no others, having no interest in talking to anyone.

Guile and ambush come first, but cornered yellows fight hard and smart, using magic to confuse and misdirect. Like a monstrous antlion, one digs a steep conical pit in the sand and buries itself at the bottom, eyes and nostrils exposed; when prey stumbles in, a flick of its wings collapses the slope and slides the victim into its mouth. Its spells and powers function at 8th level, adding its combat modifier.

The breath is a blast of searing air and sand 50 feet long, 40 wide and 20 high, half damage with a save vs. breath weapon. All victims then make a second such save or are blinded 1d4+1 rounds.

Heat and fire cannot harm a yellow, and silence, 10' radius is usable at will. Further powers: young, create or destroy water 3/day; juvenile, dust devil 3/day; adult, improved invisibility 2/day; old, wind wall 3/day; wyrm, enervation 3/day.

Yellows love sandy, wind-scoured wastes and thrive at 105 degrees or hotter, though freezing nights don't trouble them. Selfish and territorial, they tolerate another yellow only for the rare mating and part immediately after. The mother rears the young with little effort to defend them, and they usually leave before juvenile age. Brass dragons share their deserts and hunt the smaller yellows.

They eat anything but favor fresh meat, especially humans and demihumans, and prize brass dragon eggs, though they seldom get any.