55 lines
2.7 KiB
Markdown
55 lines
2.7 KiB
Markdown
---
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type: npc
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role: "Traitor Dragon Lord"
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location: "[[Ashveil Caldera]] / [[Citadel of Sundering]]"
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alignment: Chaotic Evil
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race: Ancient Red Dragon
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---
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# Morgra, the Ashen Matron
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## Appearance
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An immense ancient red dragon whose crimson scales are veined with black, like cooling magma. Her horns sweep back in a crown-like formation, and a permanent haze of heat shimmers around her. In humanoid form, she appears as a regal woman in her 40s with copper-red hair, black nails like talons, and eyes that literally smolder.
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## Personality
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- **Arrogant** — believes dragons are the rightful rulers of Aethrune
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- **Patient** — she has waited millennia; a few more years are nothing
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- **Cruel** — enjoys psychological torment as much as physical
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- **Charismatic** — can sway even other Dragon Lords with her silver tongue
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## Motivation
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> "For three thousand years I have guarded a prison I did not build, for mortals who do not deserve our protection, bound by a pact I did not choose. Tell me, little creature — would you not break your chains?"
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## Role in Campaign
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- Arc 3: Sits on the Draconic Court; opposes the party at every turn
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- Arc 3 climax: Reveals treachery, attacks the Heart of the Mountain with her brood
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- If she escapes (flees at 25% HP), she becomes a boss in Arc 4 Tier 4
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## Stat Block — Ancient Red Dragon (CR 24)
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- **HP:** 546 | **AC:** 22 | **Speed:** 40 ft, climb 40 ft, fly 80 ft
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- **Standard Ancient Red Dragon** stat block (MM p.97) with the following additions:
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**Seal-Bound Aura (corrupted):** Instead of granting resistance to allies, her aura inflicts vulnerability to fire damage to creatures of her choice within 30 ft (DC 21 CHA save each round to resist).
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**Seal Fracture (Recharge 6, replaced Fire Breath when seal energy is available):** 90 ft cone, 26d6 force damage (DC 24 DEX half). This attack cracks seal anchors and cannot be used against other targets.
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**Legendary Actions (3):** Tail Attack, Wing Attack (2 actions), Elemental Roar (3 actions — 60 ft cone, DC 21 CON, 6d6 thunder + deafened for 1 minute).
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## Tactics
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- Opens with Seal Fracture to weaken the party and battlefield simultaneously.
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- Uses flight and hit-and-run tactics; never stays in melee for long.
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- Prioritizes healers and spellcasters.
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- At 25% HP: casts *plane shift* on herself to escape to the Citadel of Sundering (unless prevented by *counterspell* or similar magic).
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## Secrets
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- She was in love with [[Ignivar, the Betrayer]] — his imprisonment drove her toward the Hand of Ruin.
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- She knows the location of all seven seal anchors and has been feeding coordinates to [[High Pontiff Vosseth]] for 200 years.
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- Her true dragon name — spoken only once in three millennia — means "Ash That Remembers Flame."
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