Adult River Dragon

Stat block

Cha

16

Con

18

Dex

20

Int

14

Str

18

Wis

20

Speed

Fly: 80; Swim: 90; Walk: 60

Senses

darkvision 120 ft., tremorsense 200 ft. (only detects vibrations in water), passive Perception 19

Skills

Nature: 6; Insight: 9; Stealth: 9; Deception: 7; Acrobatics: 8; Perception: 9

Actions

• Multiattack. The dragon attacks once with its bite and twice with its claws.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (3d10 + 5) piercing damage.
• Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (3d8 + 5) slashing damage.
• Torrential Breath (Recharge 5-6). The dragon exhales water in a 60-foot-long 5-foot-wide line. Each creature in the area makes a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw taking 56 (16d6) bludgeoning damage on a failed save or half damage on a success. A creature that fails the save is also knocked prone and is pushed up to 30 feet away. A creature that impacts a solid object takes an extra 10 (3d6) bludgeoning damage.

Languages

Aquan, Common, Draconic

Reactions

• Snap Back (While Bloodied). When a creature the dragon can see hits it with a melee weapon attack, the dragon makes a bite attack against the attacker.

Saving throws

Wisdom: 9; Charisma: 7; Dexterity: 9; Constitution: 8; Intelligence: 6

Legendary actions

• The dragon can take 3 legendary actions. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creatures turn. It regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
• Dart Away. The dragon swims up to half its speed.
• Lurk. The dragon takes the Hide action.
• River Surge (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon generates a 20-foot-tall, 100-foot-wide wave on the surface of water within 90 feet. The wave travels up to 45 feet in any direction the dragon chooses and crashes down, carrying Huge or smaller creatures and vehicles with it. Vehicles moved in this way have a 25 percent chance of capsizing and creatures that impact a solid object take 21 (6d6) bludgeoning damage.
• Sudden Maelstrom (While Bloodied. The dragon magically surrounds itself with a 60-foot-radius maelstrom of surging wind and rain for 1 minute. A creature other than the dragon that starts its turn in the maelstrom or enters it for the first time on a turn makes a DC 18 Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is knocked prone and pushed 15 feet away from the dragon.

Special abilities

• Amphibious. The dragon can breathe air and water.
• Flowing Grace. The dragon doesnt provoke opportunity attacks when it flies or swims out of an enemys reach.
• Legendary Resistance (3/Day). When the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. When it does, it loses coordination as white-crested waves run up and down its body. It loses its Flowing Grace and Shimmering Scales traits until the beginning of its next turn.
• Shimmering Scales. While in water, the dragon gains three-quarters cover from attacks made by creatures more than 30 feet away.
• Essence Link. The essence dragon is spiritually linked to a specific area or landmark. The dragon gains no benefit from a long rest when more than 1 mile away from its linked area. If the dragon dies, the area it is linked to loses its vital essence until it forms a new essence dragon, which can take centuries. When a creature first enters an area that has lost its vital essence in this way, they gain a level of fatigue and a level of strife. This fatigue and strife can be removed only by completing a long rest outside the area.
• Innate Spellcasting. The dragons spellcasting ability is Charisma (save DC 15). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components. 3/day each:create or destroy water, fog cloud, control water, freedom of movement

Damage resistances

damage from nonmagical weapons

Condition immunities

fatigue