Dragonkin
This sleek, gold-scaled draconic creature looks both regal and intelligent. A leather harness holds a saddle between its wings.
CR: 9 XP: 6,400
LN Large dragon
Init: +2 Senses: darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent Perception: +14
Defense
AC: 23, touch 11, flat-footed 21 (+2 Dex, +12 natural, –1 size)
hp: 115 (10d12+50)
Fort: +12 Ref: +9 Will: +8
Immune: fire, paralysis, sleep
Offense
Speed: 40 ft., fly 120 ft. (good)
Melee: mwk glaive +18/+13 (2d8+12/×3), bite +13 (1d8+4) or bite +18 (1d8+8), 2 claws +17 (1d6+8)
Space: 10 ft. Reach: 10 ft. (15 ft. with glaive)
Special Attacks: breath weapon (30-ft. cone,, 9d6 fire damage, Reflex DC 20 half, usable every 1d4 rounds)
Statistics
Str: 26 Dex: 15 Con: 20 Int: 11 Wis: 12 Cha: 17
Base Atk: +10 CMB: +19 CMD: 31
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Flyby Attack, Power Attack, Vital Strike, Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills: Bluff +16, Fly +17, Intimidate +16, Perception +14, Stealth +11, Survival +14
SQ: rider bond
Languages: Common, Draconic
Ecology
Environment: any mountains
Organization: solitary, pair, patrol (3–6), or wing (7–14)
Treasure: standard (masterwork glaive, other treasure)
Description
Rider Bond (Su) A dragonkin can form a magical bond with its rider that lasts until death.
Forming this bond requires a special ritual that takes 1 hour.
Once a dragonkin forms this bond, it can’t form another rider bond until its current rider dies. A dragonkin and its bonded rider can communicate with each other as if they both had telepathy with a range of 100 feet. When a rider is mounted on his dragonkin at the start of combat, both creatures roll initiative separately and treat the highest result as their single result.
Somewhere between true dragons and brute drakes lie the dragonkin. Intelligent, even-tempered, and deadly in combat, dragonkin get along well with humanoids. Unlike many other dragons, dragonkin have enough dexterity in their front limbs to hold and wield weapons, and favor huge glaives and long lances.
The most unusual aspect of dragonkin is their bond with other races. Dragonkin recognize other cultures’ potential, and often adopt humanoid riders. After it comes of age, a dragonkin may form an unbreakable partnership with a rider, who acts as a trusted comrade. In battle, a rider and her dragon are inseparable, in such constant telepathic communication that they seem to be one entity. The humanoid riders are responsible for caring and providing for their draconic companions when they are not engaged in battle, though this domestic role is more a social dynamic than outright servitude.
Many dragonkin adopt mannerisms from humanoid races, even going so far as to wear armor. This, combined with the fact that dragonkin have thrown in their lot with humanoids, disgusts some true dragons. A typical dragonkin is 15 to 20 feet long and weighs roughly 2,000 pounds. Drake, Ether Bony plates cover the upper body of this dragon. Its lower frame has a glassy sheen, and bone wings protrude from its back.