FGFD Book DigitalCompressedBookmarked 05.2024 1.0.3

ART & CONCEPT BY KIN WALD TM
Credits
Concept Creator Kin Wald Art Director Brian Scott Walters
Illustrator Kin Wald Graphic Designers Ricardo Evangelho

Madison Pflance
Writers & Verity Lane
Game Designers Chris Pinch Editors Andrea Bruce
Jordan Richer Sarah Cole
Sebastian Yūe Nicholas Ebelhack
Verity Lane
Project Managers Chris Mahon Sebastian Yūe
Jordan Richer
Brian Scott Walters Producer Ricardo Evangelho
AN EXTRA-SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR AMAZING PATREON SUPPORTERS AND

KICKSTARTER BACKERS WHO HELPED BRING THIS PROJECT TO LIFE!
hitpointpress.com
Published by Hit Point Press Inc.
first printing 2024

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
The Field Guide to Floral Dragons is copyright © 2025 Hit Point Press Inc, their respective logos, illustrations,
animations and characters distinct likenesses are property of Hit Point Press Inc. in Canada / US and other
countries. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this product may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means without written permissions from the copyright holders. 2487 Kaladar Ave, Unit 213, Ottawa,
Ontario, K1V 8B9, Canada. Printed in China.
This work includes material taken from the System Reference Document 5.1 (“SRD 5.1”) by Wizards ofthe Coast
LLC and available at https://dnd.wizards.com/resources/systems-reference-document. The SRD 5.1 is licensed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/
by/4.0/legalcode.
Contents
Foreword 4
Introduction 5
How to Use This Book 6
Floral Dragons 7–179
Aconite 8
Amaranth 16
Cherry Blossom 24
Children of the Wolf Tree 32–47
Azalea 32
Rhododendron 40
Clematis 48
Dandelion 56
Good & Bad Apples 64–83
Apple Tree 64
Manchineel 74
Heliconia 84
Hydrangea 92
Jade Vine 100
Lamium 108
Larkspur 116
Magnolia 124
Ornithogalum 132
Peony 140
Succulent 148
Vampire Lily 156
Water Lily 164
Wisteria 172
Friends & Foes 180–205
Pests & Pollinators 182–197
Florivore 182
Vespon 190
Pleurossa Fungus & the Mushroom Dragon 198–219
Corrupted Dragons 206
Creatures by CR 220
Index of Magic Items 221
Index of Creatures 222
Foreword
I’m certain I’m not alone in having a childhood where fantasy was my medium for coping with the
confusing world around me. I spent hundreds of hours curled up with the Dragonology books,
meticulously copying each and every sketch, my childhood imagination running wild with the idea
of a world filled with dragons.
When I first began creating floral dragons, it was the same cozy, childlike wonder I felt for those
fantasy worlds that I tried to harness. For each of my creatures, I scrawl out ideas until I find some
that make me smile—whether the design is cute, silly, or kind of nasty. My biggest goal with my art
will always be to make others feel.
So, when people began to reach out about my floral dragon concepts and tell me of their
potential in the realm of tabletop roleplaying games, I realized that I had an opportunity to expand
the world and feelings of floral dragons even further. I wanted to give others the same kind of joy I
felt creating these creatures. Roleplaying games are the perfect way to forget the worries of life for a
few hours. The stories we tell let us stretch ourselves, feel emotions intensely, and think creatively.
Though the worlds we play in are fantastical, the friendships we forge with our fellow players are
real. To bring my floral dragons to this medium—to be a part of the catharsis and escapism of
storytelling and roleplaying—has been an honor for me.
I decided to take a chance. I messaged Hit Point Press to pitch my floral dragons. Hit Point
Press was my first choice of publisher as I was right in the middle of a Humblewood campaign.
I was, and am, in love with Humblewood. Thinking of how happy the setting made me and how
the art and lore created a wonderfully cozy escape for me and my friends in hard times,
I knew Hit Point Press were the right people to help me bring my floral dragons to
game tables. I got to work with this wonderful team to create these dragons and
bring their world to life. I can’t even begin to express my gratitude.
I hope that the bouquet of beasts within these pages make you smile and
shudder. May the time you spend with them and the stories you tell with
them will bring you excitement and laughter. Thank you for welcoming
my creations to your table. I am ecstatic for the opportunity to share the
world of the floral dragons with you.
Kin Wald
Creator and Illustrator
@kintheartist
4 FOREWORD
Introduction
Welcome to The Field Guide to Floral Dragons, your guide to dragons imbued with the essence
of flowers. With their abundant blooms and specialized physiology, floral dragons can be beautiful.
However, any wise forager or florist knows that some plants can be as deadly as they are gorgeous.
Like plants, floral dragons are deeply connected to the land and weather in their habitat; like
dragons, their temperaments range from docile to dangerous. A group of floral dragons found in
the wild is known as a “blooming.”
There are many ways to include floral dragons in your games. Some floral dragons are friendly;
they need the party’s help, or make excellent companions. Others are malicious; the party may
be tasked with subduing or stopping them from causing havoc.
Floral dragons thrive in a variety of environments and can blossom in your existing game
setting. You can also use the descriptions of the dragons’ habitats to create an original setting
for a campaign, a world blooming with magic.
In these pages, you’ll find tales of the floral dragons’ origins, information about their habitat,
and details of relationships with humanoids and other floral dragons. You’ll also find plot hooks
to introduce them to your players and tables of personality traits and motivations to make the
dragons your own.
SAFETY AT THE TABLE

Before you introduce floral dragons to your players, discuss as a group which themes you want
to engage with and which you’d rather leave out. The Field Guide to Floral Dragons contains
the following themes:
Betrayal
Corruption and decay
Environmental destruction
Fungi and mushrooms
Parasites
Starvation and famine
Violence against animals
There may also be other themes that don’t work for your table. Read the book carefully
and talk with your players to create an experience you can all enjoy.
Safety tools such as lines and veils can help to guide this conversation. Lines and veils are a
framework to establish boundaries before the game begins. A line is a topic that will not show up
in the game at all. A veil is a topic that may be referred to in the game but will not be explored in
detail. For more safety tool options, take a look at the TTRPG Safety Toolkit. The TTRPG Safety
Toolkit is a free resource co-curated by Kienna Shaw and Lauren Bryant-Monk. It is a compilation
of safety tools designed by members of the tabletop roleplaying games community for use by
players and GMs at the table. You can find it online at bit.ly/ttrpgsafetytoolkit.
INTRODUCTION 5
How to Use
This BooK
The Field Guide to Floral Dragons is designed to be used with the 5e Core Rules. Throughout, magic
items and spells appear in italics, and new magic items are marked with an asterisk *. Creatures with
game statistics in The Field Guide to Floral Dragons appear in bold when relevant. The book is divided
into three sections:
First, the floral dragons are presented alphabetically, except where floral dragons with connected
stories are grouped together. You’ll also find new magic items associated with floral dragons throughout
this section.
The next section gives the details of other creatures that live alongside floral dragons, including
their pests, pollinators, and the vengeful pluerossa fungus.
Finally, at the back of the book, you’ll find a guide to creatures in this book by Challenge Rating
(CR) and indexes of magic items and creatures.
FIELD NOTES
The field notes throughout this book were written by four different members of an adventuring party
determined to learn as much as they could about floral dragons of all kinds. The party’s research led
them to a terrible threat—the pleurossa fungus. Piecing together the field notes tells the story of the
party’s discoveries and how the actions of one of them led to the mushroom dragon’s creation.
Handwriting like this belongs to Amina [she/they], an orc bard.

Handwriting like this belongs to Kaltaar [he/him], a dragonborn druid.
Handwriting like this belongs to Izora [[she/her]], a human sorcerer.

Handwriting like this belongs to Zethandriel [they/them], an elf barbarian.
To whoever finds these humble notes, may

they bring you enlightenment and a warning.
igated the wonderound s

My friends and I investral dra gon s. W e fou
creatures known as flo onishing blooms, and s
fragrant marvels, ast
t also found dangerour
we
true friendships. Buhad e. I have gathered s
deadlier than nig hts
notes and sketches mher e, hoping that other
en.
can learn fro what we've se
Do not do as we did and meddle with the

creeping fungus! It's likely too late for
us, but I still have hope. People and floral
dragons can yet live in harmony. Perhaps
even with the mushroom...
6 HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

FLORAL DRAGONS 7
8 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 9
ADragon
conite
Tiny X Large THE ACCIDENTAL ACONITE DRAGON
Small Huge Legends say that the first aconite dragon was the creation of a
Medium Gargantuan young bog witch called Lilura. Although Lilura had a domesticated
toad that she loved, she wanted a more powerful companion who
could help with her magic. Lilura took the extract of aconite flowers
Aconite dragon s and combined it with a thickening agent, fetid water from her
grow bioluminescent swamp, and a pinch of forbidden magic to create a potion.
lure s from their Lilura fed the concoction to her beloved toad, hoping that it
would enhance the toad’s latent magic. The toad couldn’t withstand
large heads. the poison and began to die. A panicked Lilura hurriedly cast a spell
to change it into a creature that could tolerate the toxin. Rushed,
the first thing that came to mind was a dragon. The spell worked,
but the dragon was unlike any other Lilura had ever seen. It retained
the petals of the aconite flower and grew huge, sharp teeth from a
mouth dripping with thick saliva. Bioluminescent lures hung over
its head and back.
10 FLORAL DRAGONS
When Lilura took her altered companion outside, it thrashed I was walking around a marsh
around, spraying drool everywhere, before hopping into the water. with Zethandriel, who told me not
Though Lilura never saw it emerge during the daytime again,
every night she loyally watched out of her window for the dragon’s to stray off the path. I followed
glowing lures so she could throw food into the swamp for it. their instructions, but then I saw
Influenced by the dragon’s presence, the bog’s poisonous the prettie st light and couldn’t
aconite flowers were forever tainted; they took on strange, new stop myself from going toward it.
magical properties, inspiring Lilura to learn the art of poisons.
As her abilities as a poison master grew, so did the swamp’s aconite When I was close enoug h to see
dragon population as she transformed more toads for the joy of
watching their strange glow and the fear they inspired in others.
what I was looking at, I realized
it was this giant, awful, frog-
PHYSIOLOGY mutant thing! Gross!
Aconite dragons are hulking creatures with wide mouths and
thick, muscular limbs. Among its most notable features are the Zethandriel said it was an acon ite
three bioluminescent lures that hang over its head and back dragon, one of the floral dragons we are
to attract prey in the dark. The feet of an aconite dragon are
researching. And I thought all floral
dragons were pretty! I won’t be making
webbed, and its suckered toes allow it to adhere to trees and
wait for prey. Its flowers bloom in shades of purple. A thin layer
of slime coats the dragon’s skin to keep it from drying out when that mistake again.
it isn’t submerged in water. This slime is exuded from glands
on its back, which are mottled light green. Young
aconite dragons are darkest in color; older dragons
become lighter as they age.
Most aconite dragons are around nine
feet long and live between 150 and 200
years. Female aconite dragons are larger
and heavier than males and are capable
of growing up to three heads. These
heads only grow on the most bloodthirsty
aconite dragons; a female dragon must
consume several other aconite dragons
to grow another head. These three-headed
dragons are known as greater aconite dragons.
Aconite dragons have two hearts, one inside
their chests and one in their bulbous heads.
The second heart-like structure in its head circulates
a tarry substance called ikvor instead of blood,
pumping the black fluid throughout its body and
to its huge maw. This deadly ikvor is a paralytic
and poisonous agent the dragon secretes
through the roof of the mouth and into
tiny canals in the teeth. An aconite dragon
constantly drools this mixture, coating its
prey in such vast quantities that the toxin
can’t be easily washed off, even in the
dragon’s boggy habitat. Greater aconite
dragons have ikvor-hearts in all three
of their heads.
on wa its
Fig. 1 An acon ite drag re
against a tree, its luey.
glo wing to attract pr
FLORAL DRAGONS 11
HABITAT
Aconite dragons dwell in marshes, bogs, and swamps. They favor
cooler temperatures and areas with plenty of dense trees. Despite
their size, aconite dragons are agile climbers and hide in large trees
to ambush prey. A tree repeatedly exposed to the aconite dragon’s
toxic drool will die, but not before its bark is bleached white and
its boughs are gnarled by the poisonous substance.
Clematis dragons are often found near the dwellings of aconite
dragons; aconite dragons are immune to the toxins of the smaller,
frog-like dragons and devour them as a vital food source. Aconite
dragons often lay their clutches of eggs near a body of water where
a clematis dragon has laid their eggs so their ravenous young have
an easy first meal.
Whereas clematis dragons naturally cleanse swamps and
marshes over time, aconite dragons pollute them. Algae growing
in the bog occupied by an aconite dragon gradually turns a pale
green to match the patches on the dragon’s back, and aconite
flowers spring up in the surrounding area. A few drops of an
aconite dragon’s drool is enough to contaminate a whole marsh.
BEHAVIOR
Aconite dragons eat all manner of prey. As powerful apex
n acon ite
predators, they tend to overhunt and will eat each other if they
Fig. 2 Ao ws off its run out of other food. It’s unusual for a bog to be home to more
dragon shand the slime
than one aconite dragon unless it has an uncommonly large and
fast-growing population of creatures like deer, newts, or clematis
plumages on its back. dragons that the aconites can prey on.
gland During the daytime, aconite dragons stay
submerged underwater, leaving only
their lures visible above the surface.
Though they are mostly inactive
in daylight, the dragon will take the
opportunity to feed if a tasty source
of food comes within striking
distance. Otherwise, it hunts at
night. It climbs trees and dangles
its lure to attract prey. Once the
prey is close enough, the aconite
dragon spits its toxic drool on it,
paralyzing the creature and giving the
dragon time to kill it whenever it likes.
Once every few years, a female aconite
dragon emits a sound at a frequency
undetectable to humanoids to attract male
dragons to her bog. She mates with the first
one to find her and, once they have finished,
will eat him if he is too slow to leave. Aconite
dragon eggs incubate for around six months; the
young are independent from the time they hatch.
If their mother’s bog has a plentiful source of prey,
the young dragons compete for residence in other
areas of the same bog; otherwise, they must find
another body of water to live in.
Aconite dragons unable to find a suitable swamp
have been known to settle in clean, exposed bodies of
water, quickly turning them into their favored habitat.
12 FLORAL DRAGONS
This habit can cause massive problems for the humanoid settlements
that depend on the water polluted by the dragon. Aconite dragons
rarely leave their homes; if they eat humanoids, it’s usually because
a lost humanoid wandered into an aconite dragon’s territory or
otherwise fell victim to the dragon’s bioluminescent lure.
PERSONALITY TRAITS
Aconite Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT There was no way to contin ue
1 I eat only the crunchiest of clematis dragons. throug h the marsh except to
There’s nothing more satisfying than enticing unsuspecting prey sneak around the dragon. It had
2
with my lure. its back to us, and I thoug ht
3 I climb trees slowly by putting one toe on the trunk at a time. we’d gotten away when it turned
4 I have yet to find something my bite can’t snap in half.
and looked right at me!
5
I’ve been seeing the same mate for decades, and she hasn’t
eaten me—yet.
It had thick black drool
dripping fro m its jaws and its
6
The marsh may be big enough for several aconite dragons,
but I was here first and I won’t let anyone forget it.
back was covered in slime.
It’s almost as bad as the
7 Nobody gets to touch my favorite tree.
vampire lily dragon.
8 My three heads frequently disagree with each other. I’ll be glad to lea ve this place.
MOTIVATIONS
Aconite Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
1 My lure is dull, and I want to find a way to make it brighter.
2 I won’t rest until every body of water for miles around is a filthy bog.
3 Clematis dragons are a bane, and it is my job to cull them.
4 I’m bored of hunting weaker prey. I want a challenge.
5 I must eat other aconite dragons to grow two more heads.
6 I tasted humanoid flesh once, and I crave more.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Here are ways to include aconite dragons in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
An alchemist went missing after an expedition to collect aconite
1 flowers from a toxic bog. They haven’t been seen since, and the
scouts who went searching for them have also not returned.
Villagers tell of a divine light that appears each night across the
2 marsh. They worship it, believing it to be a local deity, and are
planning a pilgrimage to find its source.
A group of researchers claims to have found a rare three-headed
3
dragon and plan to capture it for study.
An entrepreneur has been illegally breeding aconite dragons in a
remote bog, hoping to start a clematis dragon pest management
4
service. He now has three large, hungry aconite dragons that he
can’t control.
FLORAL DRAGONS 13
Aconite
Dragon
Large dragon, neutral evil
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 170 (20d10 + 60)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

20 (+5) 15 (+2) 17 (+3) 3 (−4) 14 (+2) 8 (−1)
Saving Throws Dex +6, Con +7 Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Skills Perception +6, Stealth +6 Languages —
Damage Immunities poison Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Condition Immunities poisoned
Ambusher. In the first round of a combat, the dragon has advantage on attack rolls against any
creature it has surprised.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Spider Climb. The dragon can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without
needing to make an ability check.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Bioluminescent Floral Presence and make a bite attack.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 feet, one target. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) piercing damage plus
4 (1d8) poison damage and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take
4 (1d8) poison damage at the start of each of its turns until it or another creature uses an action to
wipe the poison away.
Bioluminescent Floral Presence. The dragon’s lure glows with an enticing light. Each creature that
can see the lure must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. A creature that is unaware that the lure is
part of the dragon makes this saving throw at disadvantage. On a failure, the target is charmed by the
dragon until it takes damage. A charmed target must move on its turn toward the dragon by the most
direct route. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect
on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is
immune to the dragon’s Bioluminescent Floral Presence for the next 24 hours.
Spit. The dragon spits its toxic drool in a 30-foot cone originating from itself. Each creature in that
area must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a target takes 7 (2d6) poison
damage and is paralyzed until the start of its next turn.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The dragon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action
option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The dragon regains spent
legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Bite Attack. The dragon makes a bite attack.
Detect. The dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Prey (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon snacks on a nearby clematis dragon or similar creature,
regaining 9 (2d6 + 2) hit points.
14 FLORAL DRAGONS
AN ACONITE DRAGON’S LAIR GREATER
Aconite dragons lair in filthy swamps and marshes. While in its lair, ACONITE DRAGON
an aconite dragon is empowered by the fetid conditions and has A greater aconite dragon
access to special actions. uses the same statistics as a
regular aconite dragon with
LAIR ACTIONS the following changes:
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a
lair action to cause one of the following effects. The dragon can’t Its size is Huge.
use the same effect two rounds in a row: It has 190 (20d12 + 60)
hit points.
The dragon exudes pheromones that react with the polluted
water around it, producing a 20-foot-radius sphere of fog It makes three bite attacks
centered on a point the dragon chooses within 30 feet of it. using Multiattack.
The sphere’s area is heavily obscured. The fog disperses at the Its bite attacks deal 21
start of the dragon’s next turn. (3d10 + 5) piercing
The dragon uses the foul bog water in the lair to overpower its damage plus 4 (1d8)
foes. The dragon can target any number of creatures it sees in poison damage.
swamp water within 90 feet of it. A target must succeed on It has advantage on
a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take 7 (2d6) poison Wisdom (Perception)
damage and be poisoned until the end of its next turn. A target checks that rely on sight.
in a boat or otherwise not in direct contact with the water has Its CR is 11 (7,200 XP)
advantage on this saving throw.
Corrupt vegetation growing in and around the swamp grasps I thought these things couldn’t
all creatures in a 20-foot cube within 60 feet of the dragon that get any worse! Apparently, these
it can see. Each creature in the area must succeed on a DC 17 dragons can grow up to three heads—
Strength saving throw or be pulled up to 20 feet into the water
and knocked prone. A target in a boat or otherwise not in direct
as if one wasn’t bad enough.
contact with the water has advantage on this saving throw. This three-headed dragon was much
bigger than the others and three
REGIONAL EFFECTS times as terrifying.
The region containing an aconite dragon’s lair is
poisoned by the dragon’s presence, which creates
Forget the vampire lily; THIS is my least
one or more of the following effects: favorite floral dragon I’ve seen so far.
Trees within 1 mile of the dragon’s lair
have white bark and gnarled branches.
Water sources within 1 mile of the
dragon’s lair are tainted with toxic drool,
rendering it unsuitable for drinking,
washing, or cooking. It cannot be
boiled clean. The purify food and drink
spell removes the toxicity, but the water
retains its sludgy viscosity.
The aconite flowers that grow within
1 mile of the dragon’s lair make
especially potent toxins.
If the dragon dies, these effects fade

over the course of 1d10 days.
Fig. 3 Triple-headed
greater aconite dragons
are a rare sight.
FLORAL DRAGONS 15
16 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 17
Amaranth
Dragon
Tiny Large HOW THE AMARANTH DRAGON
Small Huge BECAME A FRIEND
X Medium Gargantuan The amaranth dragons were once immortal, or so stories say. Their
flowers never faded, and their leaves never withered. However, they
Amaranth dragon s anarde

were not invulnerable. Early humanoids hunted amaranth dragons
to test the truth of their immortality, trying various cruel methods
lively co mpanion s s. to kill the dragons. When these hunters inevitably failed, they gave
excellent tracker up and abandoned the dragons to a slow recovery.
One such hunter, Juan, felt remorse for their cruelty and took
in an amaranth dragon they had grievously injured. They renounced
hunting, nursed the dragon back to health, and gained its trust.
Juan and the dragon became close companions, with the amaranth
dragon acting as a scout and tracker for the former hunter.
18 FLORAL DRAGONS
Juan and the dragon adventured together for many years
until Juan was too weak and frail to continue. The amaranth
dragon realized that its friend was dying and that it would
outlive every other humanoid friend it made. Grief-stricken,
the amaranth dragon assembled its kin in a great congregation,
the likes of which have never been seen again. Juan’s dragon
explained the joy of a deep connection and the pain of losing
Juan. After hearing out the lamenting dragon, the dragons came
to a consensus. They would ask the gods for two things—an end
to their immortality and a lasting friendship between amaranth
dragons and humanoids.
The god of compassion heard the dragons’ prayers and Fig. 1 An amaranth
granted their wish: the amaranth dragons would be companions dragon climbs a tree.
to humanoids and would no longer outlive their friends.
Juan’s amaranth dragon died peacefully. Since
then, amaranth dragons have lived out
the rest of their now-mortal lives as
friends to humanoids.
PHYSIOLOGY
Amaranth dragons can grow up to six
feet in length, not including their tails,
which can be as long as their bodies.
Today, they live for around 80 years, with
the oldest recorded amaranth dragon living
to the age of 83. Their flowers bloom most
commonly in red, but shades of lighter pink
and reddish purples are also possible. Despite
their bright red flowers, amaranth dragons have
excellent camouflage and hide in plain sight.
They can stay very still, blending in with their
environment. Wanderers often believe that the
dragons’ flowery tails are simply amaranth plants
growing in the wild. Amaranth dragons have strong,
root-like claws that allow them to secure themselves
to trees. They boast excellent vision, even at night.
Akin to iguanas shedding their skins, amaranth
dragons shed their leaves and flowers before growing
new ones. The frequency with which they shed
gradually decreases as they age; young amaranth
dragons shed roughly once every twenty-eight days,
and a mature, undomesticated, amaranth dragon sheds
once a year in the spring. The discarded leaves are edible,
as are the amaranth seeds the dragons produce.
I saw a glorious plume of amaranth

so I stopped to take a look. As I follo wedonthea tree,
of its growth, I saw a stem thicker than any Idirec tion
'd ever
seen before and four large, well, if I didn’t know bette r,
I'd call them "appendages."
Only when I saw its eyes did I realize it wasn’t a plant;
it was a creature, and it was blinking at me! I wonder
what it is and if it can be tamed...
FLORAL DRAGONS 19
HABITAT
Amaranth dragons can be found most commonly in jungles, but a
few have been known to reside in temperate forests. Environments
with rich, well-draining soil and plenty of sunlight are ideal for
these tree-dwelling dragons. If they don’t get enough sunlight
or water, their leaves and flowers will wither and potentially die
before they are due to shed. The dragons make their nests in
high tree canopies using twigs and their own discarded leaves.
In forests, amaranth dragons can often be found alongside
magnolia dragons. The magnolia dragon drops seeds and fruit
from its tail that the amaranth dragon eats. Under the watchful
I coaxed the amaranth protection of these significantly larger dragons, the amaranth
creature down from the dragons have a safe place to nest.
tree with a bit of dried Thanks to their friendly and playful natures, amaranth dragons
fruit from my rations. frequently live with humanoids. The dragons are especially helpful
as companions when tracking because of their excellent vision and
It snapped that up and ability to camouflage themselves.
licked my hand even when
it could see that I had BEHAVIOR
no more food. Amaranth dragons typically feed on fruit and seeds native to the
area in which they live. Since they require so much sunlight, wild
I gently rea che d out and pat ted amaranth dragons hibernate in hollow trees during cold seasons,
its head, and it closed its eye s,

emerging in early spring to reenter the world.
Each dragon mates with a new partner during each mating
rubbing its sno ut aga inst my season. To select a mate, a female amaranth dragon climbs up
hand. I think I have a tree as fast as she can, after which all her suitors race to the
a new frie nd. top. She then jumps from tree to tree as the competitors pursue
her. Female amaranth dragons have greater stamina than males.
Males who cannot keep up with the female drop out of the race,
and the female mates with the male left standing at the end.
Eggs are laid in clutches of two or three at a time, and the male
leaves before they hatch five to seven days later.
Fig. 2 An amaranth
dragon lounges on a rock.
20 FLORAL DRAGONS
The female amaranth dragon cares for her young until they flower, Floral Dragon
at which point she pushes her offspring from the nest, and they must Grooming Rake
climb back up the tree on their own. If the young dragon fails to climb Wondrous item, common
back up, most mothers choose to help their offspring, but there are
The firm prongs of this rake
some who leave them to their fate. When a young amaranth dragon
are designed to remove dead
has learned to build its own nest, it is ready to live independently
leaves, wilted flowers, and
and leaves its mother.
dirt from a floral dragon.
Wild amaranth dragons are more likely to run and hide than
When you spend 10
to fight. They are not territorial and will rebuild a nest in a new tree
minutes using this rake
without much trouble. They rely on their camouflage to conceal
to groom a willing floral
themselves, only using their claws in the face of a relentless attacker.
dragon, you have advantage
Domesticated amaranth dragons lack the natural stimuli that
on Wisdom (Animal
prompt them to shed their leaves, so humanoids must groom them
Handling) checks made
attentively. Floral dragon grooming rakes* are popular with people
to interact with the floral
who keep these dragons. Amaranths require an exciting home
dragon for the next 24
environment with plenty of structures to climb and must be
hours. Additionally, the
exercised at least once a day.
dragon makes all Dexterity
PERSONALITY TRAITS and Constitution saving
throws with advantage for
Amaranth Dragon Personality Traits the next 24 hours.
D8 TRAIT
1 I can climb anything, and I prove it constantly.
2 I like to surprise and startle humanoids as a joke.
3 I always win games of hide and seek.
4 I have an affinity for playing fetch.

I have an especially keen sense of smell, which helps when I’m
5
tracking, but I’m easily distracted if I smell a snack nearby.
Whenever I want attention, I shake my body, so my leaves
6
rustle loudly.
7 I have boundless energy and can play all day without getting tired.
8 I lick people when I like them.
MOTIVATIONS
Amaranth Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
The world is big, and I want to see as much of it as I can with
1
my humanoid companion.
I enjoy the company of humanoids, but I would love to meet
2
more floral dragons.
3 Climbing every tree in my home territory is my dream.
4 I want to make as many new friends as I can.

I owe everything to the community of dragons that took care
5
of me, and I will repay their kindness.
My humanoid companion tells me that I’m a good dragon.
6
I want to live up to that expectation.
FLORAL DRAGONS 21
Grooming an
Fig. 3
amaranth dragon.
Afte r a few days at home with

me, I noticed the leave s on the
amaranth creature's back had
overgrown but were n't falling ADVENTURE HOOKS
off naturally, so I groo med it. Here are ways to include amaranth dragons in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
It resembles a dragon in all
ways except its floral features. 1
Deforestation has displaced a large group of wild amaranth
dragons. With nowhere to go, they have overrun a nearby
Is it possible for flowe rs to humanoid settlement.
beco me dragons or for dragons An adolescent amaranth dragon is stuck at the bottom of a tree.
to beco me flowe rs? There is 2 It is too young to climb by itself, and its mother is nowhere to
so muc h I don't know about be seen.
this floral dragon! But for 3
A rumor has spread about the last immortal amaranth dragon.
now, it's my friend, and its Many hunters are looking for it to find out if the story is true.
name is Rindath. A villager is putting up posters reading “LOST PET” and
4 offering a reward for the return of Amie, their beloved amaranth
dragon companion.
22 FLORAL DRAGONS
Amaranth
Dragon
Medium dragon, any neutral alignment

Hit Points 65 (10d8 + 20)

14 (+2) 15 (+2) 15 (+2) 7 (−2) 12 (+1) 15 (+2)
Saving Throws Dex +4, Con +4

Skills Perception +3, Stealth +6
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages understands any one language but can’t speak
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Keen Senses. The dragon has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks.

Floral Appearance. While the dragon remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an ordinary
growth of amaranth. It has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in areas covered in
similar plants.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon makes two melee attacks.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack:
+4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage.
FLORAL DRAGONS 23
24 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 25
Cherry Blossom
Dragon
Tiny Large HOW THE CHERRY BLOSSOM DRAGON
Small X Huge EMERGED FROM DREAMS
Medium Gargantuan Once, there was a lonely girl named Aoi. She loved telling lies and
embellishing stories, making up tales to make herself seem more
adventurous and exciting than she truly was. Repeating Aoi’s lies got
Che rry blo ssom the other village children in trouble, so they grew distrustful of her.
dragon s are belie ved. Left with no friends, Aoi found solace sitting among the
to bring good luck cherry trees in the village park. She often imagined that the cherry
blossoms could be the friends she longed for, swapping stories and
playing with her.
One night, Aoi dreamed of a dragon made of cherry blossoms,
living high up in a mountain cave and flying through the clouds.
When she woke, Aoi rushed to tell her fellow villagers about the
dragon, swearing that the dragon existed and wasn’t just a dream.
Tired of her tall tales, they dismissed the dragon as another one
of her lies.
26 FLORAL DRAGONS
Each night, the dreams became more vivid. One night,
during a particularly intense dream, Aoi heard the dragon calling
to her. The next morning, Aoi packed her things and climbed
the mountain that overlooked the village. She climbed until she After searching for so long,
reached the cave from her visions. Inside, Aoi found the cherry
blossom dragon curled up in a deep slumber. Unable to wake
I found the elusive cherry
the dragon, Aoi sat down next to it and whispered some stories, blosso m dragon! Not even the
hoping the dragon would hear her. For the first time, she talked wildest stories captured how
truthfully about her life in the village with no embellishment. She beautiful they are in person.
spoke about her mundane days and her honest love for her family. I tried not to disturb the dragon
Hearing Aoi’s sincere words, the cherry blossom dragon awoke.
It thanked Aoi for sharing her stories. Curious about Aoi’s world,
and thoug ht I was being
the cherry blossom dragon asked Aoi to take it to her village to see sneaky, but they spoke to me in
it with its own eyes. Aoi agreed to show the dragon her home but my mind and invited me to stay
warned that the villagers may be surprised to see it. with them for a little while.
When the girl and the dragon arrived in the village, everyone
They told me the ir name was
was stunned that the dragon was real. Enamored with its beautiful
San yu and asked to hear a

flowers and gentle demeanor, the villagers celebrated the dragon’s
auspicious presence with a festival.
Aoi and the dragon remained lifelong friends—she grew up story. I was only too happy to
to be a traveling storyteller and frequently returned to the cave oblige! It's bee n age s since
to share new tales with the dragon. The cherry blossom dragon
anyone wanted to hear me
yamme r on abo ut my exploits.
watched over the village, only venturing down on the first day
of spring to join the annual celebration of its first visit.
To this day, cherry blossom dragons are drawn to stories and
form strong relationships with humanoids who are imaginative,
kind, and honest.
PHYSIOLOGY
The elegant cherry blossom dragon is renowned for its beauty.
Most cherry blossom dragons grow to be around 30 feet long, but
there are records of some as long as 40 feet. Their bodies are long
and slender with flowers that grow like manes on their heads and
backs, culminating in a tail of trailing petals. Despite their size,
cherry blossom dragons are lighter than they seem because their
bones are hollow. Without wings, they rely on magic and
the wind to carry them through the air. Their aerodynamic
physiques allow them to effortlessly navigate the skies.
Cherry blossom dragons live to be around 180
years old, but there are reports of some living to be up
to 200. Like their namesake, their flowers go through
yearly bloom cycles, blossoming in the spring. While
their flowers are dormant, the dragon hibernates,
usually in a safe cave in the mountains. When
the flowers bloom, they are most often a shade
of pink or purple but can be so pale they are
almost white.
Fig. 1 Che rry

blo ssom dragon s
are patie nt listeners.
FLORAL DRAGONS 27
Fig. 2 A cherry
blossom dragon
flies through the HABITAT
clouds at night. Favoring cooler climates, most cherry blossom dragons live in the
mountains. They make their homes in caves, but reports say that
cherry blossom dragons who aren’t yet settled instead sleep among
the clouds. Most cherry blossom dragons live near humanoid
communities, overseeing them from afar rather than involving
themselves in daily life.
A cherry blossom dragon that has no community will fly
around and look for a settlement that it can help. If it notices
people struggling, it sends a vision offering aid to a humanoid
who seems likely to believe their dreams. If the settlement accepts,
the dragon settles on a nearby mountain. Cherry blossom dragons
may also acquire a community after overhearing prayers from
humanoids asking for help.
Cherry blossom dragons usually live alone, but many are
happy to socialize with other floral dragons and those who find
their caves. Most prefer to be sought and found rather than to
invite anyone into their homes. Humanoid mountain climbers
who stumble across the home of a cherry blossom dragon are
welcomed to rest there by the dragon before going on their
way again.
BEHAVIOR
Although they are known for their reclusiveness, cherry blossom
dragons like to interact with humanoids in small bursts. They can
use magic to influence the dreams of humanoids, calling people to
them when they please.
They are also able to communicate images and feelings to other
creatures using their telepathic powers. Mischief is common among
young cherry blossom dragons, who have been known to create
dramatic visions of horror as a prank, but they outgrow this habit
when they mature. The dragons are most active at night.
28 FLORAL DRAGONS
Cherry blossom dragons are highly intelligent and enjoy Cherry Blossom
learning new languages. Curious but cautious by nature, cherry Token
blossom dragons love learning about the outside world, but their Wondrous item, rare
duty to the communities they protect and the sense of safety they
Made from a pressed flower
feel at home keep them in one place. If they encounter a creature
from the cherry blossom
in need, cherry blossom dragons usually choose to offer shelter and
dragon, this token can
defend the creature from attackers. Dragons with a community to
bring good fortune.
watch over can warn residents of coming dangers or share ideas for
how to help the village thrive. While carrying this token,
Each year after its winter hibernation, a cherry blossom dragon you have advantage on
sends visions of its descent from the mountain to its community, Performance checks made
which prepares to receive it. To humanoids, cherry blossom dragons to tell stories. Additionally,
are symbolic of prosperity and good luck. Many villages hold spring when you fail an attack
festivals to coincide with the cherry blossom dragon’s full bloom. roll, ability check, or saving
During these celebrations, it is tradition to decorate the cherry throw, you can reroll the
blossom dragon with ribbons and garlands and to bring it fruit d20 and must use the new
to supplement its diet. result. Once you have used
Once they find a home, cherry blossom dragons remain this property, you can’t use
there all their lives, but they have been known to move on if it again until next dusk.
they learn of another settlement in greater need of their help.
Sometimes, members of a dragon’s original settlement turn on it
for abandoning them, leading to a hunt. In these cases, the cherry
blossom dragon flies high above the clouds and descends when it Sany u told me they were
finds a suitable location to make a new home.
Typically, cherry blossom dragons reproduce asexually by going for their nightly
creating small clones of themselves. If a cherry blossom dragon flight and I was welco me
takes a partner, they share responsibility for their wyrmlings. to watc h them take off.
Usually, a dragon chooses to have only one or two children during I wanted to ask how they
its lifetime. They teach their offspring the values of compassion could fly witho ut wings, but
and kindness, as well as practical ways to look after themselves and
to prepare for long hibernation periods. When the wyrmlings have I figured that would be
survived a hibernation by themselves, the cherry blossom dragon rude, so I just observed.
encourages them to find a settlement of their own to watch over.
It looked as if they were
PERSONALITY TRAITS using the wind and some
Cherry Blossom Dragon Personality Traits kind of mag ic to propel
D8 TRAIT them through the air.
1
I like to take long flights at night because everyone is asleep and What a spectacular sight!
nobody can bother me.
2 I’ll do almost anything if I think it’ll make a good story later.
It’s a chore to come down to the village once a year, but seeing
3
how happy I make the villagers is worth it.
I’m an idle dragon, and it surprises me every time the residents
4
of my settlement thank me for their good fortune.
The festival in celebration of my appearance is my favorite time
5 of year, and I expect fancier ribbons and bigger offerings of fruit
each year.
I like it when people find my cave because they always have such
6
interesting stories to tell.
I never outgrew my mischievous phase, and I can’t resist scaring
7
humanoids for fun.
8 Nothing is more delightful to me than hearing a good story.
FLORAL DRAGONS 29
Fig. 3 A villager offers
the cherry blossom
dragon some fruit.
MOTIVATIONS
Cherry Blossom Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
1 I would love to find a partner to share my cave with.
I am raising my wyrmling to take over responsibility for my

2
village after I am gone.
3 I want to learn how to survive without needing to hibernate.
Luckily for me, spring 4 It’s my mission to help as many people as I can.
arrived and it was time for 5 My life will be the greatest tale ever told, no matter what.
Sanyu to visit their village
for the annual festival. 6
I must make sure everyone continues to believe I bring good luck,
but I fear I am actually bringing misfortune.
It felt great to be among

people in such high spirits. ADVENTURE HOOKS
Eve ryone took turn s Here are ways to include cherry blossom dragons in your game.
decorating Sany u with D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
ribbons and garlands and Cultists have found the location of a hibernating cherry blossom
offered them more fruit than 1
dragon and plan to kill it. They intend to preserve its flowers as
I've ever seen in my life. cherry blossom tokens*, hoping that they will be blessed for the rest
of their lives if they succeed.
My favorite part was when For the first time in living memory, the local cherry blossom dragon
has failed to show up for its yearly appearance. The villagers see its
everyone sat down after a 2
absence as a bad omen. They believe they are cursed, and only the
hearty meal and swapped reappearance of the dragon will end it.
stories. I had a few of my A villager approaches the party and says they had a dream
own to share, and I did well warning that monsters were going to attack the settlement, but
if I do say so myself! 3 the leader of the village doesn’t believe them. The vision was sent
by a nearby cherry blossom dragon who wanted to alert them to
the coming danger.
A group of poachers captured a lost cherry blossom wyrmling
and are taking it to a royal court, where it will be forced to live
4
in captivity and bring prosperity to the sovereign of the realm.
The wyrmling’s parent asks for help rescuing their offspring
30 FLORAL DRAGONS
Cherry Blossom
Dragon
Huge dragon, neutral good

Hit Points 256 (19d12 + 133)
Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)

22 (+6) 14 (+2) 24 (+7) 18 (+4) 17 (+3) 24 (+7)
Saving Throws Dex +7, Con +12, Wis +8, Cha +12
Skills History +14, Insight +8, Nature +9, Perception +8, Performance +12, Persuasion +12
Languages Common, Draconic, plus any two languages, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 16 (15,000 XP)
Spellcasting. The dragon is a 9th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save
DC 20). It requires no material components to cast its spells. The dragon knows the following spells:
Cantrips (at will): druidcraft, minor illusion, prestidigitation
1st level (4 slots): comprehend languages, sanctuary, sleep
2nd level (3 slots): lesser restoration, moonbeam, see invisibility
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, dispel magic, tongues
4th level (3 slots): arcane eye, phantasmal killer
5th level (1 slot): dream
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Influential Floral Presence. It then casts a spell or makes three
attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage.
Influential Floral Presence. The dragon reaches into the minds of a group of creatures to learn
their deepest fears or greatest desires, then creates illusions using what it has learned. Each creature
in a 30-foot-radius sphere centered on a point of the dragon’s choice within 200 feet of the dragon
must make a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature becomes either charmed or
frightened (the dragon chooses which for the whole group) as it experiences illusions created by the
dragon. A creature can repeat its saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself
on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the target is immune to
this dragon’s Influential Floral Presence for the next 24 hours.
REACTIONS
Good Fortune (2/Day). When the dragon sees a creature within 60 feet of it fail a saving throw,
attack roll, or ability check, it can bestow a stroke of luck. The target can reroll the d20 with advantage
and can choose which result to use.
FLORAL DRAGONS 31
32 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 33
ADragon
CHILDREN OF
THE WOLF TREE
zalea
Two floral dragon
species, the wild azalea
and the domesticated
rhododendron, claim
the same origin: a
prehistoric floral dragon
called Haskra the Wolf
Tree. As their many
similarities can’t outweigh
their philosophical
differences, the two FANGS OF THE WOLF TREE
species presented here are
frequent enemies. Legends tell of an ancient floral dragon, overgrown and gnarled with
age, known as Haskra the Wolf Tree. For centuries, she protected
the land and creatures she ruled over with her might. She was
revered as a god by the creatures of the wood, but the humanoid
kingdoms feared her power and coveted her land. Eventually, these
kingdoms banded together under two powerful monarchs, one
human and one elvish, who launched a campaign to claim the land
Tiny Large she stewarded. It took a year and a day for the battered humanoid
Small Huge armies to finally quell Haskra. With her dying howl, she bloomed
X Medium Gargantuan with great reddish-pink flowers that soaked up the blood of the
fallen. These flowers grew into the first azalea dragons, agents of
s are their mother’s revenge upon humanoids who think themselves lords
Azalea dragon of wild places.
nt ers.
intelligent hu
34 FLORAL DRAGONS
PHYSIOLOGY
Intelligent hunters, azalea dragons have a form equal parts
lupine and draconic. They bloom pink, purple, red, or maroon
flowers around the neck, the base of the tail, the ears, and the
ankles. Long green leaves sprout around these flowers, forming a
collar around their necks and spines along their backs. Though they
resemble wolves, azalea dragons are as intelligent as humanoids.
They communicate with each other in their own dialect of n
Unexpectedly, I have bee
Draconic, and some even learn to speak humanoid languages. pac k of
When fully grown, an azalea dragon is the size of a large wolf, accepted by the
measuring around 5 feet from nose to tail and standing roughly azalea dragons who once
3 feet at the shoulder. Azalea dragons reach adulthood roughly shadowed me. Perhaps my
two years after hatching. It is not known how long azalea dragons draconic features inspired
r
can live, though most adults sighted are estimated to be between their curiosity. Whateve
30 and 50 years old. the reason, they have
Azalea dragons are built for hunting. Besides their rows of allowed me rare glimpses
sharp teeth, they have extraordinary senses of smell and hearing, into their society.
which are supplemented by temperature-sensitive organs behind
their nostrils that allow them to sense the body heat of their prey. Contrary to their fearsome
Azalea dragons have long, slender legs that enable them to travel reputation, azalea dragons
swiftly over great distances. Their tails resemble broad leaves are devoted parents.
and help them maintain their balance when they travel at speed. Each member of the pack
Though carnivorous, azalea dragons supplement their diet with helps to raise wyrmlings to
berries, edible plants, and honey. adulthood, and they play
HABITAT much like the rhododendron
dragons we witnessed in
Azalea dragons prefer to live in grasslands and forests in warm
climates with mild or short winters. Though they can survive Aneondel…those were
the cold, when enduring low temperatures, their flowers drop happier times.
off, weakening the dragons until their flowers bloom once more
in the spring. Any area azalea dragons claim as their territory must
be large enough to support a variety of large prey to feed the pack.
Areas populated by aurochs, antelope, elk, and moose are ideal.
Forests full of birds and rodents are also prized by packs, Fig. 1 An adul
as smaller prey can support them in leaner months. dragon wat t azalea
Azalea dragons’ territories are patrolled and protected by one ches over
two wyrm
or more packs. The packs set well-defined borders that snake lings at play
.
around humanoid settlements and the territories of other
species of dragon. Within these territories, they
make warm and comfortable dens in caves,
meadows, or thickets. Sometimes, azalea
dragons share their territories with other
floral dragons, especially gentle varieties
such as dandelion dragons
or jade vine dragons.
FLORAL DRAGONS 35
Fig. 2
An azalea dragon
barks to signal the
discovery of a
vespon hive.
Packs tend to form alliances with intelligent dragons in order

to share the land, though they avoid territories occupied by more
dangerous creatures such as wisteria dragons. While they prefer
to avoid conflict with other dragons, azalea dragons will attempt
to drive out another dragon if it represents a threat to their pack.
Azalea dragons can smell Unlike their thoughtful interactions with other floral dragons,
honey from miles away ,
Azalea dragons approach rhododendron dragons with instant
amplifying their ability to hostility. Once the same species, azalea dragons see rhododendron
track the flight patterns dragons as traitors who went against the will of the Wolf Tree by
of vespons. I believe allying with humanoids. Generally, azalea dragons prefer to live far
this pack led me to the from humanoids
honey I needed to treat and menace settlements that encroach on their territory, hunting
Zethandriel’s wounds. humanoids who stray into their lands as though they were any
other prey.
It’s fortunate Zethandriel’s Azalea dragons love honey, especially the honey produced by
rhododendron dragon vespons—tiny, bee-like creatures often found in the company of
companion Ardral would not floral dragons. Azalea dragons rely on pollinators like vespons to
leave their side to join me keep their flowers and bodies healthy. The nectar collected from
azalea dragon’s flowers produces a toxic honey, which can cause
on this errand, as I doubt
hallucinations and sickness in humanoids when consumed. This
the azalea pack would have honey is the favorite of azalea dragons, who are immune to its
been so generous were I effects. Alchemists value this honey as an ingredient for serums
traveling with one of their and painkillers, but any who harvest it are cautious, for they
ancestral enemies. know that azalea dragons prowl where such honey is found.
36 FLORAL DRAGONS
BEHAVIOR I heard snarling and rushed
Social creatures, azalea dragons live in packs led by an adult to see an azalea dragon
pair who are bonded for life and who hatched many of the pack baring its fangs at a
members. From time to time, a lone azalea dragon or a smaller humanoid trespasser. I barely
faction ousted from another pack will join an already-established recognized the figure, worn
pack. Packs function as extended family units with complex nearly to a shadow, but I’m
social hierarchies. Each pack has its own strong tradition of laws, sure it was my old friend
ethics, and morals. Members are expected to help the group Izora. The azalea dragon's
by performing duties, such as hunting, foraging, educating snarls gave way to yelps as she
wyrmlings, patrolling the borders, alerting the pack to danger, fired off a bolt of magic.
or fending off rivals. Azalea dragons find mates within allied packs
living nearby, and permanent migration between packs is common
during the mating season. Wyrmlings are raised by the whole pack Izora’s spell would have killed
from the moment they hatch. With all pack members acting as .
it if I hadn’t intervened
co-parents, the pair that produced the eggs has time to rest and red a glan ce but
to continue to fulfill their other duties. We sha
ld
Occasionally a pack splits, with some members leaving to Izora fled before I cou
wa rne d the
form a new pack elsewhere. This can be in response to the pack speak with her. I
a
becoming too numerous, making prey scarce. In such cases, dragon not to follow. If
wis ter ia dra gon cou ld not
the split is amicable, and the two packs may maintain cultural
gon
ties despite living apart. In other cases, a split can arise from kill Izora, the azalea dra
a disagreement or a feud, and the weaker faction is driven stood no cha nce .
out, creating a rivalry that can persist for generations.
Azalea dragons prefer to hunt using numbers,
stamina, and coordinated tactics. They are persistent
trackers and are able to chase prey to the point of
exhaustion over great distances. Though they will
hunt humanoids, azalea dragons don’t consider
humanoids suitable as food. Rather, they see them
as destructive pests who bring ruin and famine
and hunt them as a matter of pack protection
and ancient enmity.
All azalea dragons are taught by their packs
the tale of how humanoids murdered their
god and progenitor, Haskra the Wolf Tree.
They still carry Haskra’s grudge, especially
against humans and elves. Very rarely, a
pack will come to respect druids who fully
reject humanoid society in favor of living in
harmony with nature. Even more rarely, a
few dragon packs have broken the ancient
taboo and made friends with these druids.
Most azalea dragon packs have enacted laws
to let humanoid druids live, so long as they
do not work against them and respect the
pack’s right to their territory.
Fig. 3 An azalea
dragon snarls to warn
away trespassers.
FLORAL DRAGONS 37
PERSONALITY TRAITS
Azalea Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
1 My loyalty to my pack is unwavering and absolute.
2 I’m curious about the world beyond my territory.
3 The sound of music soothes my wild heart.
4 I’m cold, cunning, and ruthless.
5 I am proud, distant, and aloof.
6 Once I make a friend, I trust them as if they were one of my pack.
7 I’ve been burned before and am slow to trust others.
8 I bite first and ask questions later.
MOTIVATIONS
Azalea Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
My pack was ousted by rival azalea dragons. I am scouting ahead
1
to find us a new territory to call home.
A humanoid settlement threatens my forest and my pack.
2
I must do what I can to protect them both.
My pack was killed, and I alone survived. I’d do anything to
3
avenge them.
4 I seek medicine to heal my wounded pack leader.
I have fallen in love with a rhododendron dragon, but we must
5
keep our love a secret from my pack.
6 A famine has made me and my pack ravenous and desperate for food.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Here are ways to include azalea dragons in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
After one of their wyrmlings was captured by poachers, a pack of
1 azalea dragons has has begun hunting any humanoids who travel
through their territory.
A desperate azalea dragon pack has made a city an offer to parley.
2 In exchange, they request the city’s help with the fungal plague
that is ravaging their population.
A pack of azalea dragons has allied with a manchineel dragon,
3
and they are plotting against a local city.
The secret that will lead the party to a person, place, or thing
4 they must find is rumored to be known only by an ancient azalea
dragon who lives with her pack deep in the wild woods.
38 FLORAL DRAGONS
Azalea
Dragon
Medium dragon, any neutral alignment

Speed 40 ft.

15 (+2) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 8 (−1)

Damage Vulnerabilities cold
Senses blindsight 10 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages Draconic
Keen Hearing and Smell. The dragon has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks
that rely on hearing or smell.
Pack Tactics. The dragon has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least
one of the dragon’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing damage and if the target is a
creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving
throw or become poisoned until the end of its next turn.
FLORAL DRAGONS 39
40 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 41
Rhododendron
Dragon
Tiny Large THE TALE OF HELIA AND
Small Huge THE RHODODENDRON DRAGON
X Medium Gargantuan Rhododendron dragons arose from a pack of azalea dragons
who allied with an elvish kingdom. Separated from her pack by
a snowstorm, an azalea dragon called Cayn struggled alone in the
cold when an elvish princess named Helia found her. In the depths
of winter, Helia carried the dragon across the icy plain to her castle.
There, she cared for Cayn, who was near death.
Loyal rhododendron In return, once she had recovered her strength, Cayn protected
dragons form lifelong Helia’s life from a rival pack of azalea dragons, who set upon her
bonds with those as she foraged for frost-hardy herbs. The two swore an oath of
they protect. alliance and friendship, breaking the azalea dragons’ taboo against
befriending humanoids.
Though Cayn tried to convince her pack of Helia’s goodness,
not all were swayed. The pack split, with some following Cayn
and others remaining in the wild. Cayn’s new pack lived alongside
Helia and her people, swearing a pledge of loyalty to them. This
bond counterbalanced the azalea dragon’s wild magic and changed
their forms forever, transforming them from azalea dragons into
rhododendron dragons. To this day, the
descendants of Cayn’s pack believe
that this is a sign that the
spirit of Haskra the Wolf
Tree wants them to let go
of her ancient grudge
against humanoids.
42 FLORAL DRAGONS
Fig. 1 A standoff between
a rhododendron dragon and
an azalea dragon.
PHYSIOLOGY
Rhododendron dragons resemble azalea dragons but have bulkier
bodies, with sturdy limbs and tails covered in large protective scales.
Though not as nimble as their azalea dragon cousins, they have Since I’m now an official
powerful claws and strong jaws. Blooms in shades of red, pink, scholar of floral dr
purple, yellow, or orange cover their necks and heads like a mane, I suppose I should teagll
ons,
and flower at the base of their tails. These flowers have thick petals about the ones I know beyou
that are as tough as leather, granting the dragon extra protection. Rhododendron dragons, orst.
Rhododendron dragons are taller than azalea dragons, standing “rhodos” for sh
around 4 feet at the shoulder and measuring 5 feet from nose cousins to azaleaordrt,agarons
e
to tail. Rhododendron dragons also mature much more slowly, but the two don’t get al ,
taking 5 years from hatching to reach adulthood. During this ong.
time, wyrmlings require care and supervision, as the dragons’ time wild
spent living in partnership with humanoids has lessened their wild Rhodos treat theirdgi
instincts. Once fully grown, rhododendron dragons usually live to cousins with a gru tngthem
be about 50 years old. respect, and won’t hur m off
Like azalea dragons, adult rhododendron dragons are intelligent if they can frighten the ffs can
and able to speak and learn languages. Most rhododendron dragons instead. Su ch sta ndo
be tense, though, andtan can
learn Draconic as well as a language spoken by the humanoids they
live alongside. turn violent in an ins t.
In the centuries since the emergence of rhododendron dragons,
packs have spread far and wide, forging new alliances with a few
humanoid settlements. The oldest of these covenants exists with the
ancient elvish city where Princess Helia and Cayn first swore their
oath. Packs that can’t ally with humanoids must fend for themselves
in the wild. If a wild pack survives, it begins to act more like a pack
of azalea dragons. Though they retain their physiology, these feral
rhododendron dragons eventually become just as distrustful of
humanoids as any other wild creature.
FLORAL DRAGONS 43
Fig. 2 Me and my
rhododendron dragon
companion, Ardral.
HABITAT
Though they are hardier and can tolerate the cold better than azalea
dragons rhododendron dragons prefer warm climates. They also rely
on pollinators that live in hotter temperatures to help them keep
their flowers healthy. Rhododendron dragons don’t share the azalea
dragon’s love of toxic vespon honey, but their flowers still produce
the nectar vespons use to make it. This honey is less potent than
Ardral was so excited that produced by nectar from azalea dragons, and it is not as highly
when I asked her to come prized by alchemists.
with Kaltaar, Izora, Usually, packs of rhododendron dragons are found in protected
Amina, and me that she groves within a city’s walls or in enclosures made to deter wyrmlings
needed some extra from straying too far from the safety of their home. In order to
playtime to burn off all ally with a pack of rhododendron dragons, a humanoid settlement
her excess energy! must swear an oath with the dragons, binding each to the defense
of the other. Packs that fail to uphold their duty to defend a
Rhodos need lots of care settlement risk being driven out, while settlements that treat their
and attention, but, if you rhododendron dragons poorly risk being abandoned. Wherever
ask me, it's all worth it. successful rhododendron dragon and humanoid partnerships exist,
I don’t know how folk outside both groups thrive.
of the city will react to Rhododendron dragons don’t get along with their azalea dragon
seeing Ardral, though. cousins, primarily because they see themselves as a bridge between
humanoids and floral dragons. They believe that azalea dragons
Many floral dragons are are restricted by tradition and that Haskra the Wolf Tree, their
reclusive, and they’re mutual ancestor, never intended for the feud between dragons
often dangerous, but I’m and humanoids to last forever.
sure there must be more Rhododendrons are fiercely protective of their kin and their
friendly ones like Ardral humanoid companions. Often these dragons come to despise
out there somewhere. malicious or ill-tempered dragons who would harm those they are
sworn to guard. Relationships rarely form between rhododendron
dragons and other species of dragon, but they are friendly with
dragons that also live among humanoid settlements, such as
amaranth dragons, water lily dragons, and lamium dragons.
44 FLORAL DRAGONS
BEHAVIOR
Fiercely loyal, rhododendron dragons are highly social creatures
who require lots of love and care from those around them to
grow into healthy adults. Rhododendron dragons tend to form
deep friendships and can form lifelong companionships with
individual humanoids. Such a relationship can be formalized
in a ceremony that harkens back to the bond forged between Rhodos are curious and
Cayn and Helia, traditionally performed by both the leader of playful to a fault, and
a rhododendron pack and the leader of a humanoid settlement. when they’re young they
Companions bonded in this way are sworn to protect and don’t yet know what’s
care for each other. While it can be challenging for an individual safe and what isn’t.
rhododendron dragon to balance their duties to their pack,
the settlement they are bound to protect, and their sworn While chasing dandelion
companions, the bond between a rhododendron dragon dragons might seem
and their companion is seen as sacred. harmless, my sister’s
Rhododendron dragons usually mate once every five companion rhodo found out
years in early spring, and their young hatch in mid-summer. the hard way that it's not
The new brood of wyrmlings are tended by humanoids and pack wise to follow them back
members together, who both teach the dragons about the world to their nest. He came
and help them find their place within it. Rhododendron dragon howling back, covered
wyrmlings are stubborn and naive, but they are also loyal and with bites. I suppose it's
courageous. When properly nurtured, they are fierce allies. a lesson he won’t
Full grown rhododendron dragons warn their companions of soon forget!
danger with their roars, defend with their powerful bites, and
assist with farming, transportation, and construction efforts
with their impressive brawn.
Fig. 3 A rhododendron
dragon chasing
a blooming of
dandelion dragons.
FLORAL DRAGONS 45
PERSONALITY TRAITS
Rhododendron Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
1 I have an abundance of energy and am always ready for playtime.
2 I’m curious about the world outside of my home.
3 I roar when I hear anything suspicious.
4 I’ll eat anything that smells interesting, even if I’m not supposed to.
5 I like to smell people first before I can trust them.
6 I am very affectionate and show my love with licks.

I don’t trust strangers and take time to warm up to people
7
I don’t know.
8 There’s nothing I like better than head scritches.
MOTIVATIONS
Rhododendron Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
With their last breath, my companion made a wish, and I will
1
fulfill it even if it destroys me
I want to see the world and bring what I learn back to
2
my community.
I ran away from a companion who mistreated me, and I don’t
3
want to return
4 I want to find a settlement that will ally with my pack.
I have been sent to retrieve a magical item stolen
5
from my community.
6 My companion has been petrified, and I seek the cure.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Here are ways to include rhododendron dragons in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
A lone rhododendron dragon, the only survivor from a nearby
1 community, is badly injured and has come to warn of an
impending dragon attack.
An rhododendron dragon is sworn to protect the ruins of its long-
2
dead companion’s keep and the powerful artifact concealed within it.
An abnormal winter storm has left a pack of feral rhododendron
3 dragons desperate, and they are attacking humanoids who hunt
in their woods.
A pack of rhododendron dragons has arrived at a local settlement
4 seeking an alliance, but the leaders are fearful of the outcomes of
allying with dragons.
46 FLORAL DRAGONS
Rhododendron
Dragon
Medium dragon, any lawful alignment

Speed 30 ft.

15 (+2) 13 (+1) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 8 (−1)
Saving Throws Con +4, Wis +2

Skills Perception +4, Intimidation +1
Languages Draconic plus any one language
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Keen Hearing and Smell. The dragon has advantage on Wisdom (Perception)
checks that rely on hearing or smell.
ACTIONS
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage
and if the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw
or be pushed 10 feet away from the dragon and knocked prone.
REACTIONS
Protector. When a creature the dragon can see
attacks a target other than the dragon that is within
5 feet of the dragon, the dragon can impose
disadvantage on the attack roll.
FLORAL DRAGONS 47
48 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 49
Clematis
Dragon
Tiny Large THE CREATION AND BREAK
X Small Huge OUT OF THE CLEMATIS DRAGON
Medium Gargantuan The clematis dragon is one of the most recent floral dragons to
come into being, with a genesis sometime within the last century.
While the origins of most floral dragons are shrouded in myth,
the origin of the clematis dragon is well documented and illustrates
that floral dragons can be intentionally created.
The first clematis dragon was created by Jeor Fandor, a young
court wizard who used transmutation magic to combine draconic
blood with floral essence. His goal was to create a unique and
aesthetically pleasing creature for the prince’s garden. While his
first attempts ended in failure, Jeor figured out that the missing
ingredient was frog extract. The extract allowed him to stabilize
the mixture and produce the first clematis dragons.
According to rumor, Jeor created the dragon to catch
the eye of Prince Lucian. Given that Jeor and the Prince
were wed the following autumn, there is evidence that
Jeor’s efforts were successful.
Clematis dragons are

highly poisonous and
easily provoked.
50 FLORAL DRAGONS
Jeor’s original notes show that he intended to create a dragon that A POTENT POISON
was docile, beautiful, and hardy. The young wizard’s notes also detail
Clematis poison can be harvested
the creature’s remarkable ability to absorb toxins from its environment
from an adult clematis dragon’s
and hold them inside its body without suffering any ill effects.
poison gland. It is prized by
Within a few generations, however, Jeor’s creations began to
assassins because it completely
manifest their draconic heritage. Each spawning was more irritable
immobilizes the victim. The
and unruly than the last. Jeor tried to cull the population, but it
gland containing the poison
was too late. Overconfident of the creatures’ docile nature he had
must be harvested from a dead
underestimated the need to fence them inside the garden. Soon,
or incapacitated clematis dragon.
naturalists began to report sightings of clematis dragons in the wild.
In the decades since, these dragons have spread far and wide, Clematis Poison
disrupting local ecosystems and even invading some cities where (Injury)
they have become dangerous pests. A creature subjected to the
poison must make a DC 16
PHYSIOLOGY Constitution saving throw,
The clematis dragon is small and frog-like with a squat, round purple taking 13 (3d8) poison
body. Adult clematis dragons are about 1 foot long from head to tail damage on a failed save, or
and stand only 4 inches tall at the shoulder. They are short-lived, half as much damage on a
reaching 5 years of age at most, but mature and breed rapidly. Though successful one. A creature
they need water to reproduce, their adult forms are mostly terrestrial that fails its save is also
and arboreal. They are excellent climbers, decent swimmers, and can paralyzed for 1 hour.
jump two body lengths without much effort. This poison has no effect on
Adult clematis dragons store toxins in a special gland located creatures that are immune
within their throats. This gland can burst if the body is punctured, to the poisoned condition.
making the dragon poisonous to predators that attempt to eat it.
The toxin gland can be harvested for use by alchemists and assassins,
who have learned how to distill clematis dragon’s poison into a potent Clematis-tainted
sedative that can cause a complete lack of bodily sensation when it Weapon
circulates through the bloodstream. Clematis dragons lick themselves Weapon (any sword, arrow,
all over to coat their petals in a powerful defensive toxin. dart), uncommon
The dragon’s back sports long petals that range from warm violet This weapon is coated in the
to iridescent blue-purple with cream-colored to light green edges. powerful toxin of a clematis
When calm, a dragon keeps its petals flat, but if agitated, they flare dragon. When you hit with
them to threaten predators. The razor-sharp petals that cover the adult this weapon, the target must
dragon’s body serve as a delivery system for the toxin it licks onto itself. make a DC 16 Constitution
Clematis dragon poison is potent and can cause paralysis and even saving throw, taking 1d8
death in many mammals and humanoids. A flower bulb on the tip poison damage on a failed save
of its tail blooms only when it is ready to mate. The clematis dragon’s or half as much damage on a
teeth are also modified petals, similar in color, shape, and sharpness, successful one. A creature that
though they aren’t coated with toxin. These teeth allow the dragons to fails its save is also paralyzed
eat a variety of things, from plants, nuts, and bark to insects and small until the end of its next turn
animals. Their sharp teeth and extraordinary constitution allow them unless it is immune to the
to digest things that other creatures find inedible, making these small poisoned condition. Once a
dragons incredibly adaptable. creature has been paralyzed by
this weapon, it is immune to
the weapon’s paralyzing effects
for the next 24 hours.
FLORAL DRAGONS 51
HABITAT
Thanks to the essence of frog used in their creation, clematis
When I heard stories of dragons prefer to live close to marshes or large bodies of water.
a poisonous floral dragon They live high in trees or in tall stands of reeds or similar
created with magic, vegetation and keep their shelter damp by lining them with
I simply had to find it. carpets of moss. Like most floral dragons, clematis dragons
This clematis was calm until dislike the cold. They spend the winter months hibernating
in mud at the bottom of lake beds, emerging in spring.
I contained it; when it Though adult clematis dragons are too toxic for most
realized it was my captive, creatures to consume, they are easy prey for creatures that
it puffed up its throat. can tolerate their poison. Vampire lily dragons and aconite
dragons are immune to their toxins and clematis dragons
It is a fine specimen and are an abundant food source for these predators.
will be perfect for my Large numbers of clematis dragons can be detrimental
to their habitat. They breed quickly and can overtake an
experiments. Perhaps I can environment if not kept in check by predators. However, a
use the dragon's poison to small population of clematis dragons can be a sign of a healthy
make my mushrooms even marsh: the dragons passively absorb toxins from soil, water, and
deadlier to other floral trees through their porous skin, gradually transforming polluted
dragons. I'll run some tests swamps into fertile wetlands. There have been reports that non-
poisonous clematis dragons can be found in pristine wetlands,
to confirm. though these subspecies are far more elusive than their toxic
cousins, as they rely on camouflage for defense.
Recently, clematis dragons have become
a common sight in cities located on rivers
or lakes, where they are recognized as a new
kind of pest. There, they nest in sewers or
roost on the tall spires of buildings, and feast
on city birds, rats, and food waste, all of which
they can safely consume. When populations
of urban clematis dragons grow large, they
can pose a real threat to the people living
there, as they are difficult to remove and
are easily provoked.
Fig. 1 A clematis
dragon's relaxed and
defensive postures.
52 FLORAL DRAGONS
Fig. 2 A young clematis
dragon at rest on
a mossy perch.
BEHAVIOR
Generally, clematis dragons are known for their intractable nature
and bad tempers. They have little fear of creatures larger than
themselves and possess limited intellect, being entirely unable to
comprehend spoken language. These overconfident dragons are
thwarted by even simple traps.
Misplaced bravery and few wits means these dragons will stand
defiant against even the most immense foes, and they act as though
they belong wherever they go. Despite being easy to hunt and catch,
clematis dragons have thrived because of their poisonous bodies and
their rapid rate of reproduction.
Though clematis dragons
Clematis dragons reach sexual maturity as soon as they become prefer to make their
adults. Clematis eggs resemble frogs’ eggs and must be laid in water, homes up high, they line
where they hatch into tadpole-like wyrmlings. Clematis wyrmlings their shelter with moist
aren’t poisonous, making them easy prey for fish and water birds. mosses to keep their
This is why female clematis dragons lay large clutches, from which
only a few hundred wyrmlings survive. The entire population mates
skin hydrated.
around the same time in late spring, flooding waterways with so I'll recreate this
many spawn that predators can’t catch them all. environment for my
After two months, clematis wyrmlings change into juvenile
dragons that more closely resemble their adult forms. Juveniles captive clematis dragon, but
grow lungs and can leave the water, but they still require lots of I'll also see how it fares in
moisture to thrive and grow. other conditions. It will be
Juvenile clematis dragons lack the poisonous defenses of adult fascinating to observe how
clematis dragons until they have absorbed sufficient toxins. Their the dragon's habitat affects
bodies are still slightly toxic, however, making them unpleasant to
eat. After two months, juveniles bloom into their full adult forms. its poison.
FLORAL DRAGONS 53
PERSONALITY TRAITS
Clematis Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
1 I like to cause mischief.
2 I am always hungry and beg loudly for scraps.
3 I fear nothing.
4 Lazing on a lilypad is my idea of heaven.
5 My territory is mine alone, and I defend it against all trespassers.
6 Once I’ve decided I like someone, I’ll never leave them alone.
7 I will eat, or try to eat, anything I can fit my jaws around.
8 I am easily agitated and quick to bite.
MOTIVATIONS
Clematis Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
1 I’m looking for a mate before the season ends.
I was ousted from my roost by a rival and need to make a new
2
one somewhere else.
I survived the mating season, but now I need to eat to recover
3
my strength, or else I’ll die.
4 I’m newly grown and looking for a place to nest.
5 I need to eat as much as I can to prepare for winter hibernation.
6 I only want to eat humanoid food.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Here are ways to include clematis dragons in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
It’s spring, and a tide of newly mature clematis dragons will soon
1 rise from the river, ready to mate. Unless something is done to
relocate or reduce their population, the city will be overrun.
2 A magical secret lies in a bog filled with clematis dragons.
A clematis dragon swallowed an important key before hopping
3
through a storm drain, into the sewer.
The party requires an alchemist’s help, but they’ll only provide
4 assistance if the party can properly harvest and deliver the poison
glands from ten adult clematis dragons.
54 FLORAL DRAGONS
Clematis
Dragon
Small dragon, unaligned
Armor Class 11
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft., swim 20 ft.

5 (−3) 12 (+1) 15 (+2) 3 (−4) 8 (−1) 6 (−2)
Skills Perception +3, Intimidation +2

Damage Immunities poison
Languages –
Amphibious. The dragon can breathe air and water.

Poison Petals. A creature that touches the dragon or hits it with a melee attack while within
5 feet of it takes 2 (1d4) piercing damage and must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw,
taking 9 (2d8) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful
one. A creature that fails its save is also paralyzed until the end of its next turn,
unless it is immune to the poisoned condition.
Standing Leap. The dragon’s long jump is up to 30 feet and its
high jump is up to 15 feet, with or without a running start.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage.
FLORAL DRAGONS 55
56 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 57
Dandelion
Dragon
Dandelion dragons
travel to other planes
of existence as easily
as they float on
the breeze.
HOW THE DANDELION

DRAGON TOLD TIME
Once, dandelion dragons were
timekeepers. The flow of time in the fey
realm is notoriously inconsistent with
time in other planes of existence. Before
there were any dandelion dragons on the
Material Plane, a young mage named
Bremenia cast a spell with a time limit to
travel the fey realm for scholarly research.
However, the erratic passage of time
confused her, and she missed the
deadline to return home.
Having lost track of time entirely, Bremenia wandered the
fey realm in search of a doorway back to the Material Plane.
These doorways were only active at specific times. Whenever
she encountered a resident of the fey realm, Bremenia asked
X Tiny Large them where the nearest doorway was, what time it opened, and
Small Huge what time of day it was now. Each one gave a different answer.
Medium Gargantuan Exhausted, Bremenia sat against a sturdy tree and prepared to
spend what she could only assume was the night in the fey realm.
Just as she was making camp, Bremenia spotted something that
looked like a floating yellow flower flutter in her peripheral vision
appear and vanish. She waited for it to return and saw that it was
a tiny dandelion-like dragon.
The creature blinked at Bremenia inquisitively and flew around
her camp. As she observed it, Bremenia noticed that the yellow
flower on its head became fluffy seeds that shed and regrew in a
regular pattern, like a clock counting the hours. She befriended the
dandelion dragon, and it became her companion and timekeeper,
58 FLORAL DRAGONS
providing her with the regularity she needed to track time.
The dandelion dragon led Bremenia to a doorway and helped
her enter at the right time.
When Bremenia went through and returned home at last, the
dandelion dragon came with her. The dragon retained the ability
to enter and exit the fey realm, returning one day with dozens of
members of its blooming, much to Bremenia’s delight.
Dandelion dragons have adjusted to life on the Material Plane
and now shed their seeds with the unpredictable winds instead of
a precise schedule. Still, children on the Material Plane often watch
dandelion dragons on a breezy day and wait for their seeds to blow
away. They say that the number of gusts it takes to scatter their seeds
corresponds to the time in the fey realm.
Fig. 1 Dandelion
PHYSIOLOGY dragons deliver small
Dandelion dragons have long hind legs, short front legs, and claws messages for their
on all four limbs used to perch upright and hold on to small items.
The antennae on their heads are used to smell and taste, and the
humanoid friends.
feelers that stem from their backs help them sense whether a surface
is structurally sound enough to land on.
Most dandelion dragons live between 10 and 13 years and can weigh
up to 16 ounces. They are typically 3 to 4 inches long, though some
as large as 6 inches have been recorded. A single bright yellow flower
blooms on the back of a dandelion dragon’s head before producing
seeds that are fluffy and white. Young dandelion dragons mature
5 years after hatching, when it produces its first batch of seeds.
Dandelion dragons rely on the wind to carry their seeds
once they are ripe, which become itchy if left on their bodies
for too long. If the wind is too gentle, they will rub their
heads against sturdy branches to dislodge the seeds and
alleviate their discomfort. If there are humanoids nearby,
dandelion dragons will approach them for help.
Dandelion dragons can drift seamlessly between
planes using their innate magic. They are popular
among merchants and trade guilds who do business
with residents of other planes.
I saw a blooming of
dand elion dragons split up to
deliv er mess ages to different
locations . I t hasn 't been long since
I left home , but I'm sure my family
wou ld like to hear about my
adventures so far.
I wrote a note to let them know
I'm doing well and that I'll be
back to visit. I carefully attached
it to the leg of a dandelion
dragon. I hope it, and the message,
arrive safely.
FLORAL DRAGONS 59
HABITAT
Dandelion dragons make their homes in open tundras,
shrublands, grassy alpine slopes, and woodlands. Some even
live in deserts and scrublands alongside succulent dragons.
They prefer to live communally in trees or on rocky ledges.
Areas with full sun are ideal, but they can survive in all but the
coldest climates. Of all floral dragons, they are the most likely
to live in humanoid settlements.
Dandelion dragons are highly social and live in large
bloomings. It’s not uncommon for one to go out in search of
food and come home to find another dandelion dragon that has
taken residence in its home. If a new dragon joins the blooming,
it is expected to contribute by finding food.
While they are not territorial toward their own kind,
dandelion dragons become wary when larger dragons come
too close to their homes and will attack or vacate the area if
they feel threatened. They are only comfortable sharing their
immediate territory with dragons of a similar size or particularly
gentle dragons like magnolia dragons.
Dandelion dragons are often found in the company of
vespons. They frolic together in good weather and have
been observed grooming each other.
Fig. 2 A dandelion
dragon hides from
a larkspur dragon.
60 FLORAL DRAGONS
BEHAVIOR Dandelion Hourglass
Dandelion dragons are lively and fickle. They are friendly Wondrous item, uncommon
creatures and enjoy the company of other floral dragons, (requires attunement)
but they rarely linger in one place for too long. A dandelion Fluffy seeds from dandelion
dragon’s diet consists primarily of seeds and shoots. dragons drift between the two
Dandelion dragons are noncommittal and have a brief bulbs of this hourglass. While
period of fertility, lasting only a few days in the spring. attuned to this item, you have
During this time, they mate with several other dandelion advantage on initiative rolls.
dragons in succession. After mating, their regular cycle of Additionally, when a creature
growing and shedding seeds slows, and fertilized seeds are you can see within 120 feet
released gradually over the season. These fertilized seeds take of you rolls initiative, you can
root in the soil. There, they grow quickly, resembling true use your reaction to force it
dandelions until the wyrmlings separate from their roots and to make a DC 15 Intelligence
fly away. Contrary to their social preferences, wyrmlings are saving throw. A creature can
independent from the moment they fully emerge from the choose to fail the save. On a
ground. Outside of their mating season, unfertilized seeds do failure, the target must reroll its
not grow into wyrmlings and simply float away. initiative and must use the new
Dandelion dragons are prey for wild rabbits and turkeys as result. Once you have used this
well as other floral dragons; larkspur dragons in particular have property, you can’t use it again
a taste for them. Dandelion dragons only bite when threatened, until the next dawn.
leaving behind a small but irritating itchy rash. These dragons
are more likely to flee than fight unless they have the support of
many other dandelion dragons. Rhododendron dragons don’t
hunt dandelion dragons, but many have become overly excited
and playfully chased a dandelion dragon back to its home, only
to be set upon by the dandelion’s blooming.
Dandelion dragons have an excellent sense of direction and
will deliver small messages for humanoids. Since the dragons are
a prey species, cautious humanoids make several copies of their
message and send them with different dragons, lest any be eaten
along the way.
PERSONALITY TRAITS
Dandelion Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
I spend all my time daydreaming and often don’t notice when Dandelion dragons arlar e
1 ge
a gust of wind has carried me off. fo
nothing but food larkspurr
2 I have no sense of direction, and I always get horribly lost. predators like th e
dragon. I saw a bloom ing
3 I like to perform somersaults and other aerial tricks when I float. d
of dandelion dr bushelans
ag on s
4 I am mischievous, and misdelivering messages entertains me.
and hide in th e
5
I love nothing more than coming home to my nest and finding
un a larkspur drag
til on had
a new friend who wants to move in with me.
passed. They wa ite d until
6
Whenever I get bored of the Material Plane, I simply travel to
it was long go ne be fore
the fey realm, and vice versa.
taking flig ht ag ain .
I rely on the company of my blooming and get terribly anxious
7
when I’m alone.
8 I would fly for days on end if I didn’t need to sleep.
These dragons are so
adorable; it’s saddening to
think of them as prey.
I suppose that’s just the
natural order of things.
FLORAL DRAGONS 61
MOTIVATIONS
Dandelion Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
Humanoids have entrusted me with their messages, and
1
I can’t let them down.
My nest must be as welcoming as possible so I can invite even
2
more friends to live with me.
I want to explore planes of existence beyond the fey realm and
3
the Material Plane.
I must find a way to protect myself and other dandelion dragons
I have yet to see 4
from predators—forever.
a solitary dandelion I want to learn to communicate with humanoids so I can deliver
dragon; they seem to 5
messages even if I lose the written note.
like company. I saw a I became lost among the planes as my antennae were damaged.
group floating together 6
I need to regain my sense of direction.
in the same pattern for
a while and took some ADVENTURE HOOKS
time just to watch. Here are ways to include dandelion dragons in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
They didn't seem A jilted archfey has cut off communications from their spiteful
bothered that I was 1 ex-lover by blocking the travel of all dandelion dragons between
observing them. They the Material Plane and the fey realm.
floated for a while and Bandits captured a blooming of dandelion dragons to use the
then all took off in the 2
messages they were carrying as blackmail material against the elite.
They are training the dragons to bring messages to them instead of
same direction. There's the intended recipients.
a decent chance they're Strong winds carried off a blooming of dandelion dragons.
living together. 3 They are very far from home and languishing in an inhospitably
cold climate. They need help finding a new place to roost.
A dandelion dragon was separated from its blooming and hasn’t
4
been able to find others of its kind.
Fig. 3 Dandelion
dragons float together
in large bloomings.
62 FLORAL DRAGONS
Dandelion
Dragon
Tiny dragon, any alignment
Armor Class 12
Speed 15 ft., fly 30 ft.

3 (−4) 15 (+2) 13 (+1) 6 (−2) 11 (+0) 12 (+1)

Senses passive Perception 12
Languages understands Common and Draconic but can’t speak
Interplanar Jaunt. As a bonus action, the dragon can magically shift from
the Material Plane to another plane of existence of its choice, or vice versa.
Temporal Sensitivity. The dragon has advantage on initiative rolls and can choose
to reroll its initiative at the start of each round. If it rerolls, it must use the new result.
Time Acceleration (1/Day). The dragon takes an additional action on its turn.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon makes two bite attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack:
+4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage,
and the target suffers an itchy rash
for the next 1d4 hours. While
afflicted in this way, the target has
disadvantage on Dexterity checks
and saving throws. A successful
DC 11 Wisdom check with an
herbalism kit ends the effect.
FLORAL DRAGONS 63
64 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 65
GOOD & BAD
Apple Tree
APPLES
The apple tree and
manchineel dragons are
said to share a common
ancestor deep in the
forgotten past. Though
they both produce fruit,
Dragon
they could not be more
different. The apple tree
dragon is a kind-hearted
protector, while its
sibling, the manchineel,
is known as the apple A TALE OF TWO DRAGONS:
of death. THE GENEROUS APPLE TREE
When the world was young, a great hill dragon laid two eggs at the
top of a mountain. One rolled off into the wilderness and became
the manchineel dragon. The other rolled into a fertile valley and
came to rest within a camp of nomads. The people were startled
Tiny Large by the huge golden egg, but their shaman declared that it was a
gift from their gods and that they must care for it. They wrapped
Small Huge
the egg in soft hides and spoke to it every day. Eventually, the egg
Medium x Gargantuan hatched, revealing an apple tree wyrmling.
The people cherished the wyrmling, teaching it about the
world, their language, and their values. They began to till the soil
and practice agriculture so that they could make a suitable home
for it. Giving up their wandering ways, the people
built permanent homes under the growing canopy
of the apple tree dragon’s branches. When the
dragon grew old enough to bear fruit, it shared
its bounty with those who cared for it.
These were happy years for the dragon
and its community as they thrived
through mutual care and love.
One day, as the sun rose, a huge,
dark shape appeared on the horizon,
growing closer with terrifying speed.
Like a terrible comet leaving a trail of
destruction in its wake, the manchineel
dragon approached the village. The
apple tree dragon, which seldom moved
for fear of disturbing its friends’ homes,
stood up with a great creaking of wood,
sending showers of soil flying.
The massive apple tree

dragon is among the
wisest floral dragons.
66 FLORAL DRAGONS
Fig. 1 When an
apple tree dragon
stands up to
defend its home,
it can damage
buildings accidentally.
s are
As the manchineel dragon closed in, the apple tree dragon locked Apple tree dragon
ul gu ar dia ns and
horns with it, wrestling it away from the terrified people. The two powerf
tu res
massive dragons fought until sunset, neither able to defeat the tower over struc
hu ma no ids .
other. While their battle destroyed many homes, the apple tree created by
dragon gave the humanoids time to flee. e da ma ge ca use d
While th ing
de fe nd
Eventually, the exhausted manchineel retreated, and the apple by the apple tree g,
tree dragon collapsed in the torn-up dirt. The people emerged va sta tin
its home was de
from their hiding places and began to tend the wounded. As sualties.
I didn’t see any ca
they worked, the apple tree dragon cried great golden tears. It dr ag on mu st have
The
had managed to save the precious lives of its companions, but it le so they
could not help but weep for the plight of the manchineel dragon. warned the peop
had tim e to fl ee .
Although they had been separated long ago, the apple tree dragon
recognized the manchineel as its sibling from hazy memories of
when they were eggs. It wondered what could have poisoned the Houses can be rebuilt
manchineel dragon’s heart to make it so full of rage and pain. more easily than people
As the people rebuilt their homes, the apple tree dragon vowed can be resurrected. I will
to protect them as long as they lived under its canopy. It did not wait until the dragon and
want anyone to suffer and become tainted by isolation and the its community are safe
harshness of an uncaring world, as the manchineel dragon had before I try to talk to it.
been. To this day, apple tree dragons are revered as honorable,
courageous, and thoughtful guardians of anyone who needs
their protection.
FLORAL DRAGONS 67
PHYSIOLOGY
Apple tree dragons grow to over twice the size of true apple trees,
reaching around 40 feet in height. Their natural lifespan is unclear,
as there are no reports of apple tree dragons dying of old age, only
of injury or disease.
These imposing dragons sport antler-like crowns of thick
branches. A leafy crest runs down their spines from their canopy
to the base of their tails. Their long, bough-like tails are tipped
with more leaves, which they use as a whip to defend themselves
and others. Their forelegs have root-like projections that they
bury into the soil while at rest to draw up water and nutrients.
Long periods of sunlight are vital for apple tree dragons. They
have a unique ability to absorb and store the sun’s energy, which
causes glowing lines of light to stripe their chests and bellies when
exposed to enough sunlight. Apple tree dragons can unleash this
stored power in several ways, such as magically healing others or
opening their jaws to blast enemies with blinding light.
As a deciduous species of floral dragon, apple tree dragons are
deeply affected by the seasons. Each spring, they grow fresh leaves,
and their antlers bloom with stunning white and pink blossoms.
In the summer, their green leaves are vibrant, and their apples slowly
grow to between 3 and 4 feet tall. In the fall, the massive fruits
ripen. After the harvest, the dragons drop their leaves, leaving them
with bare branches. Though they do not truly hibernate, apple tree
dragons enter a restful stage during the winter. They move as little
as possible, sleep a lot, and enjoy calm activities like conversations
with close friends.
agon HABITAT
After the dr
it se lf , I saw
re-rooted Apple tree dragons require large amounts of sunlight and avoid
others
people helping n
dense, shady woodlands. They need rich, well-drained soil.
om had bee
e
toward it. S b ri s as
As they draw nutrients from the ground, they often rely on
ra y de fertilizer provided by their humanoid companions.
struck by st
he villagers Apple tree dragons can’t thrive in waterlogged areas and often
they fled. T
e injured bury their roots on hilltops. This also gives them a wide view of
were laying th
th at broke the surrounding area, helping protect their friends from danger.
in the light tree Should an apple tree dragon’s home become flooded, its community
th e ap pl e
through s. constructs drainage canals to keep the dragon healthy.
nc he
dragon’s bra Humanoids often build their houses under the shadow of apple
m e th at
They told tree dragons, accepting the risk of damage should the dragon have
ld
the light wou to stand up from its resting place to defend its home. Under the
st en re co ve ry.
ha boughs of an apple tree dragon, it’s common to find other friendly
floral dragon species, including rhododendron dragons. As few
I offered to help them, creatures pose a threat to them, apple tree dragons will tolerate most
species of floral dragons in their territory. They are happy to allow
and they were grateful
smaller floral dragons, such as dandelion and amaranth dragons,
for the assistance. to nest in their branches.
I must warn the apple There are some exceptions to an apple tree dragon’s forbearance.
tree dragon about the They will drive off floral dragons that threaten humanoids, such as
pleurossa, and maybe the ornithogalum or wisteria dragons.
apple tree dragon can Apple tree dragons have a conflicted relationship with
even help me destroy it. manchineel dragons, their deadly cousins. Finding themselves the
subject of the manchineels’ ancestral ire, apple tree dragons won’t
allow the vengeful dragons to hurt their communities. They will
fight to defend their homes when a manchineel attacks.
68 FLORAL DRAGONS
However, most apple tree dragons sympathize with the
manchineel dragons’ lonely existence and want to find a way to
coexist peacefully with them. Thus far, no attempt at diplomacy
has been successful because the manchineels resent the apple
trees all the more because they do not want their pity. Fig. 2 The light that
filters through the
BEHAVIOR leaves of the apple
Apple tree dragons require the company of humanoids. It is tree dragon’s huge
virtually unknown for them not to live alongside people. They canopy takes on
are respected as wise counselors and powerful guardians but refuse magical properties.
to take on leadership roles, preferring to let humanoids decide
their own affairs. Apple tree dragons will support and defend their
communities but will sternly refuse to participate in unprovoked
acts of aggression.
Apple tree dragons do not eat or drink. Instead, they
photosynthesize energy and draw water and nutrients from the soil.
These massive dragons rarely move, keeping the rootlike projections
of their forelimbs buried in the ground for most of their lives. An
apple tree dragon will only leave its home under dire circumstances
and will fight to the death to protect humanoids under its care.
Most fruits produced by apple tree dragons are infertile, and
they are happy to allow humanoids and other creatures to feast on
these great harvest apples*. Communities store them over the winter
as a vital staple food. Rarely, an apple tree dragon will bear a golden
apple, which has the potential to become an apple tree wyrmling.
For this to occur, the dragon must have one of its flowers pollinated
by a vespon carrying pollen from another flowering floral dragon.
FLORAL DRAGONS 69
When the golden apple ripens, it falls from the dragon’s
branches, attracting excitement from the community. They bury
the large apple, hoping to see a wyrmling sprout the following year.
Apple tree wyrmlings grow over a decades-long childhood,
during which they are cared for by their parent and the community
the adult dragon guards. Once a wyrmling is around 100 years old,
it sets off to find a home of its own where it can set down roots and
protect its new friends.
PERSONALITY TRAITS
Apple Tree Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
I love the beautiful music and art my humanoid friends create,
1
and I encourage them to express themselves through it.
I have seen many generations of humanoids live under my
2
branches. I cherish and remember each unique, precious life.
3 I am still young and haven’t found the place I want to call home yet.
My favorite time is the Great Harvest Festival to celebrate eating
4
the first apple of the year.
I am the first apple tree dragon. I have seen the world change,
5
but my love for it only grows with each passing season.
6 I rarely speak, preferring to listen and observe.
If my home is threatened, I become overwhelmed with anger and
7
can cause more damage than I mean to in my spirited defense.
I become melancholy in the fall as my leaves drop, ruminating
8
on all the people I have loved and lost.
MOTIVATIONS
Apple Tree Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
1 I will defend my home from all threats, whether large or small.
My wyrmling is almost ready to leave home. I want to ensure
2
The villagers kindly they find a place where they will thrive.
invited me to share their I am the keeper of my community’s history and want to share
3
feast. I had never seen an my knowledge with anyone who seeks it.
apple that large before. I want to strengthen the bonds between all species of floral
4
As we ate, I remembered dragons and humanoids.
my friends when we first I want to share my healing powers, so I want many people to
encountered the floral 5
visit my home.
dragons. If things had I want to help my manchineel cousins find the same happiness
turned out differently, 6
and companionship I enjoy.
we would all be
here together.
years
I learned that Izora had been here two
had allied herse lf with the manc hineel
ago. She
villag e befo re
and caused much suffering in the
surpr ised she woul d work
she was driven out. I'm
hates
with a floral dragon given how much she
now. Befo re the wiste ria drag on, she used
them
to love them so much...
70 FLORAL DRAGONS
Fig. 3 A single fruit
from an apple tree
dragon can feed a
whole community.
Great Harvest Apple

Wondrous item, rare
This enormous apple is
produced by an apple tree
ADVENTURE HOOKS dragon. The apple is large
enough to provide up to ten
Here are ways to include apple tree dragons in your game. creatures with sustenance for
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK one day. The apple can be sliced
An apple tree dragon’s home is under attack by a wisteria dragon. and shared, hollowed out and
1 used for cooking, or baked
It asks the party to come to its defense.
into other dishes. A creature
The apple tree dragon that protected a town for generations that spends at least 10 minutes
vanished in the night, leaving a gaping hole where it was rooted.
2
The townspeople are frightened and want their friend and
consuming part of the apple
protector back. gains the following benefits:
A young apple tree dragon has turned 100. Its parent asks the It regains 2d8 hit points.
3
party to escort it on its journey to find a home. It gains temporary hit
An apple tree dragon asks the party to carry a diplomatic message points equal to the
4 number of creatures that
of friendship to a manchineel dragon.
also consumed part of
the apple during the
es to dear
I will send these last not same meal.
I hav e gro wn too old
Zethandriel. It gains resistance to
onl y hop e the app le tree
and can acid damage for the
peo ple safe
dragon can keep these next 24 hours.
Izo ra cor rup ted.
from the fungus A creature can only benefit
from a great harvest apple’s
effects once every 24 hours.
FLORAL DRAGONS 71
Apple Tree
Dragon
Gargantuan dragon, typically lawful good

Hit Points 546 (28d20 + 252)
Speed 50 ft., swim 40 ft.

30 (+10) 15 (+2) 28 (+9) 30 (+10) 28 (+9) 26 (+8)
Saving Throws Str +18, Dex +10, Wis +17, Cha +16
Skills History +18, Insight +17, Nature +18, Perception +17, Persuasion +16, Survival +17
Damage Resistances fire, lightning, radiant, thunder
Senses darkvision 120 ft., tremorsense 120 ft., passive Perception 27
Languages Common, Draconic plus up to four other languages
Charge. If the dragon moves at least 30 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a ram attack
on the same turn, the target takes an extra 18 (4d8) damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed
on a DC 26 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Magic Weapons. The dragon’s weapon attacks are magical.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Protective Floral Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with
its ram and two with its tail.
Ram. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 41 (7d8 + 10) bludgeoning damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 43 (6d10 + 10) bludgeoning damage.
Protective Floral Presence (2/Day). The dragon extends a protective force over any number of
creatures of its choice it is aware of within 300 feet, not including itself. Targets gain resistance to
the dragon’s choice of either fire, cold, lightning, necrotic, poison, psychic, or thunder damage.
Additionally, whenever a target regains hit points from spells or potions, it regains the highest number
possible for each die rolled. These effects last for 1 minute or until the dragon is incapacitated.
Healing Light (3/Day). Light filtering through the dragon’s leaves takes on magical healing power.
Each creature within a 20-foot radius of the dragon, including itself, regains 27 (6d8) hit points
and is cured of the frightened and poisoned conditions. The dragon can’t use this action in darkness.
Sunlight Breath (Recharge 5–6). The dragon exhales brilliant sunlight in a 90-foot cone. Each
creature in that area must make a DC 24 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes
66 (12d10) radiant damage and is blinded for 1 minute. On a successful save, it takes half as much
damage and isn’t blinded.
72 FLORAL DRAGONS
REACTIONS
Protect the Small. When a Medium or smaller creature within 20 feet of the dragon is targeted with
an attack by a creature the dragon can see, the dragon can impose disadvantage on the roll. If the attack
hits, the dragon takes the damage instead of the targeted creature.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Tail. The dragon makes a tail attack.
Uproot. The dragon moves up to its speed. Unattended objects and structures in its path take
16 (3d10) bludgeoning damage.
Reroot (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon digs its roots into the soil, regaining 27 (6d8) hit points
and removing all levels of exhaustion affecting it. Once it uses this ability, the dragon’s speed
becomes 0 until the end of its next turn.
AN APPLE TREE DRAGON’S LAIR

The whole settlement that an apple tree
dragon protects is considered its lair.
LAIR ACTIONS
While fighting in its lair, the apple tree
dragon is empowered by love for its home.
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative
ties), the dragon takes a lair action to
cause one of the following effects; the
dragon can’t use the same effect two
rounds in a row:
An ally of the dragon within its lair
gains inspiration.
An ally of the dragon within its lair
gains 6 (2d10) temporary hit points.
Roots erupt from the ground in a 100-foot
diameter circle centered on the dragon.
All creatures within this area must succeed on
a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw or drop prone.
The area becomes difficult terrain.
REGIONAL EFFECTS
The region containing an apple dragon’s lair is
affected by the dragon’s magic, which creates
one or more of the following effects:
Crops grown within 10 miles of
the lair are unnaturally fruitful
and resistant to disease.
People tend to be less
argumentative and
more collaborative.
On rainy days, a rainbow can almost
always be seen, arching toward the dragon.
If the dragon dies, these effects fade over
the course of 1d10 days.
FLORAL DRAGONS 73
74 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 75
Manchineel
Dragon
Tiny Large
Small Huge A TALE OF TWO DRAGONS:
Medium X Gargantuan THE RESENTFUL MANCHINEEL
When the world was young, an ancient hill dragon laid two eggs
Manchineel dragons at the top of a mountain. One rolled down into a fertile valley and
became the apple tree dragon. The other egg rolled toward a patch
carry the resentment of neglected earth, into a deep crater where nobody could find it.
of their forebears. Buried under the earth, the egg went undisturbed until it hatched.
A floral dragon wyrmling unlike any other fought its way out
of its shell and clawed to the surface. It shook off clods of dirt and
found it was completely alone.
The wyrmling raised itself and fiercely defended its barren
home. It weathered harsh storms, rarely feeling the touch of the
sun. To escape predators, the wyrmling tunneled deep into the
infertile ground that had kept it safe as an egg.
76 FLORAL DRAGONS
Despite the odds, the wyrmling survived and grew into the
first manchineel dragon: a terrestrial dragon who never knew love.
With no one to feed it, the young dragon hunted its own food.
It developed toxic sap, rising from the bitterness in its lonely heart.
The manchineel dragon soon outgrew its would-be predators. Bears’
claws and wolves’ teeth couldn’t scratch its gnarled bark-like scales.
The adult dragon laughed as its old tormentors succumbed to its
acidic sap.
One day, the manchineel dragon awoke to a sweet, strangely
familiar scent. The manchineel dragon followed the odor, picking
up speed as the aroma grew stronger. As the manchineel dragon
approached the source, it saw an apple tree dragon uproot itself.
A pang of sorrow shot through the manchineel dragon’s heart as
it recognized its sibling. That sorrow turned to rage when it saw
the community the apple tree dragon had grown up with. The Everyone told me the
manchineel dragon let out a mighty roar and met the apple tree manchineel dragon would
dragon head-on, locking horns with it.
The two great dragons were evenly matched, each receiving
be difficult to find,
as many injuries as they dealt. As the sun sank behind the trees, butI suppose I was lucky.
the manchineel dragon used the last of its strength to return to The trail of destruction
its barren home on the other side of the mountain. It nursed its it left behind led me
wounds alone. It couldn’t help but wonder who it might have right to it.
grown to be if it had received the same love and care as its sibling.
In the following days, the manchineel dragon burrowed itself I remembered to show
under the earth from whence it came and stayed there for years. respect. Even I, fearless
Like its sibling, it learned to feed on nutrients from the land itself.
Out of spite, it grew its own deadly fruit, a dark reflection of the
as I am, felt very small
apple tree’s bounty. The manchineel dragon stewed in resentment in the presence of such
of its sibling, who was given everything it ever needed. a creature. I told it I had
When its bitterness could grow no more, the manchineel an offer for it, and it
dragon burst forth from the earth, uprooting everything around it. agreed to hear me out.
It rampaged through the forest, leaving a trail of destruction in its
wake. Hungry for revenge against the apple tree dragon, it charged
toward the village once more. The outcome of the manchineel
dragon’s second attack is unknown, but one thing is certain:
the descendants of the first manchineel dragon are fueled by
the resentment of their ancestor. They are instinctually driven
to break apart happy families and loving bonds.
Fig. 1 A manchineel
dragon's passage carves a
path of destruction.
FLORAL DRAGONS 77
Fig. 2 Manchineel dragons PHYSIOLOGY
and apple tree dragons Manchineel dragons are a rare breed with little confirmed about
have a long-standing feud. them. The handful of recorded sightings claim they stand around
30 to 40 feet tall. Their bodies are earthen in color, with shaggy
roots covering their chests. The tips of their four feet are white, as
are the large twisting branches that sprout from the tops of their
heads and along their jaws. Their lifespan is currently unknown.
The fruits of a manchineel dragon are dangerously similar in
appearance to those of the apple tree dragon, earning the nickname
“the apple of death.” The resemblance is entirely superficial; the
yellow fruit of the manchineel dragon is fatal to all who consume it.
The manchineel dragon excretes a toxic sap that runs through its
tough, bark-like scales and deep green leaves. Even the smallest drop
of the milk-white, oily sap inflicts horrific acidic burns. Manchineel
dragons contaminate entire forests with their sap, either deliberately
or by letting nature take its course. Sometimes, rainwater mixes with
manchineel sap, dripping onto unsuspecting travelers and seeping
into the soil and waterways.
There has been at least one documented attempt to destroy a
manchineel dragon by burning it. The effort produced toxic smoke,
which blinded those caught in the fumes.
78 FLORAL DRAGONS
HABITAT
Manchineel dragons live underground for long stretches of time.
They like to burrow, creating enormous bunkers where they siphon
nutrients from the earth and feed on tunneling prey.
A manchineel dragon’s lair includes the land above and its
tunnels. Plants that can thrive in the acidic soil grow in and around
a manchineel dragon’s lair, and if the dragon remains underground
for many years, a thriving garden can grow above. The dragon’s
horns and tails often grow so large they poke above the ground
and can be mistaken for trees.
Manchineel dragons do not need pollinators; they are self-
sustaining, having developed in solitary conditions. A vespon
that sips the dragon’s toxic nectar will suffer a gruesome demise
just hours later.
BEHAVIOR As I parlayed with the

Manchineel dragons are bitter and reclusive, with no observed
manchineel dragon, my eyes
mating habits. New manchineel dragons are created when a stung from the acidic
large fragment of an adult’s horn falls in blood-soaked soil. fumes that rolled off its
The fragment of horn sinks deep into the soil, and enriched by body. I tried to gain its
the blood a new mahnchineel wyrmling forms. If the parent is sympathy by describing
present when its wyrmling emerges, it will attempt to devour
its offspring. Wyrmlings have sharp survival instincts, and those
what the wisteria dragon
who run outlive those who fight. had done to my home, but
Maturing manchineel dragons are even more dangerous it seemed resentful that
than adults. They can’t understand the deep envy and lust I ever had a home.
for vengeance inside them and so attack indiscriminately.
In adulthood, manchineels learn to be more tactful and let My luck changed when I to
theirhatred motivate them without overwhelming them.
Famously, manchineel dragons are the archnemeses of apple
it how my former friendsld
tree dragons. The descendants of the original manchineel harbor tried to prevent me from
an innate hatred for all apple tree dragons. As such, people under seeking revenge and how
the protection of an apple tree dragon are favored targets for they continued to resear
manchineels, especially when they are far from their dragon’s watch. floral dragons rather thach
A manchineel dragon’s favorite food is meat from a creature
that was cared for in life—kind treatment makes the flesh tender.
help me. The manchineel n
They are capable of intelligent thought but quick to anger and laughed. It said that suc
will attempt to eat those who irritate them or waste their time. bonds of friendship areh
Most manchineels consider humanoids to be inferior, and they only ever convenient lies.
will occasionally allow a humanoid to survive an encounter simply
out of apathy. Their innate drive toward retribution against those
it feels wronged by makes manchineel dragons sympathetic to I asked it to help me
humanoids plotting vengeance. destroy the wisteria
If a humanoid can convince a manchineel dragon that their
hatred is in full bloom, the dragon may agree to help them with
dragon. In exchange, I
their revenge—on the condition that the humanoid help them promised to help it take
exact suffering on apple tree dragons. Manchineel dragons are revenge on the apple tree
keenly suspicious of ulterior motives and never trust the humanoids dragon that lives nearby.
they work with, but they always hold up their end of the bargain.
If a humanoid were to betray a manchineel dragon, they would
be in grave danger for as long as that dragon lived: the dragon
would make it their life’s mission to hunt the traitor and give
them a slow, agonizing death.
FLORAL DRAGONS 79
PERSONALITY TRAITS
Manchineel Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
1 I don’t want friends. Others would only disappoint me.
The manchineel dragonIt 2 I put myself first because nobody else ever has.
agreed to help me. ust
definitely does notmetr it.
I’ve made deals with dozens of humanoids on both sides of
3
rivalries. Seeing them squabble and hurt each other amuses me.
me, and I don’t bla her.
I don’t trust it eit any
4 Destroying communities makes me feel powerful.
It could eat me at e a 5 I have a favorite patch of dirt that I always return to.
given time, but we havnow. 6 Other animals have no place in my lair.
tenuous alliance for There’s nothing in the world that a fresh coat of acid
7
wouldn’t improve.
I will still pursue
my other plan with I like to watch humanoids living their lives in settlements
8
and observe their habits. I wait for the right time to strike.
the interesting spores
I found just in case MOTIVATIONS
this partnership doesn't
yield results. Manchineel Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
All I have known is suffering and loneliness. It is only fair that
1
others suffer too.
Apple tree dragons are my enemies, and I won’t rest until they
2
are wiped out.
I can’t stand to see people with loving connections. I tear families,
3
friends, and relationships apart.
An apple tree dragon defeated me in battle once. I shall find it
4
and kill it.
I must find and make pacts with others of my kind so manchineel
5
dragons can take their true place as rulers of this rotten world.
6 My purpose is to take vengeance, and I will help others do the same.
I parted ways with the

dragon and headed to the
apple tree's village. Unluckily
for them, I have learned a
lot about poisons from my
studies of floral dragons.
80 FLORAL DRAGONS
Fig 3. A manchineel
dragon roars at
a blooming of
heliconia dragons.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Here are ways to include Manchineel dragons in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
A noble asks for help, saying that someone or something tore
up their garden overnight. They don’t know that a manchineel
1
dragon was living underneath their land and destroyed the
garden when it surfaced.
A researcher found the remains of a manchineel dragon’s horn
buried under the site of a historic bloody battle. They fear that
2
there could be multiple manchineel dragons living just below
the surface.
The local barkeep has disappeared after a terrible argument with
his brother. His friends fear he has gone to ask the manchineel
3
dragon on the other side of the forest for help gaining revenge.
They want him found and brought back alive.
A druid circle has learned the location of a manchineel dragon
from their regular conversations with wildlife in the area.
4
They come to the party for help, as its toxins are destroying
the ecosystem.
FLORAL DRAGONS 81
Manchineel
Dragon
Gargantuan dragon, chaotic evil

Hit Points 351 (18d20 + 162)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 40 ft., climb 40 ft

30 (+10) 10 (+0) 29 (+9) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 23 (+6)
Skills Intimidation +13, Perception +17
Damage Resistances fire, necrotic
Damage Immunities acid, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned
Languages Common, Draconic
Challenge 25 (75,000)
Deadly Chemicals. When the dragon takes fire damage, the flames ignite the toxins coating its scales
creating a 40-foot-radius sphere of poisonous smoke centered on the dragon that remains until the end
of the dragon’s next turn. Each creature in that area must make a DC 25 Constitution saving throw.
On a failure, that creature is poisoned and blinded for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw
at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Toxic Sap. A creature that touches the dragon or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it
takes 10 (3d6) acid damage.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Vengeful Floral Presence. It then makes three attacks:
one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 32 (4d10 + 10) piercing damage
plus 14 (4d6) acid damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 24(4d6 + 10) slashing damage.
Vengeful Floral Presence. The dragon enters a battle frenzy, driven by the ages-old fury inside it.
Each creature of the dragon’s choice within 120 feet of the dragon must succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom
saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is vulnerable to all damage from the dragon’s attacks and
makes melee attacks against the dragon with advantage. These effects last for 1 minute. A creature
can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effects on itself on a success.
If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the dragon’s
Vengeful Floral Presence for the next 24 hours.
82 FLORAL DRAGONS
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Lock Horns. The dragon chooses one creature within 15 feet of it that it can see. The target must make
a contested Strength (Athletics) check against the dragon’s Strength (Athletics) check. If the dragon wins
the contest, the target is pushed back up to 15 feet away from it to an unoccupied space. If the dragon
wins the contest by 10 or more, the creature is sent flying and lands prone in the unoccupied space.
If the target wins the contest, it can push the dragon up to 15 feet away from it to an unoccupied space.
Tail. The dragon makes a tail attack.
Rampage (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon moves up to its speed in a straight line without provoking
opportunity attacks. Each creature in its path must succeed on a DC 26 Dexterity saving throw or
take 19 (3d12) bludgeoning damage and be stunned until the start of the dragon’s next turn.
A MANCHINEEL DRAGON’S LAIR

Any area a manchineel stays in is quickly corrupted
and becomes its lair. The ground, water, and air
fill with its acrid poison.
LAIR ACTIONS
While fighting in its lair, the manchineel
dragon is empowered by its poisonous
miasma. On initiative count 20 (losing
initiative ties), the dragon takes a lair action to
cause one of the following effects; the dragon
can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:
The dragon burrows up to its speed.
All creatures in its path or on the surface above
its path must succeed on a DC 26 Dexterity
saving throw or be knocked prone.
Manchineel plants in the lair drip toxic sap.
Each creature in the lair must make a DC 25
Dexterity saving throw or take 21 (6d6) acid
damage, or half as much damage on a success.
Patches of ground within 90 feet of the dragon
become unstable and crumble. Creatures in
20-foot square area of the dragon’s choice
must succeed on a DC 25 Dexterity saving
throw or fall into a 20-foot-deep hole and
take 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage.
REGIONAL EFFECTS
The region containing a manchineel dragon’s
lair is warped by the dragon’s magic, which
creates one or more of the following effects:
When it rains, the area within 1 mile of
the dragon’s lair experiences acid rain.
The ground within 1 mile of the lair has large,
deep holes from the dragon’s burrowing.
Fruit and vegetables grown within 20 miles
of the dragon’s lair have an acidic aftertaste,
though they are not poisonous themselves.
If the dragon dies, these effects fade over the
course of 1d10 days.
FLORAL DRAGONS 83
84 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 85
Heliconia
Dragon THE HELICONIA DRAGON’S SONG
Legends say that there once was a flightless dragon called Kaisoferth
Tiny Large who loved to sing. She made her home in the jungle, surrounded by
X Small Huge lush vegetation and magical talking flowers. Kaisoferth sang to greet
Medium Gargantuan the friendly hummingbirds’ chirps in the morning and sang herself
to sleep at night as the heliconia flowers opened. The whole jungle
loved Kaisoferth’s songs.
Heliconia dragons boast As the seasons turned, the hummingbirds prepared to migrate.
distinctive plumage and Kaisoferth longed to join them, but she would never be able to keep
dramatic tails. up with her friends on foot. The dragon loved her home, but she
longed to see other places and fill her heart with new songs.
On the last day before their journey began, the hummingbirds
came to join Kaisoferth for her daily song, but she remained silent.
86 FLORAL DRAGONS
Fig. 1.
The hummingbirds asked what was wrong. Kaisoferth lamented that A heliconia dragon
she couldn’t fly like them. Even when she tried to sing for them, she perches proudly
could only produce a wistful croak. on a branch.
The hummingbirds hated to see their friend so dejected and
missed her singing. The birds told the magical heliconia flowers, and
together they planned to help Kaisoferth. That night, as the heliconia
flowers opened they offered to magically grant Kaisoferth the wings
she desired. Kaisoferth readily agreed. Once transformed, she again
sang with joy at becoming a heliconia dragon. Her descendants bear
her friends’ gifts: wings and a long beak from the hummingbirds and
the gorgeous leafy plumage from the heliconia flowers.
PHYSIOLOGY
These bird-like dragons sport a set of talons which they
uses to cling to branches and a sharp, woody beak.
Heliconia dragons only grow to be 1 to 2 feet in
length, not including their long tails. Wild heliconia
dragons have an average lifespan of 50 years, but
domesticated dragons have been known to live to 75.
The heliconia dragon is notable for its vivid
coloring and its broad green leaves. These large leaves
grow from its wings and at the base of its trailing tail.
Water collects in the bracts that grow from the stem of its
tail. The heliconia’s true flowers are hidden within these leaf-
shaped bracts. Heliconia dragons come in red, orange, or yellow
varieties, but during the mating season, the crest on a heliconia
dragon’s head flushes deep pink or purple.
The song of a heliconia dragon is heartbreakingly beautiful. Thanks
to a specialized organ in their throat called a syrinx, heliconias can sing
with two voices at once. Heliconia dragons only communicate in song,
singing in Draconic or making beguiling, wordless music.
HABITAT
Heliconia dragons make their homes in lush jungles and dense
forests. They build nests with twigs and leaves near the treetops
and return during the day to sleep.
The heliconia dragon’s flowers are vital to their local
ecosystems; they cross-pollinate with true heliconia plants
and serve as a source of food for hummingbirds and bats.
Zethandriel
BEHAVIOR knows how to
Heliconia dragons mainly eat fruits, seeds, and small invertebrates.
If they are lucky enough to live in the vicinity of a magnolia
entice me on an
dragon, a single fruit from the larger dragon’s tail is enough expedition. They told
to feed half a dozen heliconia dragons. me about the heliconia
During mating season, heliconia dragons partner up if they dragons’ songs and I set off
like the shade of pink or purple on a potential mate’s head crest. immediately. This one was
A heliconia dragon lays eggs in clutches of four to six, which hatch
only 12 days later. Wyrmlings are vulnerable in the first 10 days of
perched on a branch high above
their lives. During this time, the adult heliconias take turns gathering my head. I sang to it, and it sang
food and guarding their young. Heliconia parents collect rainwater back! I couldn’t understand what
in their tails for their young to drink until they can leave the nest. it was saying and I have no idea
After three weeks, the mature wyrmlings depart, and the parents go if it could understand me, but
their separate ways. Female heliconia dragons can also reproduce
without the need for a mate if they are polinated by a hummingbird
I feel like we connected on some
that is carrying pollen from a true heliconia plant. level. Who knows!?
FLORAL DRAGONS 87
I came across a
heliconia dragon with an
even smaller dragon under
its wing. The heliconia dragon
seemed content to let the
smaller dragon stay there.
Fig. 2. Heliconia
dragons provide shelter
for jade vine dragons.
Heliconia dragons do not enjoy violence, but when faced

I’ll have to ask Izora with the choice of defending their wyrmlings or saving themselves,
to look into this little the heliconias always choose to protect their young. They try to
bat-like dragon. charm their attackers with their song, using magic to end the fight.
Failing that, they peck and scratch viciously.
I mustn’t get distracted The biggest threat to heliconia dragons is the enormous
from my study of the hydrangea dragon, which climbs up trees and eats their eggs.
heliconia s! But it’s The smaller heliconia can never hope to best the hydrangea in
battle. Instead, it sings a charming song to dissuade the predator
fascinating how all from eating its eggs.
these floral dragons exist Bat-like jade vine dragons have a close and mutually beneficial
alongside each other. relationship with heliconia dragons. Heliconias provide shelter
from the elements, covering the smaller dragons with their broad
wings as they nestle into the base of their tail. Both dragons take
turns sleeping and watching for predators. Close observation
of this relationship in the wild revealed that heliconia and jade
vine dragons appear to have lasting bonds, with the same pairs
reuiniting each day.
88 FLORAL DRAGONS
Heliconia dragons are particularly sociable not only with jade
vine dragons but many other varieties of floral dragon too. Notably,
heliconia dragons are one of the only species known to befriend
cantankerous larkspur dragons. Such unlikely pairs bonds over
their shared love for song and can be heard harmonizing together.
Researchers have noted one trait all heliconia dragons share is
pride. They like to perch with their heads held high where other
creatures can behold them. Heliconia dragons are drawn to form
relationships with humanoids who satisfy their desire to be admired.
Humanoids wanting to domesticate heliconia dragons can only
attract them if hummingbirds live in the area. Heliconia dragons
also require their new homes to be more appealing than their
natural homes. The dragons can communicate these preferences
to humanoids who understand Draconic.
PERSONALITY TRAITS
Heliconia Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
1 I speak only in song, and I ignore everyone who doesn’t sing to me.
2 Everyone should admire my gorgeous plumage.
3 I’m shy, and I have yet to sing where anyone else can hear me.
You never know where the fruit from a magnolia dragon’s tail
4
has been. I’d never eat from it.
I prefer to be friends with jade vine dragons than other
5
heliconia dragons.
6 My grooming routine is meticulous.
7 No matter how hard I try, all my songs are off-key.

I can control the color of my head crest to ward off suitors
8
I don’t like.
MOTIVATIONS
Heliconia Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
I have been carrying a jade vine dragon under my wing this
1 whole time. We have a bet on how long it will take someone
to notice.
An arrogant larkspur dragon thinks it can best me in song.
2
I’ll show them!
I met another heliconia dragon last mating season, and I must
3
find them this year too.
The same hydrangea dragon has eaten my clutch three years
4
running, and I won’t let it happen again.
5 Nothing comes between me and my wyrmlings.
I want to be friends with more pollinators, and I am sad that
6
they don’t like to visit.
FLORAL DRAGONS 89
Fig. 3. Heliconia
dragons always like
to show off, but never
more so than during
the mating season.
The re we re two
helicon ia dragon s is
circling each other ththat
morning. I noticeddeep
they we re both a le.
shade of purp
After the y circled eac h oth

some time, the y flew off togerethfor
The unusual coloration must beer.
how the y disting uish the mselve s
for mating.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Here are ways to include heliconia dragons in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
A team of vespon-keepers is trying to manufacture the world’s
1 first heliconia dragon honey and they need lots of heliconia
dragon nectar for the experiment, as they expect several failures.
Researchers found a nest of jade vine dragon wyrmlings with a
pair of adult heliconia dragons. They want to move the wyrmlings
2
to a conservation area where they will be raised in captivity.
The heliconia dragons appeal to the party for help.
A malicious mage has cursed all heliconia dragons living in a
particular area. The curse has turned their songs from a soothing
3
melody into a terrifying screech. The dragons need their songs
restored and the curse lifted.
A farmer is breeding heliconia dragons for their eggs, hoping
to entice a nearby hydrangea dragon to visit their land. One of
4
the heliconia dragons escaped and needs the party’s help to free
the others.
90 FLORAL DRAGONS
Heliconia
Dragon
Small dragon, typically neutral good


4 (−3) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 9 (−1) 14 (+2) 17 (+3)
Skills Perception +4, Performance +7

Condition Immunities charmed
Languages Draconic
Flyby. The dragon doesn’t provoke opportunity

attacks when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon makes three attacks:
two with its beak and one with its talons.
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 +
2) piercing damage.
Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2)
slashing damage.
Charming Song (2/Day). Each creature within 60
feet of the dragon that can hear it must succeed on
a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or become charmed by
the dragon for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving
throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect
on itself on a success.
FLORAL DRAGONS 91
92 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 93
Hydrangea
Dragon
Tiny Large THE POISON FRUIT OF RIVALRY
Small X Huge Long ago, in a faraway kingdom, two rival gardeners served t
Medium Gargantuan he royal palace. Gerran tended to the meticulously planned east
garden, while Mari kept the wilder west garden. For years they
A hydrangea dragon’s vied for their Emperor’s favor, each trying to prove their form
vivid coloring comes of horticulture was superior.
from its attunement One day, a hydrangea dragon appeared in the palace complex.
to its environment. The gardeners rushed to lure it toward their side, as it would be a
great privilege to have the magnificent dragon choose their garden
as its home. While Mari foraged for eggs to feed the hydrangea
dragon, Gerran installed a sparkling fountain that drew water
away from Mari’s garden.
First, the dragon wandered toward Mari’s
garden in the west, its blooms turning blue.
However, it found the garden too dry and quickly
turned away. It then investigated the east garden,
where its blooms turned pink. It settled near
the splashing fountain, and Gerran rejoiced,
boasting that the dragon had chosen
his garden, proving he was
the better gardener.
94 FLORAL DRAGONS
Rage ignited within Mari when she discovered what Gerran
had done. The night before the Emperor was to visit the east
garden to see the dragon, she snuck into her rival’s domain.
She dug salt into the soil around the sleeping dragon and all
across Gerran’s garden.
As the dew glistened on the flowers of the west garden in the
morning light, the Emperor arrived to witness a terrible sight in
the east garden. The hydrangea dragon was wilting, its powerful
chest heaving in ragged breaths as it lay among the dying plants.
The Emperor ordered his healers to tend to the dragon. As soon
as it recovered it recovered, the hydrangea swiftly fled the palace.
The Emperor considered it a grave omen, as hydrangea dragons
depart places they consider unclean or corrupted.
Mari’s sabotage was quickly uncovered, but the Emperor
blamed both gardeners. Their petty feud had harmed the innocent
hydrangea dragon. He exiled the gardeners from his palace, and
they never saw the gardens they had devoted their lives to again.
PHYSIOLOGY
Hydrangea dragons are powerfully built reptilian creatures that
measure around 20 feet in length from the tips of their flat
snouts to the ends of their thick tails. They have an upright
posture, carrying their heads high. Full-grown hydrangea dragons
have tough blooms and leaves covering their backs, chests, and
upper legs, as well as two clusters of blooms on their cheeks.
A hydrangea dragon’s pink or blue blooms are made of
modified leaves that hide their true flowers, which are smaller
and only bloom a few times in the dragon’s life during mating
seasons. Like their plant cousins, hydrangea dragons are highly
sensitive to their environment. The acidity of the soil upon which
they live determines the color of their blooms. Dragons that live
on acidic soil will turn blue, while those that live on alkaline soil
will be pink. Balanced soil produces blooms of both colors. When
a hydrangea dragon moves from one environment to another, its
blooms shift in color rapidly. Hydrangea dragons only have control
over the color of the blooms on their cheeks, which they can shift
from blue to pink at will as a form of visual communication.
Although their large horns make them appear intimidating,
hydrangea dragons are opportunistic scavengers rather than
true predators. They largely gain energy through photosynthesis,
though they feast on other dragons’ eggs or carrion to
supplement their diet.
Hydrangea dragons mature once they have grown their full
set of blooms around a year after hatching, but typically do
not mate until they are at least 500 years old. The oldest living
hydrangea dragon on record is over 2,000 years old and shows
no signs of age or illness. It is theorized hydrangea dragons may
be functionally immortal, only dying due to predation, accident,
or illness caused by pollution.
FLORAL DRAGONS 95
Fig. 1. Hydrangea dragons
are agile climbers, which
allows them to indulge
their taste for the eggs
of other nesting dragons.
I heard rustling in the see a

trees and looked up toano ther
hyd ran gea dra gon and
smaller floral dra gon . I was
sur pri se d to se e suc h a big
dragon had mad e its wa y all
the way up there.
HABITAT
Hydrangea dragons love water and prefer to live in areas that
experience frequent, heavy rainfall. During storms, they can be
seen performing an elaborate, energetic dance. Some researchers
believe they are cleaning dirt from their blooms, while others think
this dance is a more complex ritual.
Sensitive to their environments, hydrangea dragons will not
The hydrangea looked stay in polluted areas. They can taste the air with their tongues
mighty hungry, but the and sense toxins in the soil through their root-like claws. Wherever
smaller dragon stood a hydrangea dragon makes its home, it is safe to assume the region
over its eggs. has a healthy environment.
The hydrangea dragon
seemed content to wait. BEHAVIOR
As for the smaller one, Hydrangea dragons are expert climbers. It can be surprising to see a
I’ll ask Amina what she s dragon the size of an elephant nimbly make its way up a tree or cliff
learned when she return face, but a hydrangea’s sharp claws and powerful muscles let them
from her expedition. scale heights with ease.
Hydrangea dragons generally live peacefully alongside other
floral dragons. However, their taste for eggs threatens smaller species
during their nesting season, particularly the heliconia dragon.
Some floral dragon species have developed potent poisons to
defend themselves against the sensitive hydrangea dragons.
96 FLORAL DRAGONS
Though they are content to be solitary for most of their lives, Hydrangea
hydrangea dragons gather to breed once a century or so. During Dragon Poison
this time, they form large bloomings of up to thirty dragons, who (Contact or Ingested)
take care of the eggs and hatchlings communally for around a year. This colorless poison is
Once the young hydrangea dragons have fully blossomed, the harvested from the blooms
blooming scatters. Any place lucky enough to have been the site of a living hydrangea
of a hydrangea dragon blooming is said to be blessed with good dragon. A creature
fortune and prosperity forever. subjected to this poison
As living indicators of the soil’s quality, hydrangea dragons must make a DC 15
are popular among farmers and gardeners. When a hydrangea Constitution saving throw.
is spotted, humanoids often try to lure it to their land so they On a failed save, it takes
can learn which crops will thrive there. Hydrangea dragons are 4d12 poison damage, suffers
considered good omens in many communities. Given their size, 4 levels of exhaustion, and
strength, and susceptibility to pollution, hydrangea dragons can’t is poisoned until it is treated
be kept in captivity, and will either escape or perish if the conditions with hydrangea dragon
are poor. Instead, they choose when and where to associate with antidote*. On a successful
humanoids, which they generally neither threaten nor fear. save, the creature suffers 2
Humanoids with vile intentions sometimes seek out hydrangea levels of exhaustion
dragons for their blooms, which can be brewed into a potent and isn’t poisoned.
poison. Though the dragons themselves do not use their blooms’
toxins, hydrangea dragon poison has long been popular with Hydrangea
assassins as it has no taste or smell. The magical hydrangea dragon Dragon Antidote
antidote* can also be alchemically brewed from the dragon’s blooms. Potion, rare
I saw a hydrangea drat gon scarfing This viscous liquid shifts
down some meat, bu the marks between blue and pink in
on the car cas s loo ked too narrow its vial. It is brewed from
to be from the dra gon ’s cla ws, the blooms of a living

re we re n’t any pun ctu res hydrangea dragon.
and the hor ns eit her .
consistent with its A creature that has been
poisoned that drinks this
The dragon must vial of liquid is no longer
be eating carrion. I haven’t poisoned. It also regains
seen it hunting prey. I wonder 2d12 hit points and reduces
if it does or if it lets other its levels of exhaustion by 3.
predators do the work.
Fig. 2. Hydrangea dragons

are scavengers, eating
anything they come across or can
steal from other predators.
FLORAL DRAGONS 97
PERSONALITY TRAITS
Hydrangea Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
My cheek flowers shift color constantly to match my ever-
1
changing mood.
2 I spend most of my time high up in trees rather than on the ground.
Once I’ve found a spot I like to sunbathe in, almost nothing can
3
make me move.
4 When I get wet, I like to splash other creatures as I shake the water off.
I am particularly friendly toward humanoids, but I don’t
5
recognize how much bigger and stronger I am than them.
6 I enjoy digging big holes in the soil with my root-like claws.
7 I am a snob. If a garden isn’t as beautiful as me, I won’t stay.

I am embarrassed by my patchy blooms and overcompensate
8
with aggression.
MOTIVATIONS
Hydrangea Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
1 I long to find a home where I can feel truly settled.
e
Hydrangea dragonbeshoarld.
2 I want to help humanoids create a healthy environment.
truly a sig ht to I am traveling to the hydrangea mating blooming, and I won’t

They look fearso me 3
let anything get in my way.
but I le ar ne d th ey
only use their ho rns if 4 I enjoy bullying smaller floral dragons. It makes me feel powerful.
s
something elsestat. tack 5 I have been sickened by pollution and must cleanse myself.
them fir I have an unusual wanderlust. I won’t stay for long, even if the
6
I also saw a drag on’s environment is healthy.
chee k bl oo ms sh ift
pink. ADVENTURE HOOKS
color from blue to at
I wo nd er wh Here are ways to include Hydrangea dragons in your game.
it means… D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
The librarian of a magical academy is stricken with the effects
of hydrangea dragon poison. The only hope of a cure is to find a
1
hydrangea dragon, harvest its blooms, and brew hydrangea dragon
antidote* before time runs out.
Tired of being driven from place to place by worsening pollution,
a hydrangea dragon has decided to fight back. It has started
2
attacking people it thinks are causing the impurities in the soil,
water, and air.
A hydrangea dragon has become trapped in a mining pit.
3 The pollution has weakened it so much that it can’t climb free
and will die soon if it is not rescued.
It’s the night before the Grand Horticulture Show, and the
hydrangea dragon that lives with Hortense [she/her], one of the
4
judges, has been kidnapped as blackmail. Hortense desperately
wants her friend back unharmed.
98 FLORAL DRAGONS
Fig. 3 Though
intimidating in
appearance
hydrangea drag,ons
only use their
horns for defens e.
Hydrangea
Dragon
Huge dragon, any chaotic alignment
Hit Points 123 (13d12 + 39)

17 (+3) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 8 (−1) 16 (+3) 14 (+2)
Saving Throws Str +6, Dex +5

Skills Insight +6, Perception +6
Damage Resistances acid; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Vulnerabilities poison
Senses tremorsense 30 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Draconic
Charge. If the dragon moves at least 10 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a gore attack
on the same turn, the target takes an extra 7 (2d6) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must
succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be pushed up to 10 feet away and knocked prone.
Environmental Senses. The dragon has advantage on Perception checks and can sense the presence
and precise location of pollutants, poisons, and poisonous creatures within 1 mile of it.
Nimble Climber. The dragon does not provoke opportunity attacks when it moves out of a hostile
creature’s reach using its climb speed.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon makes two attacks, one to gore and one with its tail.
Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (4d8 + 3) piercing damage.
FLORAL DRAGONS 99
100 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 101
Jade Vine
Dragon
X Tiny Large PROTECTING THE JADE VINE DRAGON
Small Huge The beautiful jade vine dragon is an endangered species.
Medium Gargantuan Humanoid activities—such as logging, mining, and land
development—have killed countless dragons and driven many
more from their homes in forests and caves.
The jade vine dragon While some druid circles work to defend the jade vine dragons’
is known for its natural habitats, other interested parties found a different solution
distinctive coloring. to protect the remaining dragons: jade vine dragons could be kept
in captivity to ensure their survival.
Though some of the druids were hesitant to remove the dragons
from the wild, eventually, they agreed they could be kept in
captivity if there was no other option. Dragons born in captivity
could remain in captivity.
102 FLORAL DRAGONS

Though the original intentions were good, the captivity
program was quickly abused by those who desired jade vines for
their beauty and were uninterested in their wellbeing. Wealthy
landowners used their power and influence to amass bloomings
of jade vine dragons for their private collections in cramped and
unsuitable environments. Ornamental jade vine dragons are
trendy in the upper echelons of society, and their bean-like eggs
are considered a delicacy.
Today, jade vine dragons are still endangered and face additional After Amina told me
threats from those who purchase them not to preserve the species about the little dragon
but for display before discarding them. There is a thriving illicit
market, fueled by nobles willing to pay a premium price to keep
hiding within the
up with the latest fashions in jade vine dragon varietals. heliconia, I had to find
The druids who defended the jade vine dragons’ forest homes the jade vine dragon for
have been trying to establish protected areas of wilderness so the myself. I stumbled upon a
dragons can live undisturbed. However, these defenders struggle whole blooming of them
to prevent poachers and loggers from entering these sanctuaries.
Land habitable by jade vine dragons recedes by the day, and the
living in a cave.
druids worry the species will eventually only be able to survive
in a domesticated form. I saw them open their
mouths. They had the
PHYSIOLOGY tiniest little teeth!
Jade vine dragons range from 2 to 10 inches long and live for Their petals were also
around 40 years. A jade vine dragon’s ears contain complex inner
structures that allow them to use echolocation. They also have
glowing softly.
forked tongues, which help them navigate through touch and smell.
Despite their size, jade vine dragons can fly long distances with their
bat-like wings, which also function as their forelimbs. They excellent
Fig. 1 The jade vine ng
dragon squeaks, reveanalid
climbers and are often found hanging upside down among clusters
of true jade vine plants.
Vibrant spiked teal flowers grow in a row down the dragon’s its forked tongue
spine and all over its bulbous tail. In addition to flowers, jade vine sharp teeth.
dragons occasionally produce large seed pods containing dark,
bean-like eggs. These weigh the dragons down as they
grow on their backs, making the parent particularly
vulnerable. If planted, the eggs inside hatch into jade
vine wyrmlings that take around 2 years to mature.
The jade vine dragon’s signature turquoise
coloring allows it to hide among jade vine plants.
As bats are the main pollinators of a jade vine
dragon’s flowers, the dragons call to the bats
at frequencies inaudible to humanoids,
encouraging them closer. Bats like to feed
around and from jade vine dragons as they
provide some protection from predators as
well as nectar.
When the dragon squeaks and while it
sleeps, its petals glow softly. If threatened,
a jade vine can brighten this gentle glow
into a blinding light. The dragon’s other
natural defense is its sharp teeth. A jade
vine dragon’s surprisingly powerful bite
is identifiable by the twin punctures from
its prominent incisors. Their diet consists
largely of insects supplemented with
nuts and seeds.
FLORAL DRAGONS 103

Fig. 2 Jade vine dragons
are powerful fliers and can
cover 60 miles in one night.
HABITAT
Jade vine dragons live in humid caves, tropical
ravines, and dense forests. The dragons require
warmth and migrate when the weather changes
to escape the unsurvivable cold. Jade vine dragons
live in stable bloomings in places where it is warm
year-round.
Jade vine dragons have friendships with the heliconia dragons
that share their habitats. The two species often frolic together,
with heliconias playfully chasing the smaller jade vines as they hop
from branch to branch. They have also been observed nuzzling one
another affectionately and sharing food. Their relationship is also
practical. The jade vine dragon’s sharp teeth enable it to eat insects
that would otherwise bother the heliconia dragon. In return, the
heliconia dragon offers shelter, allowing jade vine dragons to tuck
themselves under its broad wing leaves. The heliconias
protect jade vine dragons from the elements. The two
dragons are mostly active at night, and they warn each
other of predators during the day.
Jade vine dragons are Humanoids have found that caring for jade vine dragons
presents several challenges. Domesticated jade vine dragons must
almost as cute as be kept in artificial caves or forests with a carefully controlled
dandelion dragons! climate, including the temperature, humidity, and lighting that they
I saw one spreading its would enjoy in the wild. Living in the wrong conditions can cause
wings, and the colorI s the dragon to become sluggish. Unfortunately, those who keep
were so gorgeous them for show prefer it when the dragons are still, making it easier
to admire their beauty. Eventually, a dragon kept in this way will
couldn't look away. wither and die as they refuse to feed.
The dragon seemed so Jade vine dragons also require open space to fly around and
exercise; without sufficient space, the dragons become stressed.
happy to be flying As sociable creatures that live in large bloomings, jade vine
around. I saw it enter dragons should be kept in groups of five or six at minimum,
a cave, which must be ideally with heliconia dragons. Lonely jade vine dragons become
where it lives. understimulated and miserable.
104 FLORAL DRAGONS

BEHAVIOR
A jade vine dragon’s diet consists primarily of insects supplemented
by fruits and seeds. For forest-dwelling jade vine dragons, the fruits
and seeds that fall from a magnolia dragon’s tail are an easy meal.
Though they are social with other friendly floral dragons,
the tiny jade vine dragons are easy meals for larger predatory species,
such as the larkspur and vampire lily dragon.
When a jade vine dragon is attacked or threatened, it would
rather flee than fight. It uses its flying and climbing capabilities
to put as much distance between itself and its attacker as possible
and then searches for a safe place to hide until the danger has
passed. If the attacker is capable of flight, the jade vine dragon
activates its luminescence to blind its pursuer, granting it an
opportunity to escape.
Jade vine dragons are attentive parents. Once their eggs hatch,
they help the wyrmlings climb up trees or carry them into caves
to safety. In areas where food is scarce, the parents ensure that
their babies are fed, even if it means going hungry themselves.
PERSONALITY TRAITS
Jade Vine Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
It’s hilarious when I activate my luminescence, and everyone
1
else squeezes their eyes shut.
2 Everything is more fun upside-down, even eating and flying.
3 I don’t want to be noticed and am always hiding.
4 I never go anywhere without my heliconia dragon best friend.
5 When I bite, it means I like you!
6 Climbing is the greatest joy in life.
7 Even the slightest chill is too cold for me.

Migrating is so much effort, and I resent that we have to do it.
8
I’m always the last to leave.
MOTIVATIONS
Jade Vine Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
1 I never want to leave the safety of my blooming.
A magnolia dragon protected me from a larkspur dragon.
2
I must repay the favor.
3 I want to learn how to fight instead of flying away like a coward.
My heliconia friend has been singing with a larkspur dragon
4 recently. I want to be with my friend but I’m afriad the larger
dragon will eat me.
5 I’d love to raise a family of my own someday.
I want to escape captivity with my blooming and find a place
6
where we can live safely.
FLORAL DRAGONS 105

I checked on the dragons
again and found even
more of them. They
were all hanging upside
down, fast asleep. Their
flowers emitted a soft
glow in the dark.
As I watched, I noticed
some smaller dark
shapes nearby.
I squinted to look at
them and realized they
were bats drinking
the nectar from the
sleeping dragons.
Fascinating!
Fig. 3 Jade vine
dragons hang upside
down to sleep.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Here are ways to include jade vine dragons in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
A blooming of jade vine dragons has fled a cave to escape
mining activity and taken up residence inside a villager’s shed.
1
The villager doesn’t have the time or resources to care for the
dragons and needs help relocating them.
A logger needs an enormous quantity of wood to keep their
business afloat. They have set their sights on a forest that is home
2
to several jade vine dragon bloomings. A druid circle hires the
party to prevent the logger from harming the dragons.
A jade vine dragon wyrmling has gone missing from its
3 conservation reserve. The dragon’s caretakers suspect theft and
ask the party to track it down.
A gang is illegally breeding jade vine dragons to sell at exorbitant
prices without any regard for the dragons’ wellbeing. One of the
4
gang members approaches the party out of guilt and asks them
to stop the operation.
106 FLORAL DRAGONS

Jade Vine
Dragon
Tiny dragon, unaligned
Armor Class 14
Speed 15 ft., climb 20 ft., fly 50 ft.

3 (−4) 19 (+4) 13 (+1) 3 (−4) 14 (+2) 12 (+1)

Languages —
Echolocation. The dragon can’t use its blindsight while deafened.

Nimble Escape. The dragon can use a bonus action on each of its turns to take the Dash,
Disengage, or Hide action.
Floral Appearance. While the dragon remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from ordinary
jade vine plants. It has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in areas covered in
similar plants.
Keen Senses. The dragon has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing.
ACTIONS
Luminescence (Recharge 6). The dragon emits a bright glow. Each creature within 60 feet of it
that can see the dragon must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes
2 (1d4) radiant damage and is blinded until the start of the start of the dragon’s next turn.
On a success, a creature takes half as much radiant damage and is not blinded.
The dragon can then move up to half its speed.
FLORAL DRAGONS 107

108 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 109
LDragon
amium
Tiny Large THE DEAD-NETTLE KING AND
Small Huge THE LAMIUM DRAGONS
Medium X Gargantuan Legends of the ancient past say there was a kind and just human
king whose heraldric emblem was the henbit dead-nettle. Like the
m
stic lamiu
The majise also calledor
dead-nettle, he was gentle to all creatures. He was even friendly
with dragons, though some in his kingdom mistrusted them.
dragon arch wyrm” When a river dragon with whom the king was close friends
the “mdo-nnettle dragon." died laying her eggs, the king took it upon himself to foster the
“dea two she left behind and raised the wyrmlings as his kin. His
subjects feared what these young dragons might become.
One night, a group of would-be heroes snuck into the
palace and murdered them.
Stricken with grief, the king sought to restore the
wyrmlings to life and ensure their continued survival.
He consulted with his mages and priests in search of such
magic. The spell that his counselors devised required him
to offer an arm and a leg for each of the fallen wyrmlings,
as well as the sight from one eye. This he did without
hesitation. Through great pain, his sacrifice bore fruit, and
the wyrmlings were restored to life as adult river dragons.
110 FLORAL DRAGONS

Fig. 1 A lamium dragon
tasting the air.
The kingdom was moved by

the king’s sacrifice—as were the
dragons, who resolved not to seek
revenge on their killers. They became
the king’s loyal guardians for the rest
of his long and prosperous reign.
Upon the king’s death, the
dragons bid his body be sunk
to the bottom of their
river. There, they used
their magic to bestow
new life upon the king.
His body dissolved into
dozens of small wyrmlings,
bearing dead-nettle flowers along
their bodies. Those that survived grew to
massive size, becoming the first lamium dragons.
PHYSIOLOGY
See that tong’suenot
Also known as monarch wyrms, these rare dragons resemble
th e? Well,
er it
gigantic eels covered in blooms of dead-nettle flowers. Their just fo r sh ow .
eyeless heads sport two upward-facing nostrils, and their um dr ag on s us e it to
Lami or th at ’s
jaws are filled with rows of needle-like teeth. Their large and ai r,
taste the il told me.
complex brains make these dragongs intelligent, curious, and
what Azrethons of his
preternaturally perceptive
He said drag the world
kind understand
Lamium dragons are covered in thick, rubbery skin that resists
e,
most damage despite lacking scales. They and the plants that grow
through smell, intag.stThat
along their backs can tolerate freezing temperatures but require
so un d, an d fe el
consistent sunlight to flourish. Lamium dragons rely on the sugars
last one is a ly psychic
photosynthesized by these plants, though adults must still hunt
sense that onhave lamium
three to five times a year to obtain the nutrients needed to keep dr ag on s .
the plants alive.
Lamium dragons live long and grow slowly, taking nearly
200 years to reach adulthood. Fully grown dragons can become Their other senses
truly enormous, reaching up to 80 feet long and weighing nearly are plenty sharp too,
140,000 pounds. Adults can live for over 1,000 years. Azrethil said he could
Specialized prong-like organs on a lamium dragon’s head sense me long before I
detect both sound and pressure and are sensitive enough to pick was anywhere near him.
up the heartbeats of nearby creatures. These organs also grant
psychic abilities, allowing the dragons to sense the emotions of
nearby creatures. Lamium dragons can broadcast their emotions in
strong psychic bursts, which can be destructive or overwhelming
depending on the dragon’s emotional state. Lamium dragons also
have incredibly keen senses of smell and taste, which help them to
perceive the world.
FLORAL DRAGONS 111

HABITAT
Lamium dragons require large freshwater lairs such as lakes or rivers
to satisfy their need for space and to support the large aquatic and
ght
Lamium dragonlss ,mibut
shoreside fauna they prey upon. They also need to be able to pull
ee themselves out onto land in full or partial sun to photosynthesize.
look li ke
they must holdn ththeir As they enjoy good company and good conversation, many
breath w he ey choose bodies of water within swimming distance of humanoid
dive underwat er, settlements, benevolent fey enclaves, or the lairs of other intelligent
just like we do.
dragons. They prefer to lair in areas with lots of plant growth that
provide nutrient-rich runoff. A lamium dragon’s lair is highly
influenced by its emotions and thrives or stagnates depending
The amazing thing is on the dragon’s mood.
that lamium dragons These dragons also favor areas inhabited by heliconia
can go for an hour dragons and clematis dragons, who clean their large bodies
between breaths! of parasites like florivores. Though they are happy to share
This lets them dive their habitats with other aquatic dragons, such as water
incredibly deep lily dragons, they won’t be bullied and are quick to drive out
to hunt for tasty any dragon intent on causing them problems.
creatures hiding
in the lake bed. BEHAVIOR
Intelligent and kind, lamium dragons
often help those they encounter. They are
naturally curious and playful, but their size
and power make them dangerous to any who
might mean them harm. Lamium dragons
have perfect memories, and hoard knowledge
and experience the way other dragons prize gold
or gemstones. They are also highly social and enjoy
making friends with other intelligent beings.
A lamium dragon leaves its lair once each decade to
swim out to sea, where it meets others of its kind. This event
is brief, lasting only five to seven days, after which a dragon
must return to freshwater or risk the ocean salt damaging its
flowers. During this rendezvous, a dragon may meet its mate.
New couples return to one or the other’s territory, where they
form a lifelong bond. Paired lamiums rekindle their bond
once they meet again, and a dragon whose partner dies will
never mate again.
Fig. 2 A lamium dragon swimming

to the surface for air.
112 FLORAL DRAGONS

Female lamium dragons give birth only once in their lives
to precisely two wyrmlings. Their offspring are large, bigger than
some fully grown dragons of other species, but much smaller
compared to their parents. Unlike most species of dragon, lamiums
do not lay eggs. The mother gives birth underwater to live offspring,
after which she and her partner push the newborns to the surface to
take their first breath. The wyrmlings flower within seven to ten
days, after which either the mother or father returns to their
territory, leaving the dragonets to be raised by the remaining
parent. Once a juvenile dragon grows large enough, it must leave
the lake in which it was raised to find its own home. This is the
most challenging period of a young lamium dragon’s life, and only
about half survive. Those who secure their own territories slowly
grow to their adult size, at which point very little can threaten them.
Adult lamium dragons have no true enemies besides humanoids,
who have been known to hunt them for their skin, their organs,
or for sport. Lamium wyrmlings face the risk of being captured by
humanoids intent on forcing them to perform for crowds or carry
out salvage missions. Young lamiums usually die in captivity, and
losing a child to humanoids can turn an adult lamium dragon
bitter and vengeful.
Over time, each lamium dragon comes to its own conclusion
about the trustworthiness of humanoids, but they are generally
friendly and eager to learn about creatures they encounter. Of all
dragon species, lamium dragons are among the most likely to build
deep friendships with non-dragons and may become guardians of
cities or towns built on the shores of their lakes.
However, as deeply emotional creatures, this closeness with
humanoids cuts both ways. A betrayed or harmed lamium dragon
carries such pain for the rest of its life.
PERSONALITY TRAITS
Lamium Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
1 I want to learn as much as I can about the world beyond my lake.
2 I like meeting new people and am always curious about them.
3 I never tell a lie and expect honesty from others as well.
4 I have a strong sense of justice.
5 I dislike conflict and resolve my problems without violence.
6 I can’t resist the allure of a mystery.
7 I can talk for hours at a time about nothing in particular.
8 When I sense someone is sad, I need to comfort them.
FLORAL DRAGONS 113

MOTIVATIONS
Lamium Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
I guard a site of ancient evil and drive away those who come near
1
it for their own protection.
2 I want to make friends with other species and learn their ways.
3 Humanoids stole my child from me. I will have my revenge.

I have been separated from my own kind for centuries and long
4
to meet another lamium dragon.
My dear friend succumbed to a mysterious sickness and died.
5
Their memory weighs heavily upon me.
They might look 6 My lake is too small and crowded, so I must seek a new home.
fierce, but Azrethil
taught Amina and me s
how gentle and curiou ADVENTURE HOOKS
lamium dragons can be. Here are ways to include lamium dragons in your game.
Azrethil was still
young and had many D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
questions about things’d A lamium dragon protecting a prosperous lakeside city-state
we’d seen, places we s
1 has mysteriously vanished, leaving the settlement vulnerable
been, and what it wa to naval attacks from its enemies.
like living on land. A lamium dragon has taken to attacking all humanoid ships
2 that cross a channel, looking for the poachers who stole
Azrethil even wanted their offspring.
to know about the Information regarding a powerful foe has been lost to time,
“humanoid stuff” he 3 but an ancient lamium dragon residing in a vast forest lake
found at the bottom of knows their secrets.
his lake. Some of it was
really valuable, but 4
A lamium dragon guards a partially sunken ruin containing
powerful magic in order to ensure its destructive power is
according to Azrethil, never used again.
the story of a thing is
worth just as much as
the thing itself.
Fig. 3 A lamium dragon
emerging from the water
after rescuing lost supplies.
114 FLORAL DRAGONS

Lamium
Dragon
Gargantuan dragon, any alignment

Hit Points 264 (16d20 + 96)

28 (+9) 8 (−1) 22 (+6) 18 (+4) 23 (+6) 19 (+4)
Saving Throws Dex +4, Con +11, Int +9, Wis +11
Skills History +9, Insight +11, Perception +16
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Condition Immunities blinded, deafened
Senses blindsight 120 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception 26
Languages Draconic, plus any three languages
Hold Breath. The dragon can hold its breath for 1 hour.
Sunlight Dependency. The dragon gains a level of exhaustion every 5 days it isn’t exposed to sunlight.
A level of exhaustion gained this way is removed if the dragon is exposed to direct sunlight for 5 hours.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Aquatic Floral Presence or Greater Heart Sight. It then makes
two attacks: one with its bite and one with its tail.
Aquatic Floral Presence. Each creature of the dragon’s choice that is within 120 feet of it is cured of the
poisoned condition and gains 11 (2d10) temporary hit points that last for 1 minute. As long as these
temporary hit points remain, the target can’t be poisoned and can breathe water. Once the effect ends
for it, the creature is immune to the dragon’s Floral Presence for the next 24 hours.
Greater Heart Sight. The dragon focuses on a creature in range of its blindsight and magically learns
the creature’s current emotional state. If the target fails a DC 16 Charisma saving throw, the dragon
also learns the creature’s alignment. Celestials, fiends, and undead automatically fail this saving throw.
Emotion Wave (Recharge 5–6). The dragon uses one of the following emotion waves.
Negative Wave. The dragon releases a blast of violent psychic energy in a 60-foot cone. Each creature
in that area must make a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw, taking 52 (15d6) psychic damage on a failed
save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature that fails its saving throw by 5 or more
is frightened of the dragon until the end of its next turn.
Positive Wave. The dragon releases a burst of blissful psychic energy in a 60-foot cone. Each creature
in the cone must succeed on a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or become incapacitated for 10 minutes.
This effect ends early for a creature if a target takes damage. An affected creature can repeat its saving
throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect for itself on a success.
FLORAL DRAGONS 115

116 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 117
LarDragon
Kspur
Tiny X Large THE DRAGON FROM THE SEA
Small Huge The larkspur dragon wasn’t always a floral dragon. Legends say
Medium Gargantuan it was once an eel, sought after by mages who required its fins as
a spell component. These powerful magic users hunted the eels
A larkspur dragon’s to the brink of extinction, so a god of the sea made a deal with a
god of the forest to transform the eels into land creatures for their
petals may seem inviting,
protection. The god of the forest gave the eel long, fast legs to run
but they are coated from predators, a sharp beak to fend off enemies, and beautiful yet
with a deadly toxin. poisonous flowers to kill anyone who dared try to hunt it again.
However, the transformation replaced the larkspur’s fearful
temperament with a dragon’s haughtiness and aggression. Some
believe these descendants of eels carry memories of cruel treatment
at the hands of humanoids, and their resentment manifests in the
larkspur dragon’s obnoxious nature.
118 FLORAL DRAGONS

PHYSIOLOGY
Despite their deceptively delicate features, larkspur dragons have
strong natural defenses. They mature at 50 and can live to around
400 years old. Larkspur dragons can eventually grow be up to 20
feet in length and 10 feet tall, weighing about 200 pounds. Their
petals are thin and come in deep shades of indigo, purple, and
pink. They can fly short distances but are most comfortable on
the ground. They are bipedal, with large claws for traction, and
lithe, agile bodies built for running long distances at great speeds.
Thanks to their long necks and sharp beaks, larkspur dragons can
attack enemies from outside their range of retaliation. Instead of
flight, larkspurs more frequently splay their wing-petals to make Legends say larkspur
themselves look larger and more intimidating. dragons were once eels,
All larkspur dragons are poisonous, and their petals are toxic but you’d never guess it
to the touch. The petals conceal a potent threat: the seeds nestled seeing one run. They move
within contain the highest concentration of poison on any part with graceful strides
of the dragon’s body. Creatures that consume the seeds die within at speeds too fast for
hours of eating them.
predators to catch them.
HABITAT
Larkspur dragons prefer environments with full sun, well-drained eption
soil, and frequent rain. Though these are also ideal conditions for A common misconc
pu r dr ag ons
many species of floral dragons, the larkspur is so hostile that most is that larks
fl igh tle ss, bu t
others will flee rather than try to fight one for territory. must be
do ind ee d fl y. This
Always on the move, loose bloomings of larkspur dragons they
than
migrate year-round. As long as there is enough food for the taxes them more
ga nt ov er land
blooming, they’ll stay in one place. They behave as though they their ele
own any place they arrive in, and they view other inhabitants of ve me nt . St ill, ho w
mo
it th at a
the area as intruders, even when the opposite is true. When the remarkable is
dragons have depleted an area of food, they move on. bo rn fr om
creature
t so
Perhaps due to their marine origins, larkspur dragons do not the sea could adap
tolerate drought or dryness. They avoid forests with thick canopies bo th
spectacularly to
that cast deep shade, preferring open meadows, steppes, prairies, land an d sk y?
and grasslands.
Fig. 1 A larkspur dragon running.
FLORAL DRAGONS 119

Fig. 2 A larkspur
dragon faces off
against a peony dragon.
BEHAVIOR
a As omnivorous creatures, larkspur dragons hunt small mammals,
The peony dragon is birds, and the much smaller dandelion dragons. Their long necks
l pre da to r of th e
natura also allow them to eat leaves and fruit from tall trees.
larkspur. Though the Larkspur dragons change mates yearly and produce five to
ant
peony dragon is resist eight eggs each breeding season. They are unaffectionate parents
ksp ur’ s to xin s, and expect their offspring to keep up with the roaming blooming
to the lar
ies on sur pri sin g its within days of hatching. Young larkspur dragons are docile and
it rel
once
prey to land a kill. I friendly until they mature, at which point they become vicious
sta nd of f and possessive over the land they view as their territory.
witnessed a
ter a peo ny’ s Although highly aggressive to other creatures, larkspur
af
dragons are social among their own kind. Even so, fights
ambush failed. between them happen regularly, often over perceived slights.
Larkspur dragons are highly combative when they feel
The two appeared threatened by almost anything that intrudes on their territory.
evenly matched, and If disturbed, a larkspur dragon won’t hesitate to attack first.
the larkspur dragon They fight to injure in the hope their opponent retreats in defeat,
to
flared its wings wide but they won’t hesitate to kill a creature that continues to attack
imi da te its fo e. Th e them. A larkspur dragon will chase other creatures from its
int
n of f by
peony was drive territory, but if the threat moves far enough away, the dragon
the lar ksp ur’ s is content to return home. A larkspur dragon will only flee if it
extreme pugnacity. is certain it cannot win. While larkspur dragons are generally
cantankerous, their primary adversaries are peony dragons, one of
the few creatures that can withstand the larkspur dragon’s toxins.
120 FLORAL DRAGONS

Among floral dragons, only the heliconia dragon has truly
befriended the larkspur. They share a love of music and weave their
songs together into breathtaking harmonies. Larkspurs can also
be found acting uncharacteristically peacefully around magnolia
dragons and eating the fruit that they scatter. It is theorized that
the larkspurs respect the powerful magnolia dragon’s prohibition
of violence among the creatures that gather around it.
If a larkspur dragon encounters humanoids within a few
days of hatching, it can be raised in captivity. With care, some
humanoids have succeeded in raising larkspur dragons and trained
them as mounts. Their speed and offensive prowess make them
ideal mounts, and their natural belligerence can be tamed, making
them loyal and protective companions. Larkspur riders must wear
protective gear to protect them from their mounts’ toxins.
PERSONALITY TRAITS
Larkspur Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
If I sense a sudden movement, I charge at its source
1
without thinking.
2 I whip my tail around when I am impatient or angered.
I never bow my head or lower my neck. Everyone else must
3
look up at me.
I underestimate other floral dragons, and I am defeated in
4
combat more often than I would like.
Anytime I see another creature or vehicle moving very fast,
5
I try to race it, even if I don’t know where it is going.
I can’t stand company. Nothing infuriates me more than other
6
creatures in my space.
7 I walk around with my wing-petals raised at all times.
I enjoy tricking humanoids into touching my petals.
8
It amuses me when they foolishly poison themselves.
MOTIVATIONS
Larkspur Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
1 I won’t stop until I have claimed this entire forest as my own.
I was raised by humanoids, but I am curious about a blooming
2
of wild larkspurs that recently arrived. I want to meet them.
3 I’m interested in finding ways to enhance the toxicity of my petals.
4 I want to be the fastest floral dragon that ever existed.

I hunt mages. They are responsible for my ancestors being driven
5
from the sea long ago.
6 My dream is to fly long distances, no matter difficult it may be.
FLORAL DRAGONS 121

Fig. 3 A larkspur
dragon mid-song.
One night, by a
stroke ADVENTURE HOOKS
bl ed upon
of luck, I stum g a
Here are ways to include larkspur dragons in your game.
dr ag on sin gin
a larkspur bl e D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
c w ar
clear and melodi th e One of the larkspur dragons a village keeps as a mount has run
ro ug h
that echoed th to
1
off into the forest. The residents are concerned for its safety.
it tr yin g
trees. Was
or simply A larkspur dragon has taken up residence in a forest for an
attract a mate 2 unusually long time. Its poisonous seeds threaten the plants
ure?
singing for pleas a nearby settlement relies on for medicine.
A larkspur dragon has found a small humanoid settlement
All the same, I’m 3 deep within the forest and is trying to claim the area as its own,
thankful the larkspur attacking everyone who lives there.
shared its song with me. Two rival bloomings of larkspur dragons reached the same
Perhaps you will be so 4 territory at the same time and are fighting over it, risking its
lucky one day as well. total destruction.
122 FLORAL DRAGONS

LarKspur
Dragon
Large dragon, any chaotic alignment

Hit Points 90 (12d10 + 24)

16 (+3) 17 (+3) 15 (+2) 7 (−2) 10 (+0) 9 (−1)

Skills Intimidation +5, Perception +3
Languages Draconic, understands Common can’t speak it
SPECIAL TRAITS
Fleet of Foot. The dragon can use a bonus action on each of its turns to take the Dash action.
Poisonous Petals. A creature that touches the dragon or hits it with a melee attack
while within 5 feet of it takes 7 (2d6) poison damage.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon makes two attacks:
one with its beak and one with its talons.
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit,
reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3)
piercing damage plus 5 (1d10)
poison damage.
Talons. Melee Weapon Attack:
+6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage
plus 5 (1d10) poison damage.
FLORAL DRAGONS 123

124 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 125
MDragon
agnolia
Tiny X Large FABLE OF THE FOREST GUARDIAN
Small Huge Long ago, an elder dragon called Kuldrynnyth lived peacefully in
Medium Gargantuan a secluded forest with their family. The family ate magnolia flowers
that grew in their forest home. One day, a new clan of dragons
arrived in Kuldrynnyth’s forest. Kuldrynnyth welcomed the clan
ons and offered them a place to live, as well as a meal a meal, which
Magnolia drag was gladly accepted.
ot ec to rs and
are pr During the meal, the clan attacked Kuldrynnyth and their
ot her
caretakers of family, determined to seize the forest for themselves. Kuldrynnyth
ag on s.
floral dr bravely spread their wings as a mighty shield, allowing their family
to escape. Despite Kuldrynnyth’ valiance, the attackers overpowered
them. The elder dragon died defending their home, but their family
was able to escape.
126 FLORAL DRAGONS

The invaders left Kuldrynnyth’s body to decompose among
the remains of the magnolia flowers they had shared. Next
spring, the first magnolia dragons emerged from the earth
where Kuldrynnyth’s body had decayed. These dragons had
thick petals and sturdy, woody bodies. Though they grew slowly,
they demonstrated protective tendencies, which led humanoids
to believe that they carried Kuldrynnyth’s gentle spirit within
them. Their descendants carry on this legacy, nourishing new
life in the forest and guarding their fellow creatures loyally. Before now, I hadn’t seen
a magnolia dragon aloft. I
PHYSIOLOGY saw one moving over large
The magnolia dragon is one of the longest-lived and hardiest rocks and bushes on the
floral dragons. They mature around 150 years old and can live ground, its tail dangling
to be over 1,000. Magnolia dragons can grow to be up to 14 feet beneath its body.
long and 8 feet tall, weighing around 400 pounds. Their robust
petals grow in shades white, cream, and pink. These provide superb
I had thought that all
protection against predators. Magnolia dragons’ large, bulbous tails
bear fruit, which fall off and are eaten by other herbivores. dragons were graceful,
Though the largest petals on the dragons’ back form wings that but this one’s flight
enable them to fly short distances, magnolias prefer to remain on patterns were ungainly.
the ground. If one must to take to the sky, it attempts to use its size It went slowly, I suspect
and weight to knock foes out of the air. because its tail is too
heavy for it to maintain
HABITAT its balance at speed.
Magnolia dragons thrive in shady forests where there is plenty
of leaf mold for food, but their hardiness allows them to live
anywhere with reliably damp soil. The fruit that falls from their
tails attracts a diverse range of floral dragons and local wildlife,
which eat their seeds. Smaller creatures, such as the amaranth
dragon, often seek the large magnolia dragon’s protection.
Fig. 1 A magnolia
dragon in flight.
FLORAL DRAGONS 127

BEHAVIOR
Magnolia dragons mate for life. The species is rare since a pair only
lays one or two eggs over the course of their lives. Young magnolia
I came across a jade dragons stay with their parents for centuries until they are ready to
vine dragon and a start a family of their own, though some choose to instead remain
larkspur dragon eating with their family for their entire lives. Once a family of magnolia
the seeds from a dragons takes up residence in an area, it can remain there for
d
magnolia’s tail. It seeme thousands of years. Each day, family members split up to patrol
ot her ed different parts of their territory and call for aid with a thunderous
completely unb
,
by the others feeding bellow if they encounter trouble.
th e lar ksp ur, wh ich Magnolia dragons extend their idea of family to include
even
the floral dragons that stay near to eat the nutritious seeds that
Kaltaar tells me are grow on their tails. Amaranth dragons are their most common
usually aggressive to companions, but even the usually surly larkspur dragons
other floral dragons. have been seen peacefully eating alongside other creatures.
Magnolia dragons are fiercely protective. If confronted,
Perhaps because the a magnolia dragon resorts to defensive tactics, puffing out its
magnolia provides so petals to shield itself and others. Fluttering its petals distracts
much food, the other its opponent and buys other creatures time to escape.
dragons don’t need While they don’t seek out humanoid company, neither do
to compete. What they consider them threats. Most humanoids only hear legends
of magnolia dragons and wouldn’t dare approach one. However,
does the magnolia
some druidic circles and rangers have successfully befriended
get from this magnolia dragons. The memory of a magnolia dragon is long,
arrangement? Does it and they remember those who are kind or cruel to them.
need other creatures
to eat the seeds so it
can grow new ones?
Fig. 2 Other floral

dragons eat the seeds from
a magnolia dragon’s tail.
128 FLORAL DRAGONS

PERSONALITY TRAITS
Magnolia Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
I am more sociable than the typical magnolia dragon and like
1
to meet new people.
2 I would die to protect others from danger.
An attack on my community left me shaken, and I am easily
3
startled by sudden movements.
I try to be attentive when I am patrolling the forest, but I get
4
distracted easily and rarely ever finish my route.
5 I can’t resist a good snack.
I can’t stand the cold and have been known to sneak into warm
6
homes to get away from it.
Unlike most magnolia dragons, I enjoy flying, but I don’t have
7
the endurance to stay aloft for long.
8 I am fascinated by metals and shiny objects.
MOTIVATIONS
Magnolia Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
I must seek out new kinds of food for myself so that I produce
1
a variety of seeds for my community to eat.
2 I am always looking to improve the forest’s natural defenses.
3 I must keep up my strength in case my community is threatened.
4 I want to find a mate with whom I can share the rest of my life.
I must care for my aging parents and prepare to take
5
responsibility for this area when they are gone.
I want to fly vast distances despite my awkward flight. I could look
6
for places that might need my help.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Here are ways to include magnolia dragons in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
Bandits have captured a magnolia dragon and plan to sell it

1
at an auction. Its mate can’t leave their young to rescue it.
A group of soldiers have posed as a friendly circle of druids to gain

the trust of a magnolia dragon family. They hope that they can
2
convince the dragons to join their army and use them as shields
in an upcoming battle.
A magnolia dragon matriarch went missing while doing her
3 routine patrol, and her wyrmlings are left without protection
until she returns.
A group of mages has been experimenting on a family of magnolia
dragons, causing their petals to rot and making their seeds bitter.
4
The mages are trying to speed up the dragons’ development cycle
to breed more of them faster.
FLORAL DRAGONS 129

Magnolia
Dragon
Large dragon, typically neutral good
Hit Points 135 (18d10 + 36)

18 (+4) 8 (−1) 15 (+2) 9 (−1) 14 (+2) 13 (+1)
Saving Throws Str +7, Con +5

Skills Insight +5, Perception +5
Damage Resistances fire, force, cold, thunder; bludgeoning and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Languages understands Common and Draconic but can’t speak
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d10 +4) piercing damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.
Tail Strike. The dragon uses its tail to attempt to knock another creature off balance, targeting one
Large or smaller creature within 10 feet of it that it can see. The target must make a DC 15 Strength
saving throw. On a failed save, it takes 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage and is knocked prone.
On a success, the creature takes half as much damage and isn’t knocked prone.
BONUS ACTIONS
Distract (2/Day). As a bonus action on its turn, the
dragon puffs up and flutters its petals. Each hostile
creature of the dragon’s choice within 30 feet of it that
can see it must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving
throw or have disadvantage on all attack rolls made
against the dragon and its allies until the start of the
dragon’s next turn.
REACTIONS
Petal Guard (3/Day). When an attack roll is made
against a creature within 10 feet of the dragon, the
dragon can spread its wings as a protective shield,
granting the creature a +5 bonus to AC until the
start of the dragon’s next turn.
130 FLORAL DRAGONS

an
A magnolia dragon and
re
amaranth dragon we
as I
playing in the forest
by th is mo rni ng.
walked
ou ght th at ma gno lia
I th
dragons were du tif ul
ing
above all else, but see
on e eng age d in pla y
fascinates me!
Perhaps it considers
interacting with other
creatures part of its
responsibility as a guardian
and protector. Or maybe
it is, at its core, a more
social creature than I
assumed. I wonder if I
could ever get a magnolia
dragon to play with me…
Fig. 3 A magnolia dragon

in the company of an
amaranth dragon.
FLORAL DRAGONS 131

132 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 133
Ornithogalum
Dragon
Tiny Large SONG OF THE STAR BIRDS
Small X Huge When the world was young, there was a flock of magical birds that
Medium Gargantuan sang a song of such heartbreaking beauty and innocence that only
children could hear it without weeping. During the day, the flock
took the form of white birds, and each night they flew up to the
Ornithogalum dragons sky and became stars.
There was a young girl who loved the star birds with all her
are imposing but gentle.
heart. She would run to the fields every morning and dance among
them as they sang. But each night, she would cry as the birds flew
back to the sky and became stars once more.
The girl’s parents hated to see their daughter in tears. They set
a trap to catch the birds so she could enjoy their singing day and
night. As the flock prepared to return to the sky, dozens were caught
in the sticky net strung up over the fields. The trapped star birds’
songs became screams as they twisted and strained against the cords,
trying to follow their flock back to the sky. The family pressed their
hands to their ears and refused to look at the suffering birds.
134 FLORAL DRAGONS

Fig. 1 An ornithogalum
dragon is as
comfortable in the air
as it is on the ground.
In the morning, the girl went out to the

field to find the dead bodies of the star birds.
She buried them in a meadow. Afterward,
nothing would grow there, and animals
avoided the cursed place.
The next spring, the first ornithogalum
dragons emerged from the meadow where the star
birds had been buried. They brought disaster to the family,
eating their crops and sickening their livestock before flying away.
The star birds that survived never returned. Once she was grown,
the girl left home in search of the birds, hoping to apologize for what
her family did and hear their song once more. Some stories say she is
searching still.
PHYSIOLOGY
dragon
Ornithogalum dragons stand around 12 feet tall as wyrmlings and An ornithogalum
ht to
grow to their adult size of 20 to 30 feet tall and 15,000 pounds in flight is a sig
within a year of hatching. The age of an ornithogalum dragon can ing s ar e the
behold. Its w all
be estimated by the number of white flowers around its neck and w er fu l of
most po
on its legs. After a few hundred years, an ornithogalum will sport an ons I’ve
the floral drag
impressive bouquet, and live a natural lifespan of around 800 years. fa r.
seen so
Ornithogalum dragons’ bodies are sturdy and muscular. Each
powerful leg ends in three rounded claws that act more like hooves
I was outside observing
than the nimble digits of other dragons. They have slender tails
tipped with a heavy, club-like cluster of flowers. An ornithogalum’s it all day, and the
maw might look fearsome, but the outer petal-teeth that line its jaw dragon only landed once
are soft. Inside their mouths, ornithogalum dragons have a flat set to eat. Even though I
of teeth suitable only for chewing vegetation. was so far away from
An ornithogalum dragon’s wings are among the strongest of all it, I felt strangely tired
species of floral dragons. They can fly for days before needing to stop as I looked on.
to graze. This, combined with their massive weight, has led experts to I wonder if the
suspect they use magic to aid their flight. Their wing membranes and feeling has anything to
dorsal ridges bear white, yellow, and green scale patterns resembling do with the dragon…
the flowers on the dragons’ bodies.
Ornithogalum dragons are naturally resilient to arcane effects.
Strongest among their defenses is an invisible aura that causes creatures
that come close to the dragon to sicken and, in some cases, even die.
FLORAL DRAGONS 135

Ornithogalum HABITAT
Dragon Elixir
Cattle pastures and fertile arable land are ideal habitats for
Potion, rare
ornithogalum dragons. Due to their sickening aura, few
This shimmering, other species will tolerate a nearby ornithogalum dragon.
translucent green liquid Ornithogalums are not territorial, but once they have settled
is distilled from a living in a place to graze, they dislike being forced to move before
ornithogalum dragon’s they have eaten their fill.
flowers. When you drink Only birds and draconic pollinators called vespons can live
this potion, your exhaustion comfortably alongside ornithogalum dragons, as their aura does
level is reduced by one. not affect them. The placid ornithogalum dragons seem to enjoy
Additionally, you can spend their company, particularly in flight. Ornithogalum dragons are
Hit Dice as though you had often seen migrating alongside flocks of geese, swifts, or starlings.
taken a short rest.
BEHAVIOR
Ornithogalum dragons are strictly herbivorous. They graze on a
variety of plants but prefer crops such as barley, rice, wheat, and
grasses grown for hay. Unfortunately, their diet frequently brings
them into conflict with humanoid farmers as the dragons devour
fields and sicken livestock with their presence.
These large dragons are solitary, content to live without the
companionship of their own kind and mating infrequently.
When they do, they usually only produce a single egg. After
laying an egg in the fall, an ornithogalum dragon buries it deep
underground. The onion-shaped eggs are pale brown and as
tall as an adult human. In the spring, the young ornithogalum
wyrmling emerges, breaking through the shell and eagerly digging
Fig. 2 An ornithogalum its way to the surface. Ornithogalum parents play no part in
dragon grazes, ignorant raising their young, and the wyrmlings can fend for themselves
of the creatures dying from the moment they hatch. The emergence of a hungry young
around it. ornithogalum often causes panic among nearby humanoids.
136 FLORAL DRAGONS

As ornithogalum dragons exude a magical aura that causes
other creatures to wither and die, they often find themselves
attacked by humanoids. While grazing alongside livestock,
ornithogalums display no signs of intentional malice and do not
seem to notice animals dropping dead around them. While the
dragons are not aggressive, they will vigorously defend themselves
if attacked. There are many reports of people in rural areas being
killed by ornithogalums they tried to shoo away.
Some hearty individuals have been able to get close to an
ornithogalum before succumbing to its aura. If they can approach
without startling it, they can pick a few flowers from the placid
dragon. Mages can brew these flowers into a revitalizing potion
called ornithogalum dragon elixir*, but the flowers from a dead
ornithogalum have no magical effect.
PERSONALITY TRAITS
Ornithogalum Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
1 Almost nothing can distract me while I eat.
2 I’d rather find a place to graze for a long time than move about.
3 I am cheerful. Everything I see delights me.

I can’t understand why creatures around me fall down.
4
Are they sleepy?
I’ve been hurt by humanoids many times, but I still don’t see
5
them as a threat.
6 I enjoy frolicking, bouncing, and bounding more than flying.
7 I’m shy and don’t like to be seen. I prefer to graze at night.
8 I am incapable of regret.
MOTIVATIONS
Ornithogalum Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
Even though I spend every waking moment eating,
1
I am always hungry. The ornithogalum
2 I want a simple and quiet life. dragon landed in a
field of sheep and
I like the funny noises the strange little two-legged creatures
3
make when they see me.
started to graze.
I didn’t see the dragon
4 Everything I do is driven by innocent curiosity. do anything malicious,
5 Humanoids store lots of food in their houses. I want it. but the other animals
nearby soon fell to
6 The stars fill me with a deep longing that I do not fully understand. the ground.
ll
The animals were sti
br eat hin g, bu t th ey
didn’t get up. I had
never seen anything
like it.
FLORAL DRAGONS 137

Fig. 3 A farmer tries
to drive off an
ornithogalum dragon
eating their crops.
It didn’t take long fo

r
the landowner to no
tice
the dragon. Having had
its fill, the dragon fle
w
off when the farm
er ADVENTURE HOOKS
started waving
his pitchfork. Here are ways to include ornithogalum dragons in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
e
He told me every tim A community is mounting a hunt for an ornithogalum dragon
n lan de d in his
the drago 1 that killed all their goats and one of their neighbors. They are
e
field, his animals becam offering payment to anyone who joins them.
sick, even thou gh th e
Thani [he/him] has discovered an ornithogalum egg in one of his
dragon never touched 2
father’s fields. He knows his father will destroy the egg if he finds
them. He said once he it, so he is looking for anyone who can help him move it to safety
e
was too late, and th
before it hatches.
de ad by th e
sheep were An ornithogalum dragon has descended on an agricultural fair.
time he rea liz ed wh at 3 It is causing chaos as it eats its way through tents filled with
prize-winning vegetables and sickens the champion livestock.
was happening.
An injured ornithogalum dragon has crash-landed in a city.
It lashes out at anyone who comes near. A mage paid a local
a way 4
There has to be knight to harvest the dragon’s flowers, and he did so violently,
ga lum
for the ornitho
sending the ornithogalum into a panic.
t th e fo od
dragon to ge ing
w ith ou t ha rm
it needs .
ck
the local livesto
138 FLORAL DRAGONS

Ornithogalum
Dragon
Huge dragon, typically chaotic neutral

Hit Points 225 (18d12 + 108)

23 (+6) 13 (+1) 22 (+6) 6 (−2) 10 (+0) 12 (+1)
Saving Throws Str +10, Wis +5 Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion,

Skills Perception +5 frightened, poisoned
Damage Resistances acid, bludgeoning, Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
force, poison; piercing and slashing from Languages understands Draconic but can’t speak
nonmagical attacks Challenge 15 (13,000 XP)
Aerial Agility. While flying, the dragon makes Strength and Dexterity saving throws with advantage.
Magic Resistance. The dragon has advantage on saving throws against spells and other
magical effects.
Toxic Aura. Any creature that starts its turn within 20 feet of the dragon must succeed
on a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. An affected creature
can repeat its saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Noxious Floral
Presence. It then makes four attacks: two with its claws
and two with its tail. It can replace two claw attacks
with its stomp.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 15 ft.,
one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Stomp. The dragon slams its forefeet into the ground.
The ground in a 15-foot radius circle centered on the
dragon becomes difficult terrain, and each creature
within this area must succeed on a DC 19 Dexterity
saving throw or fall prone.
Noxious Floral Presence (Recharge 5–6). Each
creature within 120 feet of the dragon must succeed on
a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or suffer a level of
exhaustion. If a target’s saving throw is successful or the
effect ends for it, the target is immune to this dragon’s
Noxious Floral Presence for the next 24 hours.
FLORAL DRAGONS 139

140 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 141
PDragon
eony
Tiny X Large THE RESILIENCE OF
Small Huge THE PEONY DRAGON
Medium Gargantuan Long ago, the peony was the favored flower of an imperial dynasty.
The ruling family believed that as long as the peony bloomed in
their kingdom, the realm would remain beautiful and beloved by
the gods. They held a ceremony on the first day of summer where
Peony dragon s ha ve people would come from across the land to see the flowers bloom
a fearso me roar. so the flowers would bless the emperor and their kingdom.
For generations, the imperial household enjoyed peace and
harmony until one young empress took the throne. A forceful and
ambitious ruler, she vowed to show her might by exerting her will
over the magical flowers. She broke the tradition of her ancestors
and held the flower viewing ceremony on the first day of winter.
That day, the empress ordered one hundred species of flowers to
open their petals for her. The flowers wavered in fear and did as the
empress commanded, but the resilient peony refused to open until
it was ready.
142 FLORAL DRAGONS

The empress ordered her attendants to burn the rebellious I saw a beautiful field of
peonies. The following year, the flowers grew back as mighty
peony dragons. Instead of blessing the royal family, the gods
uncommonly tall peonie s,
had blessed the peonies, granting them sharp teeth, strong, and I couldn't resist taking a
stem-like spines, and formidable size. Ever since, peony dragons stroll throug h them. I didn't
have roamed the land, and they still possess the independent
spirit of their flower ancestors. notice the dragon among all the
flowers until it rose up on its
PHYSIOLOGY
Peony dragons are hefty creatures that can grow up to 15 feet long
hind legs, unleashing the most
and weigh as much as 450 pounds. They have fluffy, round petals terrify ing roar.
that protect their heads. Their blossoms come in vibrant colors,
including pink, red, orange, and yellow. When they sleep, peony I wanted to run, but I put my
dragons close their petals over their faces. They keep the same
petals year-round and shed them on average four times throughout
hands up and looked it in the
their 100-year lifespan. When this happens, the petals shrivel and eye, backing away slowly.
fall off, leaving the dragon vulnerable until its petals grow back Seeing this, the dragon seemed
over ten to fourteen days. Young peony dragons hatch with white
petals, which flush into their adult colors as they mature at around to calm down.
15 years old.
a wa y from
As predators, peony dragons use their thick tails as powerful After I backed ed ta il and
it, the dragon turnthe thicket.
weapons to effortlessly knock their prey to the ground. They have
sharp teeth and claws, which make them formidable hunters. To
stake their claim on an area, peony dragons roar loudly. Once they disappeared into why it didn't
in
have established their presence, they continue to roar on occasion
I co uldn't expla am ce rta inly
eat me, but I pla in ing!
to remind other creatures of their dominance. In contrast, during
hunts away from their lairs, they are silent to avoid revealing their
position to their prey. not co m
HABITAT
Peony dragons like to nest in grasslands with plenty
of shrubs and rocks that serve as natural defenses.
They make their homes by digging dens in the
ground and share a symbiotic relationship with
vespons that pollinate their dwellings and keep
their petals clean. Over time, tall peonies bloom in
the vicinity of their lair, which provide camouflage to
stalk prey and ambush intruders. The magic that makes
the flowers hardier than ordinary peonies also helps them
grow unnaturally large. This makes these flowers especially
sought-after for alchemical purposes.
Once peony dragons run out of space to grow
flowers around their lairs, they migrate in search of
a new location to overtake. Since the tall peonies
remain long after the dragons abandon their dens,
humanoids are often found reaping the flowers left
behind. Peony dragon essence* is a key ingredient in
many tonics, and some mages use it in abjuration
spells to enhance the strength of their barriers. The
dragons are territorial, so many humanoids will wait
until the peony dragons have moved on to harvest the
flowers. However, in times of desperation, harvesting the
flowers from active dragon lairs is a necessary danger.
Fig. 1 A peony dragon claims

its territory with a roar
FLORAL DRAGONS 143
Peony Dragon BEHAVIOR
Essence
Peony dragons raise families collectively in groups known as
Wondrous item, uncommon
bloomings. Adult peony dragons typically mate within their
This fragrant essence is made blooming, but some venture into the forest encounter others of
from the tall peonies in a peony their kind during hunts. All Peony dragons have the ability to
dragon’s lair and is popular produce eggs, which they take back to their blooming to hatch and
among spellcasters. Each vial of raise. The adults are highly involved in their wyrmlings’ upbringing.
peony dragon essence contains Once the wyrmlings are old enough to run, the adults teach them to
1d4 + 2 doses. When you cast hunt near the safety of the lair.
an abjuration spell, you can The tall peonies that grow around a peony dragon’s lair provide
add the essence to the spell as a the perfect camoflauge for the natural stalkers and ambush predators.
material component to improve Hidden among the dense flowers, they are almost indistinguishable
one casting of the spell with as they sneak up on their prey and knock it to the ground before
one of the following benefits: landing a killing blow with their sharp claws and teeth.
Peony dragons bring prey back to their lair for the blooming to
For 1 minute, the
share. They usually only hunt when they need a meal, but a creature
spell does not require
that encroaches on the peony thicket around the lair will be chased
concentration.
off. They are highly protective of their bloomings. If an intruder
You gain a +1 bonus fights back, a peony dragon won’t hesitate to kill.
to the spell attack roll Since peony dragons and larkspur dragons are both territorial
or spell save DC of the of their favored terrain, they are natural enemies. Peony dragons are
spell. one of the few creatures that can endure a larkspur dragon’s poison,
You can choose one and their heavy tails can smack the spindly rival to the ground—if
additional target for they can land a hit. A larkspur dragon engaged with a peony dragon
the spell. in combat will try to avoid the peony dragon’s thick tail with its
The spell’s duration superior speed and agility, taking flight if necessary to attack the
is doubled. terrestrial dragon from above.
Despite the territorial nature, it is possible for humanoids to have
a friendly relationship with local blooming of peony dragons. If they
witness a humanoid caring for plants, or otherwise taking care not
to damage the environment with their activities, the dragons may
leave them alone and hunt elsewhere. If the same humanoid returns
multiple times and continues to behave respectfully, the peony
dragons may recognize them as a friend and allow them to take
flowers from around their den.
Fig. 2 A swarm
of vespons grooms a
peony dragon.
144 FLORAL DRAGONS

PERSONALITY TRAITS
Peony Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
1 I spend more time frolicking in tall peonies than hunting.
I have a terrible sense of direction and often get lost in the
2
peonies around my den.
I’m clumsy and hit other dragons and break peony flowers
3
with my tail by accident.
4 I love the sun, and I never close the petals around my face.
My roar is more like a meow, but I have the sharpest claws
5
in my blooming.
6 I pick fights with intruders twice my size—and win.
I am the quietest prowler in my blooming, and not even my own
7
kin can hear me coming.
I never have the patience to stalk my prey and always pounce
8
too soon.
MOTIVATIONS
Peony Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
1 My dream is to leave and start my own blooming.
2 I’d do anything to ensure the safety of my den and wyrmlings. Once piqued, my curio sity
3
I won’t stop expanding my lair until the whole grassland is is nigh insatiable, so I went
covered in peonies.
back to see what else I could
I can’t let that blooming of larkspur dragons take
4
over my meadow. learn. I saw the dragon
5 I want be friends with everyone who comes near my den. lying among the flowe rs
I want to make the finest home for the vespons who have always surro unded by vespons.
6
looked out for me. They were feeding on the
ADVENTURE HOOKS
nectar of the dragon's
Here are ways to include peony dragons in your game.
flowe rs and the flowe rs
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
around its den.
The dragon rolled over a few
A local farmer awoke to find a thicket of tall peonies in their
1 pasture. They can’t allow their livestock to graze there, and they
need help dealing with the dragons that have moved in. times, and that was when
2
A malady has struck a nearby settlement, and peony flowers are a
vital ingredient for the cure. The sickness is spreading fast, and the
I realized the vespon s were
only source of flowers is a meadow occupied by peony dragons. grooming it. Remarkable!
A villager has heard roars and snarls coming from a field of I didn't want to oversta y my
3
peonies and fears the flowers may hide a monster. In reality,
several adult peony dragons are trying to locate their wyrmling,
welcome, so I only watched
who is lost in their own peonies. them for a mome nt.
Larkspur dragons and peony dragons have been fighting over the
4
same stretch of land, wreaking havoc on the local ecosystem.
FLORAL DRAGONS 145

Peony
Dragon
Large dragon, any alignment
Hit Points 135 (18d10 + 36)
Speed 30 ft.

17 (+3) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 6 (−2) 13 (+1) 8 (−1)
Saving Throws Str +6, Con +5

Damage Resistances poison
Languages understands Draconic but can’t speak
Ambusher. In the first round of combat, the dragon has advantage on attack rolls against any
creature it has surprised.
Surprise Attack. If the dragon surprises a creature and hits it with an attack during the first
round of combat, the target takes an extra 10 (3d6) damage from the attack.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Roaring Floral Presence. It then makes three attacks:
one with its bite and two with its claws.
The target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone,
the dragon can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.
Roaring Floral Presence. The dragon emits a mighty roar. Each creature within 60 feet of it that
can hear it must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 7 (2d6)
thunder damage and is deafened for 1 minute. On a success, a creature takes half as much damage and
isn’t deafened. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect
on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is
immune to the dragon’s Floral Presence for the next 24 hours.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Tail Attack. The dragon makes one tail attack.
146 FLORAL DRAGONS

A PEONY DRAGON’S LAIR
Peony dragons make their lairs in earthen craters that they dig Peon y wyrmlings are
themselves, surrounded by tall peony flowers. They spend most of their
time in the den caring for their blooming or hunting for food either in adorable! I saw several
the field of peony flowers or nearby forests. A lair might be home to half adult dragons this time,
a dozen adult peony dragons and their young. all taking care of vario us
LAIR ACTIONS young dragons.
While fighting inside its lair, a peony dragon can make tactical use of its
home environment to take lair actions. On initiative count 20 (losing
initiative ties), the dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following They didn't seem to have
effects; the dragon can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row. defined roles; all the adults
Tall peony flowers grow rapidly, hiding the dragon from sight. To groomed and fed their
discern the dragon’s location, a creature can use its action to find it
and must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom (Perception) check. While it charges—I even saw one
remains hidden in this way, the dragon has half cover. These effects dunking a wyrmling in
last until the dragon attacks or uses another lair action.
a shallo w pool of water
The dragon kicks up a cloud of dirt from its den. One creature of
its choice within 5 feet of it must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity to clean it!
saving throw or be blinded until the start of the dragon’s next turn.
Peony flowers twist and writhe on the ground, tripping enemies I’m so glad my first
of the dragon. Each creature in a line 30 feet long and 5 feet wide impression of these dragons
originating from the dragon must succeed on a DC 14 Strength
saving throw or be knocked prone.
was wrong. Afte r my close
call with the acon ite dragon,
REGIONAL EFFECTS
it was nice to see some gentle
The area in the vicinity of a peony dragon’s lair is influenced by the
dragon’s presence, which creates one or more of the following effects: dragons. I’ll leave them alone
for now. I am lucky to have
Unnaturally tall peonies bloom 10 feet high within 30 feet of the
lair and gradually expand to overtake the surrounding grasslands.
seen as muc h of them
Patches of grassland where the
as I did.
tall peonies are growing are
difficult terrain.
The population of vespons in
the area is much higher than
normal. There is a notable
absence of other pollinators.
If all the dragons sharing the lair

die or leave, these effects fade
over the course of 2d6 months.
Fig. 3 A peony dragon

caring for its wyrmling.
FLORAL DRAGONS 147

148 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 149
Succulent
Dragon
Tiny Large THE PROTECTIVE SUCCULENT
Small Huge The oldest recorded tale of the succulent dragon’s origin claims
X Medium Gargantuan these dragons were once ordinary plants given sentience and a
draconic form by an ancient dragon known as Echinox.
According to myth, while Echinox was heavy with eggs,
she was hunted by an undead dragon known as Mordruth. He
gathered his followers and pursued Echinox into a harsh desert.
The spines of a Seeking shelter, Echinox laid her clutch in a grove of
succulent dragon needlespined succulents. Hearing Mordruth and his horde close
are one of its many in, she knew she needed to take wing to lead them away from her
natural defenses. makeshift nest. She offered to reward the plants if they protected
her brood, and the plants agreed. Knowing her eggs were safe,
Echinox was able to turn back and defeat Mordruth in battle. When
she returned to the succulent nest, Echinox found the plants had
grown into a living fence, upon which the bodies of mountain lions,
snakes, and humanoids were impaled. Behind the barrier, her newly
hatched wyrmlings slept safely, defended by the spiny plants.
Honoring her word, the ancient dragon transformed the stalwart
plants into the first succulent dragons.
150 FLORAL DRAGONS

Fig. 1 A succulent dragon
accompanied by a pair of
dandelion dragons.
I caught a glimpse of the

succulent dra gon , in the
company of some dandel ion
PHYSIOLOGY dragons, no les s! I can ’t
The succulent dragons live to be up to 750 years old. They can believe my luck. I hadfin to
grow to be around 13 feet long and weigh roughly 400 pounds. travel pretty far to d
A succulent dragon has one single red, cup-shaped flower at the a succulent dragon—th ey
end of its thick tail. These showy blooms can measure two feet like to live in deserbu ts
across and attract desert pollinators. Succulent dragons exposed and other dry areas— t
to full sun grow quickly and mature at around 20 years old. Their it was wo rth the tri p.
robust wings allow them to catch warm updrafts and glide across
vast deserts for hours without a single wingbeat. The succulent dragon
The succulent dragon is one of the most well-armored floral didn’t attack the dandelion
dragons, covered in a thick coating of scales. Thin needles coat its dragons; perhaps the
body as an additional layer of defense against attackers who come smaller dragons are more
too close to it. These dragons are also known for their regenerative than just prey for them ?
abilities, and the blood of a succulent dragon can close wounds. Or could it be that the
Like their favored climate, a succulent dragon’s body maintains succulent dragon simply
a high temperature. It can expel excess heat in a cone of hot, dry wasn’t hungry.
air to prevent overheating or defend itself. Even with their elevated
body heat, succulent dragons retain large amounts of water in
their barrel chests and can survive up to two years without needing
to drink. Their adaptations to low levels of humidity and high
temperatures make them especially tolerant of fire and lightning.
FLORAL DRAGONS 151

Fig. 2 A succulent
dragon in flight.
HABITAT
Succulent dragons can survive anywhere that isn’t too wet or too cold.
They thrive in arid deserts, cultivating nests of cacti on rocky plateaus.
While succulent dragons are often found far from other species of
floral dragon—few varieties can tolerate such dry climates—the
sun-loving dandelion dragon is their most frequent cohabitant.
Dandelion dragons scratch on the succulent dragon’s tough spines,
trying to remove the seeds that grow on their heads. In return, the
succulents let the smaller dragons drink some of their stored water,
which they can regurgitate on demand.
I saw the succulent The lack of competition from other large floral dragons means
dragon preparing to succulent dragons rule desert areas. Their homes are ringed by
take to the sky. living fences of cacti that they festoon with the skeletons of arrogant
I rushed forward, and humanoids who dare to threaten their lairs. Within, smaller cacti
in my excitement, I lost and shrubs grow among the precious treasures the dragon hoards.
sight of my rhododendron Succulent dragons take great pride in the upkeep of their lairs, and
companion Ardral. they can spend several hours a day cleaning and maintaining their
living spaces.
Something else was
wrong, though—the BEHAVIOR
succulent dragon rose
a few feet off the Most succulent dragons are content to keep to themselves. They are
ground, made a pained nonmigratory and only move from an area if resources become too
sound, and dropped back scarce to sustain them. They eat large meals infrequently and can last
to earth. I had to try even longer without food than without water. When they hunt, they
kill their prey and take it back to their lairs to devour later. Succulent
and help them. dragons are carnivores and feed on desert animals, such as coyotes
and ill-prepared humanoid travelers.
True to their origins, succulent dragons are protective parents
Succulent Water of Life and fiercely defend their nests from the slightest threat. They teach
Potion, rare their young to hide while the adult dragons handle intruders.
When the young dragons mature, they choose to either leave the
This thin liquid is light lair and make their own homes or stay with their parents. Even
green but becomes dark those succulent dragons that leave return to the lair to visit their
red when shaken. When parents throughout their lives.
you drink this potion, you The main predators of succulent dragons are humanoids, who
regain 1d10 hit points, and hunt them for their blood. Succulent dragon blood is a thin, light
for 1 minute, you regain green liquid that resembles the water stored in cacti. It is a prized
1d10 hit points at the magical reagent used for its regenerative properties in a number of
start of each of your turns, healing ointments and potions, such as the succulent water of life*.
provided you have at least Humanoids often misunderstand succulent dragons, viewing them
1 hit point. as brutish beasts. The dragons are intelligent and would be happy to
hold conversations with humanoid interlopers, but poachers rarely
them that chance. As a result, succulent dragons tend to assume
humanoids they encounter are hostile.
152 FLORAL DRAGONS

PERSONALITY TRAITS
Succulent Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
1 I would rather strike up a conversation than fight.
I collect skeletons for my lair, and it amuses me every time a
2
foolish adventurer succumbs to my defenses.
3 I love nothing better than basking on my rock in the sun.
4 Nothing beats a long flight over the desert.

I’d never leave my lair looking anything less than
5
freshly groomed.
6 I don’t trust humanoids, especially if they act friendly toward me.
As much as I want to explore the desert, I like to come back to
7
the nest where I’ve lived my whole life.
Even though I don’t need it to survive, I love the taste of a cool
8
drink of water.
MOTIVATIONS
Succulent Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
A poacher killed my parents for their blood when I was a
1
wyrmling. I will avenge them.
There is less and less food around here every day, so I must find
2
a new place to lair.
3 I will raise my wyrmlings to defend themselves as I have done.
My lair must have a fresh look each year, and I am always
4
searching for succulents to grow for it.
I will show humanoids that succulent dragons aren’t monsters,
5
even if it’s the last thing I do.
6 I want to grow a second fence around my lair.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Here are ways to include succulent dragons in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
Druidic experiments have led to an inordinate number of
extreme weather events. The desert is now cold and wet, and the
1
succulent dragons that live there are struggling with the change
in climate.
A vindictive succulent dragon is terrorizing a small desert
2 community because, unbeknownst to the villagers, an unscrupulous
mage is hiding among them.
The party must find a powerful artefact needed to seal an ancient
3 demon. Its last known location is the lair of a succulent dragon
deep in an unforgiving desert.
Locals talk of a malevolent force gathering an army of undead
4 to bring doom upon the world. In reality, they have only seen a
succulent dragon’s fence, littered with humanoid skeletons.
FLORAL DRAGONS 153

Succulent
Dragon
Large dragon, lawful neutral

Hit Points 115 (10d10 + 102)
Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 80 ft.

23 (+6) 14 (+2) 22 (+6) 11 (+0) 17 (+3) 16 (+3)

Skills Nature +4, Perception +11, Survival +7
Damage Resistances fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks
Languages Draconic, plus any one language
Needle Hairs. A creature that touches the dragon or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet
of it takes 6 (1d12) piercing damage. This damage ignores resistance to piercing damage.
Regeneration. The dragon regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn. If the dragon takes acid
damage, this trait doesn’t function at the start of the dragon’s next turn. The dragon dies only if it starts
its turn with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The succulent dragon can use its Bewildering Floral Presence. It then makes three
attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (1d10 + 6) bludgeoning
damage, plus 6 (1d12) piercing damage. This damage ignores resistance to piercing damage.
Bewildering Floral Presence. Each creature of the dragon’s choice within 120 feet of it must
succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or become incapacitated for 1 minute or until it takes
damage. An incapacitated creature can repeat this saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending
the effect on itself on a success. If the creature succeeds on its save or the effect ends for it, it is immune
to the dragon’s floral presence for the next 24 hours.
Heat Breath (Recharge 5–6). The dragon exhales superheated air in a 30-foot cone. Each creature
in that area must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw, taking 45 (10d8) fire damage on a failed
save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Additionally, each object made of metal in the area
becomes red hot, dealing 9 (2d8) fire damage to any creature in contact with it. If a creature is holding
or wearing the object and takes damage from it, the creature must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution
saving throw or drop the object if it can. If it doesn’t drop the object, it has disadvantage on attack rolls
and ability checks until the start of the dragon’s next turn.
154 FLORAL DRAGONS

LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Defend. The dragon encircles another creature within 10 feet of it with its tail. Attacks against that
creature have disadvantage until the start of the dragon’s next turn or until the creature moves more
than 10 feet from the dragon.
Tail Attack. The dragon makes a tail attack.
Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 10 feet of the dragon
must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or take 15 (2d6 + 8) bludgeoning damage and be
knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.
A SUCCULENT DRAGON’S LAIR I approached the dragon
slowly with my hands
While in its lair, a succulent dragon can use its deep connection
raised. I said in Draconic
to the cacti that form its home to strengthen its defenses.
thatI only wanted to
LAIR ACTIONS help. The dragon growled
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a at me and said they
lair action to cause one of the following effects; the dragon can’t didn’t trust me.
use the same effect two rounds in a row: I was about to turn back
The living cactus fence lashes out. Each creature within 10 feet of the and leave them alone,
fence must make a DC 18 Strength saving throw. On a failure, it is when suddenly they
restrained (escape DC 18). While restrained, a creature takes 7 (2d6) lashed out with enormous
piercing damage at the start of each of its turns. claws. I had no choice
Cacti burst from the ground starting from a point that the dragon but to fight.
can see within 60 feet of it, creating a 25-foot long, 5-foot wide line. If Kaltaar hadn’t been
Each creature in the line must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, there, I would have been
taking 12 (5d4) piercing damage on a failed save and half as much killed for certain.
on a success.
A tremor shakes the lair in a 30-foot radius around
Fig. 3 Never pick
the dragon. Each creature on the ground in that
a fight with a
area other than the dragon must succeed on a DC
succulent dragon.
15 Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone.
REGIONAL EFFECTS
The region containing a legendary succulent dragon’s
lair is warped by the dragon’s magic, which creates
one or more of the following effects:
The succulent plants growing within 1 mile

of the dragon’s lair have regenerative properties.
If they are severed or damaged, they regrow
fully within 1d10 minutes.
There are frequent tremors within
1 mile of the dragon’s lair.
The area within 1 mile of the
dragon’s lair is several degrees
hotter than the ambient
temperature outside this area,
even at night.
If the dragon dies, these effects fade

over the course of 1d10 days.
FLORAL DRAGONS 155

156 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 157
Vampire Lily
Dragon
Tiny X Large BLOOD OF VAMPIRES,
Small Huge BLOOD OF DRAGONS
Medium Gargantuan The vampire lily dragons are said to be the creation of the
legendary dragon necromancer Arumathara. After the death
Vampire lily dragons exude
of her beloved companion, the vampire Dracuncul, fury blazed
within Arumathara. She hunted down Dracuncul’s slayer, the
the scent of rotting meat. paladin known as the Knight of Lilies. Although crushing the
knight between her jaws was delicious revenge, it did little to
ease Arumathara’s grief after losing her companion of over 500
years. The necromancer dragon returned to her lair, determined
to channel her sorrow into a memorial for her lost friend.
Dracuncul had given her a vial of his blood long ago.
Arumathara combined it with her own and dripped the mixture
onto a white lily as she channeled the magic of life and death. Lilies
were the holy symbol of the paladin who had killed Dracuncul, so
Arumathara wanted to corrupt them. As each petal soaked up the
blood, they transformed into the first vampire lily dragons.
158 FLORAL DRAGONS
In their first breaths, the wyrmlings snapped at Arumathara. I thought this vampire lily
She was pleased with the bloodthirstiness of her creations—a
fitting tribute to her cherished vampire friend.
dragon was asleep, so I
approached it, hoping to get
PHYSIOLOGY a close r look at its petals.
Vampire lily dragons are large quadrupeds with stocky bodies.
They mature to their full size of about 10 feet long, nose to tail, Before I could see muc h,
in just ten years, though few wyrmlings survive to adulthood. the stenc h of the dragon
However, few creatures can threaten a full-grown vampire lily
dragon. Barring death in combat, they can live up to 850 years.
hit me. I couldn’t stand it,
Vampire lily dragons have smooth flesh in shades of purple so I withdrew.
and light green and sport a frill of dark purple petals and black
spines that run along their backs. When their frill is flat and the At this point, the vampire
flower on their tail is closed, they are relaxed. If the spines are raised lily dragon opened its eyes
and the flower is open, they are in an aggressive mood. The black
spines on their bodies also carry a potent toxin. Roughly half of
and scolded me for being
their full length is made up of a muscular tail, tipped with a ruffled, rude. I apolog ized profusely
deep purple bloom surrounding two black spikes called spadices. and told it I’d leave it alone.
The dragons have long black tongues that rest within their It gave me a toothy grin
crushingly powerful reptilian jaws. and told me I should stay.
Vampire lily dragons remain active even in the coldest months,
thanks to their ability to regulate their body temperature. They do
I got the feeling it was
not sleep like other dragons—as they rest, their mind remains fully toying with me.
alert to danger or potential prey.
Another unique and most immediately noticeable feature of
vampire lily dragons is their smell. This powerful odor is similar to
rotting meat. They can exhale a stench so strong it renders creatures
unconscious. Clouds of flies are drawn to the putrid scent, and the
buzzing of insects is a telltale sign that a vampire lily dragon lurks
nearby.
HABITAT
Vampire lily dragons can adapt to many habitats. They do not lair
in any place for long, preferring to wander between terrains. They
are as comfortable in sunny meadows as they are in shady swamps. Fig. 1 Even while
As they are typically confident of their superiority, vampire lilies resting, vampire lily
will even enter humanoid settlements if the mood takes them.
A vampire lily dragon’s wanderings can bring it into conflict
dragon s remain aware of
with other floral dragons. While they do not claim territories, their surroundings.
these aggressive dragons are known to attack other floral dragons
and push them out of their lairs for spite or fun.
FLORAL DRAGONS 159

BEHAVIOR
Fig. 2 A vampire Vampire lily dragons are obligate carnivores that delight in eating
lily dragon hunts a carrion. With their keen sense of smell, they can detect rotting
clematis dragon. meat and blood over great distances. They use their strength to
bully other predators away from kills.
These dragons are also powerful hunters in their own right.
Vampire lily dragons’ muscular legs allow them to run and swim
surprisingly fast. They can use their long tails to pin down prey and
sting it with their sharp spadices. Once a dragon has incapacitated
its victim, it devours the creature quickly in a few quick snaps of
its powerful jaws.
Although vampire lilies have a reputation as vicious predators,
they are also highly intelligent and capable of complex thought.
Whether a humanoid can survive an audience with a vampire lily
dragon depends largely on the dragon’s mood. While it remains
amused or intrigued by a humanoid, a vampire lily will continue
to converse politely. However, at any time, these capricious dragons
may choose to attack if they become insulted, irritated, or bored.
Some daring humanoids may overcome a dragon’s foul odor and
unpredictable disposition to cultivate a meaningful, decades-long
relationship with a vampire lily. However, even the most cherished
humanoid companions can become a snack to a capricious vampire
lily dragon in a flash of its petal-teeth.
Vampire lily dragons do not mate with each other directly—
encounters between two vampire lily dragons typically end in the
death of at least one dragon. Instead, like many plants, they rely
on insects such as flies and vespons for fertilization. All vampire lily
dragons are capable of producing offspring. They lay around twenty
leathery eggs in a clutch, but the first to hatch typically eats its
siblings before fleeing its parent’s vicinity. Incidents of cannibalism
among vampire lily dragons are common, with adults even preying
on their own wyrmlings.
160 FLORAL DRAGONS
Among the most aggressive of all floral dragons, vampire lilies
frequently hunt their smaller cousins. They are immune to the
toxins of the clematis and larkspur dragons. Thanks to their
natural resistance to wisteria dragons’ sleep-inducing magic,
there are tales of vampire lilies holding their own even against
these larger dragons.
As the vampire lily dragon
continued our conversation, I
remembered where I’d seen it
PERSONALITY TRAITS before, when Zethandriel and
Vampire Lily Dragon Personality Traits I were wandering the marsh.
D8 TRAIT
I don’t mind who or what I eat as long as it’s scared.
I had been too distracted
1
Fear is delicious. by the acon ite dragon to
2 I have a morbid sense of humor.
notice at the time, but there
was a vampire lily dragon
3 I am carefree and confident. hunting a clematis dragon
4 I compose beautiful poetry about each creature I kill. there as well. I relate to
I regret that I keep eating my humanoid acquaintances.
that little fella.
5
Finding new ones is so troublesome.
6 I don’t take anything seriously.
Armor of the Vampire
I enjoy wordplay and won’t attack anyone who amuses me Lily Dragon
7
with puns. Armor (medium or heavy),
I’m proud of my appearance and spend much time grooming very rare
8
my spines. This armor has been
reinforced with the spines
MOTIVATIONS of a vampire lily dragon.
You have a +1 bonus to AC
Vampire Lily Dragon Motivations
while wearing this armor.
D6 MOTIVATION Additionally, a creature
1
I follow my whims, wholly dedicating myself to whatever that grapples you or hits
currently holds my attention. you with a melee attack
I want to test my strength against other floral dragons and while within 5 feet of you
2 must succeed on a DC 15
powerful creatures.
Dexterity saving throw or
I survived my hatching alongside one sibling. I hate them
3
and won’t rest until they are dead.
take 2d6 poison damage
and become poisoned until
I desire humanoid companions to bring me meat and keep the end of its next turn.
4
me entertained.
I have been injured in battle and need a quiet place to rest
5
while I recuperate.
A wisteria dragon insulted my intelligence. I will prove
6
myself superior.
FLORAL DRAGONS 161

Fig. 3 Catching the
interest of a vampire
lily dragon could save
or doom you.
I wa s polite and forthr ight with ADVENTURE HOOKS

the vampire lily dragon.s and Here are ways to include Vampire Lily dragons in your game.
I an swered all its questleaionrn more D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
told it we're try ing to gons and 1
A vampire lily dragon ambushes the party and demands they
ab ou t all the flo ra l dra entertain it. If they fail, it will amuse itself by eating them.
that I’m glad to vels. ha ve m et so A vampire lily dragon has been preying on merchant caravans
man y on m y tra 2 along a vital trade route. The merchant’s guild is offering a
reward to whoever can slay the dragon.
I think I did a poor job of A vampire lily dragon, injured from a fight with a wisteria
hiding how scared I was. 3 dragon, stalks into town and demands the heroes help it seek
revenge. If they refuse, it threatens to start eating people.
Witho ut warning, it lunged The desperate leader of a city overrun with clematis dragons asks
toward me and went for my leg. 4 the party to approach a vampire lily dragon to see if it will agree
The dragon's teeth grazed my to consume the pests.
shin, but it could have bitten it
clean off had it wanted to.
It laughed as I limped away.
I’m getting too old for this. I’ll give
all the research I’ve done so far to
Zethandriel. They can probably
make better use of it than I can.
162 FLORAL DRAGONS
Vampire Lily
Dragon
Large dragon, typically chaotic evil

Hit Points 252 (24d10 + 120)
Speed 45 ft., burrow 15 ft., swim 45 ft.

22 (+6) 14 (+2) 21 (+5) 18 (+4) 18 (+4) 16 (+3)
Saving Throws Str +11, Con +10, Int +9

Skills Deception +8, Insight +9, Perception +9, Stealth +7
Damage Resistances cold, necrotic
Condition Immunities poisoned, unconscious
Languages Common, Draconic plus any two languages
Aggressive. As a bonus action, the dragon can move up to its speed toward a hostile creature
that it can see.
Keen Smell. The dragon has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Poison Spines. A creature that touches the dragon or hits it with a melee attack while within
5 feet of it must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or take 16 (3d10) poison damage
and become poisoned until the end of its next turn.
Unsleeping. The dragon can’t be surprised, does not need to sleep, and magic can’t put it to sleep.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon makes three attacks: two with its bite and one with its tail.
plus 10 (3d6) poison damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning
damage plus 10 (3d6) poison damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 19). Until this grapple
ends, the creature is restrained, and the dragon can’t grapple another target.
Stench Breath (Recharge 5–6). The dragon exhales foul gas in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that
area must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is knocked
unconscious for 1 minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns,
ending the effect on itself with a successful save. The effect ends if the creature takes damage.
FLORAL DRAGONS 163

164 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 165
Water L
Dragon
ily
Tiny Large THE COMPASSION OF
Small X Huge THE WATER LILY DRAGON
Medium Gargantuan Legend tells of two women, Callista and Rosetta, who lived on
opposite sides of a vast lake. They were lovers from different nations
that claimed ownership of the lake. When tensions between the
nations escalated to the point of war, it was no longer safe for the
lovers to travel around the lake to meet. Instead, they wrote letters
Water lily dragons and sealed them in glass bottles. Under cover of darkness, they
are big and friendly, floated these love letters from the lakeshore in secret. Each time
willing to carry one of them released a bottle into the lake, she prayed that the letter
other creatures on would float to the far shore so her lover would know she still lived.
their backs. Somehow, the lake always delivered their messages, and they were
grateful for this miracle.
One day, Callista overheard a soldier confidently declare that the
war would soon be over as there were very few enemies left for them
to fight. Callista feared that she would never see her lover again.
She dove into the water, determined to swim across to see Rosetta
one last time. As her strength began to fail, Callista sensed a great
presence shift beneath her. An enormous mass of soft green scales
and pink flowers gently rose, lifting her above the water. She was
surprised to find herself on the back of a huge water lily dragon,
along with a bottle nestled amidst the dragon’s flowers. Callista
recognized her last letter to Rosetta. Moved by the lovers’ yearning,
the dragon had been ferrying their messages back and forth,
ensuring they always made it safely.
The dragon carried Callista to the other side of the lake, where
Rosetta was waiting. Rosetta joined Callista on the dragon’s back,
and the dragon took them far away from the lake, to live the rest
of their lives together in peace. Because of the dragon’s empathy
for the devoted pair, water lily dragons are said to be the most
compassionate and gentle floral dragons.
166 FLORAL DRAGONS

Fig. 1 A young water
lily dragon, viewed
from below, training
to ferry people
across the lake
PHYSIOLOGY
Typical water lily dragons grow to be around 15 feet long.
They can live to be up to 200 years old. Their scales are soft
and green, and the older the dragon, the deeper the shade of
green grows. These scales are covered with a waxy sheen similar
to the leaves of its namesake plant. Water lily dragons flowers
most commonly come in pink but can also be yellow, red, light
orange, or white. They have a long snouts to part the water and
cut through weeds and debris in its path as they swim with their
powerful flippers. These large, flat forelegs allow the dragons to
propel themselves through the water, while their use their hind
legs and tail to direct thier motion. Water lily dragons are
Though water lily dragons can swim for long periods of time fitted with a harness
while submerged, they can only breathe when their nostrils are when they are train
above the water. Water lily dragons in shallower environments carry passengers foredthto
sometimes bask in the sun with their jaws open so that birds first time. Communities e
can clean their teeth. often have a handful
of folks who train the
HABITAT dragons for a living
Water lily dragons need large bodies of water to thrive. The
.
majority live in freshwater lakes and, occasionally, in wide rivers. From what I can gather,
Novice dragon trainers have attempted to raise water lily dragons constant communication
in small pools and ponds, but these efforts fail without room for with a new dragon is
the dragons to swim freely. Though there are reported sightings They can understandkey.
of water lily dragons at sea, these are rare. language, but ca reply
Water lily dragons play an important role in their lakes’ themselves. Oncen’ta ter
ecosystems, feeding on invasive algae. The strong waves they lily dragon can fewa
rry
make while swimming also prevent the buildup of algal blooms passengers steadil
on the lake’s surface, spread nutrients around the lake, and push and safely, they can ybe
unwanted debris to the shore. ridden without a harness.
Fish frequently gather under a water lily dragon’s large shadow
for feeding and shade. Water lily dragons don’t build nests or dens,
and are content to sleeping with their heads on flat stones where
they can breathe with their bodies submerged.
Water lily dragons living in larger lakes can sometimes be found
in the company of lamium dragons. Clematis dragons also live
alongside water lily dragons and like to ride on them.
As one of the most social species of floral dragon, water lily
dragons frequently interact with lakeside humanoid societies. Over
time, a water lily dragon can become a close companion, offering
transport or letting humanoids fish in deeper waters off their backs.
FLORAL DRAGONS 167
Fig. 2 Steering a BEHAVIOR
water lily dragon. Algae, waterborne insects, and some species of fish constitute a
water lily dragon’s diet. Domesticated water lily dragons will also
eat light humanoid food, with some relying on it as their main food
source. Caretakers often collect vegetable scraps and leftovers from
their communities to feed their local dragons.
Regardless of where a water lily dragon lives, their mating ritual
takes place on a riverbank. During mating season, water lily dragons
swarm to the nearest river in the hopes of finding a mate.
They change mates each season and lay eggs in clutches of six
to eight. The dragons make temporary nests on the riverbank and
incubate their eggs there for around three weeks. When the eggs
hatch, each parent takes half the clutch of wyrmlings and ferries
them home on their back. Both parents are capable of nurturing
their young, which they do until their offspring bloom.
When the young water lily dragons have flowered, the parent
swims with them to the mouth of a nearby river. There, the parent
offers each of them the choice to either stay with them or leave
to find a place to live alone. The parent accepts either choice,
symbolizing that the young water lily dragons are mature enough
to make their own decisions.
Water lily dragons are docile by nature and are more likely to
defend themselves than to fight back. They snap their toothy jaws
and slap their huge forelegs against the surface of the water to create
menacing splashes and turbulent waves to ward off attackers. If it
must fight, a water lily dragon will defend any passengers on its
back even at the risk of its own life.
168 FLORAL DRAGONS

PERSONALITY TRAITS
Water Lily Dragon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
1 When I get excited, I splash a lot.
If anyone tried to put a harness on me, I would refuse
2
to carry them.
3 I like to be admired for the color and size of my flowers.
4 Nobody knows the layout of the lake better than me.
5 I collect trinkets that humanoids throw in the water.

I think I am a terrible swimmer, and the expectation to carry
6
others scares me.
7 I can’t stand being idle and only stop swimming when I am asleep.
I like to practice holding my breath so I can explore the depths
8
of the lake.
MOTIVATIONS
Water Lily Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
My purpose is to bring people together, no matter how far
1
apart they are.
I consider this lake to be mine, and it’s my responsibility to keep
2
it clean and habitable.
I must keep myself strong and healthy because people depend I got a lesson on steerin
3
on me. a water lily dragon g
I took the reins be for e
first time. Everyofor the
4 I want to get to know the people who I ferry across the lake each day.
5 I would love to learn more about what life is like on land. wants to steer a drne who
gets the same tutoriaagl—
on
much for the dragon’s as
6 I am always trying to beat my record for the fastest trip across the lake.
safety as for theirs.

Once I was declared fit to steer,
a fisher boarded the dragon with
me. She made pleasant company
and said she always catches more
fish on the back of a water lily
dragon than in her small boat.
The dragon was

friendly, too, and
seemed happy to ferry
us across the water.
FLORAL DRAGONS 169

Fig. 3 Grooming a
water lily dragon
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Here are ways to include water lily dragons in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
I reunited with everyone The residents of a settlement have been disposing of their waste
on the other side of in a lake inhabited by a water lily dragon. The water lily dragon
the lake. Amina was 1
is struggling to survive and can barely swim, but the residents
particularly enamored don’t care.
with the water lily A water lily dragon has become lodged in a canal that is vital for
dragon and was so excited 2 trade. Merchant ships queuing behind it can’t pass until the dragon
to scrub it clean after is dislodged.
we were done traveling. A group of vicious monsters have invaded the lake. They are
The dragon looked like 3
attacking any creatures that live there, making it too dangerous
it was enjoying itself,
for the lake’s water lily dragons to swim or help with fishing
or transport.
andAmina talked to it
the whole time. She’s A drought is causing a lake inhabited by water lily dragons to dry
friendly like that. 4 up, severely reducing their living space. They are struggling in the
mud and need help moving to a new home.
170 FLORAL DRAGONS

Water Lily
Dragon
Huge dragon, typically good aligned


23 (+6) 14 (+2) 22 (+6) 11 (+0) 17 (+3) 16 (+3)
Saving Throws Dex +2, Con +6, Wis +3

Damage Resistances fire, cold
Condition Immunities prone
Languages understands Draconic and one other language but can’t speak them
Aquatic Advantage. The dragon has advantage on attack rolls when it is in the water.
ACTIONS
Flipper. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
REACTIONS
Wave of Defense (2/Day). When an attack is made against a creature on the dragon’s back, the
dragon can use its reaction to smack its front flippers against the water’s surface, imposing disadvantage
on the roll. Whether the attack hits or misses, the attacker must then succeed on a DC 14 Strength
saving throw or be pushed 15 feet away from the dragon.
FLORAL DRAGONS 171

172 FLORAL DRAGONS
FLORAL DRAGONS 173
WDragon
isteria
Tiny Large THE FEY ORIGIN OF
Small X Huge THE WISTERIA DRAGON
Medium Gargantuan Long ago, dragons settled within the fey realm of an ancient magical
forest. The forest fought back, strangling their young with powerful
vines covered in beautiful purple flowers. Rather than fruit, these
Wisteria dragons flowers bore the eggs of the first wisteria dragons. Ever since,
are as cruel as wisteria dragons have carried fey magic within them, along with the
they are beautiful. malice of that ancient forest. Despite their beauty, wisteria dragons
are among the most feared of all floral dragonkind, as they thrive by
strangling the life out of others.
174 FLORAL DRAGONS

PHYSIOLOGY
As some of the most imposing dragons, wisteria dragons can grow I finally found
to prodigious size, standing around 15 feet tall with a body length the vile creature that
of up to 60 feet. Their strong, silky wings can span nearly forty feet,
and they weigh anywhere between 15,000 and 19,000 pounds.
strangled my hometown. It
Tough, woody scales and iridescent plates that shimmer with magic looked at me as though it
protect the dragon’s broadly equine body. Rows of delicate white, felt nothing but disdain.
purple, or blue flowers that bloom with a sweet, musky fragrance
form a cascading mane and tail. A wisteria dragon only grows If only it knew th
these flowers that serve as the source of its magic once it reaches my contempt for it atis
adolescence. The more flowers a dragon has, the greater its power. tenfold. I shall humble th
While these dragons can live to be nearly 800 years old, they
are vulnerable when young. Their greatest defense before flowering
arrogant wisteria dragonis
is a toxin produced naturally within their bodies that can sicken and return the crue
predators. After flowering, a wisteria dragon is exceptionally hearty inflicted upon my peltyop it
and can survive injuries that would fell other dragons. Wisteria le.
dragons can regrow lost limbs, wings, and other body parts, within
a few weeks, though they can’t survive decapitation. They struggle I'll make it suffer.
in cold climates, and exposure to heavy frost halts their growth. All I need is a way.
Wisteria dragons hunt by luring prey towards them with the
scent produced by their flowers. Once their prey is in range, the
overpowering fragrance lulls the victim into a
deep slumber. A torturous fate awaits their foes
as the dragon entangles them in choking vines.
Wisteria dragons prey on any creature they can
catch but prefer to hunt other dragons. They’re
known to play with their food, loosening
the vines to watch their victim squirm, then
tightening their grip before it can escape.
HABITAT
Wisteria dragons weave labyrinthine lairs from
wisteria vines and coiling ivies that consume
derelict ruins and choke swathes of forests.
They are drawn to places of magic such as fey
forests and abandoned mage towers. Their lairs
are immediately noticeable by the burgeoning
flowers that enshroud them.
Wisteria dragons prefer hot, humid
climates, especially those with abundant water
and large prey. They also require pollinators
such as vespons to sustain the magical flowers
that grow from their bodies, without which
their magic would fade. Those that lair in
temperate climates hibernate during the
winter in secret underground chambers filled
with rotting vegetable matter to protect them
from the cold. Once inside, they seal the den
with earth and ward it with spells to prevent
intrusion. A wisteria dragon always builds
this chamber in front of its buried hoard to
discourage any would-be thieves.
Fig. 1 A wisteria dragon's

air of superiority.
FLORAL DRAGONS 175
BEHAVIOR
Solitary by nature, wisteria dragons are known for their disdain
toward other living things. They are highly intelligent and
command powerful magic that allows them to freely control plant
The wisteria dragon has life. In addition to their innate powers, they study spells to increase
been circling one areae their arcane might and particularly enjoy using enchantment magic
to manipulate other creatures.
in particular, and th Like many classical dragons, wisteria dragons are covetous and
consistency of its keep vast hoards of treasure. They also prize knowledge, though
flight patterns leads their interests tend to skew toward arcane secrets, the location of
me to believe its lair magic items, or practical lore they can use to defeat their enemies.
lies at the center. Wisteria dragon eggs grow in clutches of between eight and
twelve on thick, woody vines. These vines must root in the body
of a recently killed creature, from which the eggs absorb nutrients
It is likely claiming and magic. They hatch anywhere from fourteen to forty-two days
this region as its after being laid, depending on the amount of magic present in
territory, including the corpse. Once hatched, the mother will care for her offspring
the newly vacant only until they begin to flower. A wisteria dragon won’t intercede
in fights between her offspring, letting the weakest members of a
farmland that my . clutch become prey for their more powerful siblings. Eventually,
people used to occupyk the mother turns hostile, chasing the brood from her territory and
I'll take the land bacear. strangling the slowest hatchling herself.
in their names, I sw Wisteria dragons often investigate settlements near their lairs,
and many have learned from experience that humanoids can be
troublesome. Even so, their arrogance and curiosity fuels their
interest in humanoids. Some tolerate humanoids as servants or
supplicants if they offer the dragon the fawning reverence it expects.
Fig. 2 A wisteria
dragon in flight.
176 FLORAL DRAGONS
PERSONALITY TRAITS
Wisteria Dragon
Wisteria Dragon Personality Traits Perfume
D8 TRAIT Wondrous item, rare
1 I deserve to be worshiped for my power and beauty. This light purple
2 My forest belongs to me and me alone.
translucent perfume is
sealed in a glass orb. As
I won’t forgive an insult, and I hold bitter grudges against an action, you can throw
3
all my enemies. the orb up to 60 feet away
4 I manipulate others with magic to get what I want. from you, shattering it
on impact and releasing a
5 I care deeply for my forest, but I am distrustful of outsiders. powerful scent of wisteria
flowers that spreads out
6 My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning.
in a 20-foot-radius sphere
7 No matter the situation, I project a veneer of calm detachment. centered on the point orb
shattered. The sphere of
8 I get envious easily and covet everything I do not possess. invisible perfume spreads
around corners and lasts
for 1d4 rounds. Each
MOTIVATIONS creature that starts its turn
Wisteria Dragon Motivations inside the sphere or enters
D6 MOTIVATION it on its turn must succeed
I hold a grudge against a powerful dragon and will go to any on a DC 19 Constitution
1 saving throw or fall
lengths to take them down.
unconscious for 1 minute.
2 I am protecting a vulnerable clutch of eggs. Floral dragons, except for
3 I seek arcane knowledge to increase my power and expand my territory. wisteria dragons, have
disadvantage on this saving
The flowers that grow from me and fuel my magic are dying, throw. The effect ends for
4
and I seek a cure. an affected creature if it
I want revenge against a nearby settlement that wronged me takes any damage.
5
over a century ago.
I have become bored and long for something novel to
6
pique my interest.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Here are ways to include wisteria dragons in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
A devil has captured a prince who trespassed in its lair and is
1 holding him hostage. It will only release him in exchange for
a vial of wisteria dragon perfume*.
A wisteria dragon’s magical vines have begun to creep out of the forest,
choking crops and livestock as they grow ominously close to town.
2
If nothing is done, the vines will continue to grow, and the town will
be consumed.
A magical sickness has descended upon a city. The only hope for
3 a cure lies in the archives of a long-dead wizard, which has since
become the lair of a wisteria dragon.
A forest settlement was established inside the territory of a wisteria
dragon. To avoid destruction, the community pays tribute to the
4 dragon each month. This month, the dragon has demanded the
community send its most capable members to kill a rival
wisteria dragon.
FLORAL DRAGONS 177

Wisteria
Dragon
Huge dragon, any non-good alignment

Hit Points 256 (19d12 + 133)

24 (+7) 13 (+1) 25 (+7) 17 (+3) 14 (+2) 25 (+7)
Skills Arcana +9, Deception +13, History +9, Insight +8, Perception +14
Languages Draconic, Sylvan, plus any two languages
Fey Ancestry. The dragon has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic
can’t put the dragon to sleep.
Regeneration. The dragon regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn. If the dragon takes cold
or necrotic damage, this trait doesn’t function at the start of the dragon’s next turn. The dragon
dies only if it starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate.
Spellcasting. The dragon is a 9th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma
(spell save DC 21). It can cast the following Bard spells, requiring no material components:
Cantrips (at will): dancing lights, mage hand, prestidigitation
1st level (4 slots): bane, identify, sleep
2nd level (3 slots): locate object, see invisibility, suggestion
3rd level (3 slots): dispel magic, plant growth, speak with plants
4th level (3 slots): confusion, freedom of movement
5th level (1 slot): geas
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Soporific Floral Presence. It then casts a spell or makes three
attacks: one with its bite and two with its stomp.
Stomp. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
Grasping Vines (Recharge 5–6). Vines entangle each creature of the dragon’s choice within 90 feet of
it. Each target must make a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) piercing damage on a failed
save, or half as much on a success. On a failure, a target is grappled and restrained (escape DC 19).
While restrained, a target takes 18 (4d8) piercing damage at the start of each of its turns.
178 FLORAL DRAGONS

Soporific Floral Presence. Each creature of the dragon’s choice within 120 feet of it must succeed on a
DC 19 Constitution saving throw or fall unconscious for 1 minute. This effect ends for a creature if the
creature takes damage or someone uses an action to wake it. If a target’s saving throw is successful or the
effect ends for it, the target is immune to this dragon’s Floral Presence for the next 24 hours.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 10 feet of
the dragon must succeed on a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw or take 15 (2d6 + 8) bludgeoning
damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.
Fig. 3 A wisteria
dragon engages a
vampire lily dragon.
Having guessed the location of its lair,

I followed the wisteria dragon at a distance and
found it engaged with a vampire lily dragon.
track
I'll have tdo see what
Both fought viciously, and I noticed that it down anan learn from
the wisteria tried to put the vampire more I c rivalry.
lily to sleep, but the vampire lily shook this
it off and walked away. FLORAL DRAGONS 179
180 FRIENDS & FOES
FRIENDS & FOES 181
182 FRIENDS & FOES
FRIENDS & FOES 183
PESTS &
POLLINATORS
Florivore
Floral dragons are part
of a complex ecosystem
that includes creatures
that have adapted to live
alongside them.
Some, like the parasitic
florivores, are harmful
to floral dragons. Others,
like the pollinator
vespons, also known as
dragon bees, are vital to
the dragons’ wellbeing.
X Tiny Large EXCERPT FROM ‘GUIDEBOOKE TO THE

Small Huge ARTE AND CULTIVATION OF DRAGONS
Medium Gargantuan OF THE FLOWERS’
The first written record of the pests known as florivores is found
in an early text on floral dragon care by an anonymous author,
The voracious reproduced here.
florivore has The author’s admiration for floral dragons and distaste for
evolved to feed the florivores that cause them to sicken are clearly evident in this
on floral dragons. account. Such sentiments are shared today by those who have had
to scrub down a floral dragon companion to free them from an
infestation of florivores. The treatment the author suggests is still
in use, though without snake blood, which we now know is more
fanciful than practical.
184 FRIENDS & FOES

Chapter 8: Maladies of the Bark, Leaves, and Scales,
Part 3: The Foul Pest
s food, or sheds
At which hour a dragon in our care sickens, wilts, refuse
, for water
its blooms out of season, we must first investigate its water
for dragons of
is the source of all lyfe. Next, we investigate the ground,
the soil. Then,
the flowers can sicken from an imbalance of humors in
ator must examine the
if these be clean and wholesome, the ardent cultiv
the florivore.
dragon with all care and attention, seeking the foul pest,
in the
Signs of the florivore, the eater of flowers, are these: holes
dragon ; a sharp scent, as that of
skin, bark, scales, or leaves of the
with silk as doth the
vinegar; egg sacs, stuck fast to the dragon’s hide
sly spyder with her brood.
a shell
The pest itself is red as fyre or blood, with many legs and
hungr y snail. The search must be most
like the gardener’s old enemy, the
ng foe. It hides beneath
diligent, for the florivore is a cowardly and cunni
g much pain
the leaves and suckles on the lyfe-sap of the dragon, causin
d, as the pest
and ill health. The wearing of gauntlets is much advise
ator that seeks to remov e it from
will bite the attentive dragon cultiv
its greedy suckling.
The pests can be plucked from the dragon, though one who
of iron tongs,
undertakes this operation must use a strong grip. A set
be of great use in your endeavour.
borrowed from a blacksmith, may
from vespon wax, neem
For the egg sacs, scrub with a tincture mixed
be removed,
seeds, and the blood of a snake. Both eggs and pests must
or else all
and the bedding, soil, or mulch of the dragon checked also,
the floriv ores shall soon return .
the work shall be for naught, as
e’s finest creatu res,
Perhaps as dragons of the flowers are natur
and admir able
much possessed of the best qualities, beauties, strengths,
they be so beset
in their fortitude and grace, it is as a cruel mirror that
virtues.
by this most minor yet hideous pest that displays no such
PHYSIOLOGY
Florivores are diminutive creatures with features resembling insects,
crustaceans, and snails. They have thick, bright red, coiled shells that
are covered in spikes. Resting on a long, upright neck, their insectoid
heads boast strong mouth parts that can gnaw through the thickest
bark. Using their two large eyes and a pair of spiked antennae that
arch back from their heads, florivores navigate by sight, sound, and
touch. They are particularly attuned to the signs of floral dragons.
Their tails are covered with segmented chitin plates and bear two
rows of small limbs called swimmerets. While crawling, they keep
these swimmerets tucked close to the body, but while swimming,
they use them to move rapidly in the water. Florivores also use these
limbs, along with their six long maxillipeds, to cling to floral dragons
as they feed from them. Their grip is exceedingly strong for their size.
FRIENDS & FOES 185

As they largely prey on floral dragons,
florivores have developed several features to
bypass the dragons’ defenses. They secrete a
chemical in their bite that prevents a floral
dragon’s sap from clotting. When a florivore
bites a poisonous floral dragon, its body
chemistry rapidly adjusts to neutralize
the poison.
As long as they can feed, florivores continue
to grow. They start life around the size of a
fingernail, but some specimens living off of
large floral dragons reach the size of cats or
small dogs.
HABITAT
From the desert dwellings of the succulent
dragon to the cool mountain lairs of the
cherry blossom dragon, there is nowhere florivores cannot
infest. They are remarkably hardy and able to adapt to almost
any environment. As they can breathe underwater, florivores even
bother floral dragons like water lilies and lamiums in their
aquatic homes.
Florivores are also a major threat to vespons and love to eat
the honey produced from floral dragon nectar. Left unchecked, a
single florivore can consume a hive’s stores in a few hours, risking
starvation for the vespons. Vespons will mobilize in large swarms
to drive off any florivore they see.
When they are not feeding, florivores usually hide in and
Fig. 1 A florivore around the lairs, watering holes, and feeding grounds of floral
dragons. They burrow into damp and rotting wood or hide
fighting off
from the sun under stones.
vespon guards.
BEHAVIOR
I heard a distinct Florivores prefer to feed on the sap that runs through the veins
buzzing sound and of floral dragons. If they can’t feed from a floral dragon, they will
recognized it as a drink the sap from trees and plants, though it is less nutritious.
swarm of vespons. When a florivore encounters a floral dragon,
I turned around to it uses its razorsharp maxillipeds to dig through the dragon’s
protective foliage.
see them facing off
Once at the hide, it bites the dragon and sucks out the sap.
against this strange, While feeding, a florivore anchors itself to the dragon using its
hard-shelled creature. claws and retracts most of its body into its shell. A florivore can
Vespons aren’t usually stay attached to a floral dragon for a few days before dropping
so aggressive; this off, content with its meal.
To the largest and most powerful floral dragons, florivores are
creature must be a
of little concern. A mighty apple tree dragon might host hundreds
significant problem of florivores without suffering any ill effects. However, for smaller,
for them. It might be less robust species, one or more florivores can be a major nuisance
the florivore I’ve only or even a serious threat to their health.
read about. All florivores can bear young. After mating, both partners
lay a clutch of around 20 small, sticky eggs. Florivores prefer to
lay their eggs directly on a floral dragon so the hatchlings can
feed immediately. It only takes around three weeks for florivore
hatchlings to reach maturity.
186 FRIENDS & FOES

Florivores are considered a pest by most humanoids, especially I saw another one of
those who live in harmony with floral dragons. If a florivore can’t these creatures, and
feed from a floral dragon or suitable plant, it will eat blood as a they are most defin
last resort. Their stinging bites leave bright red welts that can easily itely
florivores. This one
become infected. While grooming their floral dragon companions, was
feeding on an old, sic
people must regularly check for attached florivores and their eggs in kly
order to remove them. In some places, florivores are considered amaranth dragon.
a delicacy when steamed and served with lemon.
I offered the
PERSONALITY TRAITS amaranth dragon
a
Florivore Dragon Personality Traits prayer and a sw
ift
end. Nature is no
D8 TRAIT t
always kind, but
I am old but cling to life with the same fierceness with which I it
1 is the balance of
cling to my meals. all
things. The mite
I am territorial toward other florivores. I want the best sap
s can
2 be a pest if th
sucking spots for myself. eir
numbers grow to
o
3
I am young and boisterous, and I am more interested in exploring high, but they ar
than feeding. e just
following their
nature.
4 I have no sense of moderation and will suck a floral dragon dry.
5
I have lived on one floral dragon since I hatched and know And I can’t help but
no other life. wonder whether
I have been feeding from a wise lamium dragon, and some of its they would have
6 intelligence has started seeping into me, leaving me confused at an effect on the
my burgeoning self-awareness. pleurossa. It has to
7 I enjoy sampling sap from many species of floral dragons. be stopped, and any
idea is worth pursuing.
I was injured by vespons defending their hive, and now I am
8
afraid of them.
Fig. 2 A florivore
uses its sharp
foreclaws to dig past
an amaranth dragon’s
protective foliage.
FRIENDS & FOES 187

MOTIVATIONS
Florivore Dragon Motivations
D6 MOTIVATION
1 I want to find a secure spot to feed and never move again.
The floral dragon I was feeding from has died. I need a
2
new food source.
3 I love vespon honey so much! I must find more.
4 I am looking for a mate with a suitably vivid red shell.

I am hungry for the delectable sap of a poisonous floral dragon.
5
Poison is so tasty.
6 I am looking for a safe place to lay my eggs.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Fig. 3 Florivores Here are ways to include florivores in your game.
use the small limbs
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
along their tails,
called swimmerets, to A florivore infestation has overtaken a pack of rhododendron
dragons. As soon as a dragon is cleared of the pests, it is quickly
maneuver underwater. 1
attacked again. Without aid, the youngest and weakest will
soon perish.
Deprived of its usual prey, a florivore has begun attacking
humanoids in the night. People wake with strange, painful bite
marks on their limbs. Unaware of the true cause, the villagers
2
turn on each other, making accusations that one of their
neighbors is a blood-sucking monster. The party must uncover
the truth before the situation becomes violent.
Villagers want revenge against the wisteria dragon that drove
them from their homes. They have collected a huge mass
3
of florivores and want someone to plant the pests in the
dragon’s lair.
An alchemist is studying the poison-neutralizing properties of
florivores. He needs the party to collect samples of florivores
4
feeding on various poisonous floral dragons, such as aconite,
clematis, hydrangea, and larkspur dragons.
These pests can swim too.

I shouldn’t be surprised,
judging by the shell on its
back and its crustacean
features. I understand why
they’re so hard to get rid of.
At least knowing they
can live in water opens
up my options a bit. I can
try to contain them in a
tank, perhaps.
188 FRIENDS & FOES
Florivore Tiny monstrosity, unaligned


17 (+3) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 4 (−3) 10 (+0) 5 (−3)
Skills Stealth +5
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities acid, poison
Senses darkvision 60 ft., blindsight 10 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages —
Amphibious. The florivore can breathe air and water.

Damage Transfer. While attached to a creature, the florivore takes only half the damage
dealt to it (rounded down), and that creature takes the other half.
Floral Pest. The florivore’s attacks against floral dragons and plants ignore damage resistances.
Sap Sucker. Each time the florivore hits a floral dragon or plant with its bite attack,
the florivore regains 2 (1d4) hit points.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage.
Dig In. Using its sharp claws, the florivore digs into the foliage
or skin of a creature within 5 feet of it. The target must make
a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. Floral dragons and
plants have disadvantage on this saving throw. On a failure,
the target takes 3 (1d6) piercing damage and the florivore
becomes attached to the target. While attached, the
florivore can make bite attacks only against the target
and has advantage on the attack roll. The florivore
can detach itself by spending 5 feet of its movement.
A creature, including the target, can use its action
to detach the florivore by succeeding on a DC 15
Strength check.
FRIENDS & FOES 189

190 FRIENDS & FOES
FRIENDS & FOES 191
Vespon
X Tiny Large THE VESPON EMERGENCE THEORY
X Small Huge There are tales of how many species of floral dragon came to be,
Medium Gargantuan but some researchers believe that vespons were responsible for the
creation of all floral dragons. Scholars cite records testifying that
vespons long predate even the oldest floral dragons and point to
folktales of vespons visiting flowers that began to move on their
Vespons are own as they became the first floral dragons. Detractors argue that
h
pollinators wit there is a simple explanation for these stories: when collecting
f lu f f y b od ies. nectar, vespons plunge themselves into the flower, and what was
stout,
mistaken as the flower moving on its own was in fact the vespon
harvesting nectar. These scholars argue that vespons and floral
dragons evolved alongside each other.
Though the honey produced by vespons from the nectar of any
floral dragon is magical, recent studies show that its exact magical
properties vary depending on the type of dragon. This discovery
started a debate about vespon magic. One side argues that since
ordinary bees pollinate floral dragons without producing magical
honey that the vespons must be the reason the honey is magical.
Others contend that the different magical properties of the honeys
proves that vespons are a catalyst for the innate magic within the
floral dragon.
192 FRIENDS & FOES

As for the vespons themselves, the most widely accepted
explanation for their existence is that they are the result of ordinary
bees living in proximity to classical dragon’s lairs. In places where
a dragon has lived for centuries, the soil is saturated with draconic I found a colony of
magic, and flowers absorb this power through their roots. A local bee vespons. If they make
population that fed on nectar laced with magic was transformed by it, the right kind of
resulting in the establishment of the very first vespon colony. honey, I can help
PHYSIOLOGY Zethandriel with
their injuries.
Vespons are plump, insect-like creatures with six stubby limbs on
their thorax. Their backs are protected by a chitinous exoskeleton, and One of the vespons
a tough underbelly encases their vital organs. When vespons beat their was significantly
wings quickly they produce a continuous buzzing sound. A vespon can
larger than the
sustain this buzz for about an hour. The pair of antennae on a vespon’s
others; she must be
head are sensitive and allow it to smell flowering plants and detect
nectar across great distances. their queen. I didn’t
To collect nectar, vespons plunge themselves head-first into a want to get much
flower. They eat their fill before storing the remaining nectar in a closer in case they
special sac to take back to their hive. The fuzzy, bright yellow hair perceived me
covering their bodies collects pollen from flowers. Vespons carry as a threat.
this pollen to other flowers as they feed, performing the vital role
of pollinator for both floral dragons and true plants. I don’t know how
A short-lived species, vespons are not floral dragons but are closely to collect their
associated with them. Worker vespons live between six and twelve honey—it might
months, and a queen vespon can live for up to five years. The queen be a good idea to
is the only member of the hive who can lay eggs, which she does ask someone who
throughout her lifetime. She is always the largest vespon in the colony knows more.
and emits pheromones that carry messages about her health and wishes
to the rest of the hive.
Vespons do not have stingers. However, they can bite, which they
only do when their queen is threatened When swarming, vespons can
coordinate to immobilize an attacker’s limb to protect their queen. Fig. 1 A queen
vespon transmits
HABITAT signals to attending
Vespons make their nests in gardens or woodlands where there worker vespons.
are plenty of flowers—growing either in soil or on floral
dragons—to pollinate. Wild colonies are small and most
often found in tree hollows, but larger ones can be
established in hives provided by humanoids. Honey
storage takes up the majority of space in the hive.
Vespons live happily near floral dragons and
are a vital part of many ecosystems.
For peony dragons, vespons
groom their petals in
return for the chance
to feast on the dragons’
nectar. Vampire lily
and apple tree dragons
rely on vespons to
reproduce. Vespons
have a particularly
amicable relationship
with dandelion dragons,
and have been seen
playing together.
FRIENDS & FOES 193

Fig. 2 Vespons plunge themselves
into flowers to collect nectar.
FLORAL DRAGON HONEY BEHAVIOR

When vespons use the nectar of Vespons live in hierarchical hives with set roles. A queen
a floral dragon to make honey, vespon’s primary job is to populate the colony, while worker
it is magical. The magic honey’s vespons gather nectar, make honey, keep the hive clean, and
properties differ depending on care for the larvae. Worker vespons produce honey by storing
the type of floral dragon. If the the nectar they collect in hexagonal chambers in the hive.
dragon has a Floral Presence If a hive becomes too crowded and resources dwindle,
action, the honey derives its a new queen will be raised by the existing queen, who feeds
properties from that feature. her a special form of honey. Worker vespons scout for a new
Floral dragon honeys can be place to establish a hive. Once a worker has found a suitable
beneficial or deceptively tasty place, they lead half the colony and the new queen to the new
poison. One misleading type location, where build their new home. There, the new queen
is the delicious but dangerous begins to lay the eggs that will become of the next generation
ornithogalum dragon honey*. of vespon workers. During this critical time, vespons can
come into conflict with humanoids who misunderstand the
Ornithogalum reason for their swarming.
Dragon Honey Vespons are friendly toward floral dragons and humanoids.
Potion, rare Some humanoids raise vespons in constructed hives to collect
This thick liquid tastes sweet their honey and conserve the species. Honey made from the
with a hint of herbal notes. nectar of regular flowers is nonmagical.
One hour after consuming Since the nectar of some floral dragons like azalea
this honey, you must make a dragons’ produces toxic honey, vesponkeepers track their
DC 19 Constitution saving vespons carefully to avoid any potential mixing of the various
throw. On a failure, you kinds of honey. Toxic honey can be an ingredient in vital
suffer a level of exhaustion. poison antidotes, painkillers, and serums, but confusing
different batches could have disastrous consequences.
194 FRIENDS & FOES

PERSONALITY TRAITS
Vespon Personality Traits
D8 TRAIT
1 My honeycombs are always perfect hexagons.
2 I eat honey when I think nobody is looking.
3 I can chew my way through anything.

I don’t like the feeling of pollen on my body, and I groom
4
myself meticulously when I return to the hive.
I’d rather fly around and see new places than spend my days
5
hopping from flower to flower.
Floral dragons terrify me, and I can’t get close to one
6
without panicking.
7 I like the company of humanoids more than that of my hive.
8 I beat my wings just to hear my own buzz.
MOTIVATIONS
Vespon Motivations
D8 TRAIT On my way out of the
1 I am a queen, and I will ensure the continued survival of my hive.
forest, I saw a vespon
facedown in a flower.
2 I want to drink the nectar of every type of floral dragon. At first, I thought it
My hive depends on worker vespons like me to survive, had fallen in and become
3 stuck. I cast a spell so it
and I won’t let it down.
I will lead my colony to a new hive where we will have
could understand me and
4 asked if it needed help.
space to thrive.
I want to play with my dandelion dragon friends rather
5 When it didn’t reply,
than work.
I thought maybe it was
6 My purpose is to make honey.
in so much trouble, it
couldn’t respond. I held
ADVENTURE HOOKS it gently between my
Here are some ideas for ways to include vespons in your game. thumb and forefinger
and began to pull it out.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
A pack of azalea dragons broke into a vesponkeeper’s enclosure When the vespon resisted,
1
and stole several hives to snack on the honey inside. The I let it go immediately
vesponkeeper asks the party to bring back as many vespons and took a step back
as they can. to watch. When it
A new thesis about the nature of vespons’ magic has reignited emerged, I saw its mouth
2 scholarly interest in the creatures. Theives are stealing vespon hives was dripping with nectar,
and selling them to unscrupulous academics for experimentation.
and it scolded me for
Developers tore down trees in an old forest, leaving a populous interrupting its meal.
3 colony with nowhere to go for miles around. The vespons built a I apologized and promised
new nest in the garden of a nobleman who wants them moved.
to never disturb a
A vesponkeeper sold the wrong batch of honey to a merchant, feeding vespon again.
and local townspeople are falling sick. The cure for the toxic
4
honey is floral dragon honey made from the nectar of the elusive
lamium dragon.
FRIENDS & FOES 195

Vespon
Queen
Small monstrosity, unaligned

1 (−5) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 3 (−4) 8 (−1) 4 (−3)
Skills Perception +3
Languages —
Pheromone Network. The queen can communicate simple images, ideas, and instructions to all
swarms of vespons within 150 feet of her. A swarm can reply to these communications, relaying simple
information to the queen.
Royal Command. The queen can use a bonus action to command a swarm of vespons within
150 feet of her to make an attack. The swarm must use its reaction to make this attack.
ACTIONS
Buzz. The queen beats its wings violently and creates a buzzing sound. Each creature within 10 feet of
the queen that can hear it must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or take 3 (1d6) thunder
damage and be deafened until the start of the queen’s next turn.
196 FRIENDS & FOES

I went to visit a vesponkeeper in a
nearby settlement. Unfortunately,
the vespons they raise don’t make
the kind of honey I need, but the
vespon-keeper was kind enough to
show me how to extract honey
from the hive. I’ll need to adapt my
approach for vespons in the wild,
but I feel a lot more confident
than I did before.
Fig. 3 A vesponkeeper
cares for their hive.
Swarm of
Vespons
Medium swarm of Tiny monstrosities, any good alignment

4 (−3) 15 (+2) 15 (+2) 3 (−4) 8 (−1) 4 (−3)
Saving Throws Dex +4, Con +4 Languages —

Skills Perception +3 Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and vice versa, and the swarm can move
through any opening large enough for a Tiny insect. The swarm can’t regain hit points or gain
temporary hit points.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 0 ft., one target in the swarm’s space. Hit: 10 (4d4) piercing
damage, or 5 (2d4) piercing damage if the swarm has half of its hit points or fewer. Additionally, on a
hit the target must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or have disadvantage on the first attack
roll it makes before the end of its next turn.
FRIENDS & FOES 197

198 FRIENDS & FOES
FRIENDS & FOES 199
MDragon
The Pleurossa Fungus
ushroom
&
the
Tiny Large CONSUMPTION AND CONTROL

Small Huge Once, a party of adventurers—Amina the bard, Kaltaar the
Medium X Gargantuan druid, Izora the sorcerer, and Zethandriel the barbarian—set
out to research floral dragons and share what they learned with
The mushroom dragon the world. After traveling together for a while, they split up to
is the corrupt better investigate dragons in different habitats. The adventurers
creature born from planned to reunite in the village of Peskarii, home to Izora, to
the pleurossa. share what they had learned about floral dragons.
However, while the adventurers wandered the world, they
remained unaware of a floral dragon close to home. A haughty
and short-tempered wisteria dragon that laired in the deep forest
turned its cruel gaze toward the village of Peskarii. It demanded
tribute and servitude from the villagers.
When they were unable to meet the dragon’s extortionate
demands, the wisteria dragon choked the settlement’s land with
its grasping vines. The people of Peskarii fell into an enchanted
slumber and starved to death.
200 FRIENDS & FOES
When Izora and her party returned to Peskarii, their
excitement to share their findings was erased by the sight before
them. The bones of Izora’s friends and family lay entwined in
wisteria flowers throughout the ruin of her village. Filled with
grief and a venomous hatred for the dragon that destroyed her
home, Izora swore revenge. Her friends warned her that the
dragon was too dangerous to take on and urged her to stay with
them, but Izora refused to listen. She left the party and set out
on her own to find a way to kill the wisteria dragon.
Izora’s long isolation and many hostile encounters with other
floral dragons turned her rage to simmering bitterness as she
searched for their weaknesses. She came to believe that all floral Corruption changes
dragons must be wiped out, not just the wisteria. the floral dragons.
One day, Izora stumbled upon a dying dandelion dragon with The playful dandelion
mushrooms growing out of its head. Izora recognized the fungus as dragon is reduced to a
the pleurossa, a local fungus that decomposes floral dragon bodies husk of itself. Its leafy
after they die, but had never seen it growing from a live dragon tail and fluffy antennae
before. Still fixated on killing the wisteria dragon, she wondered are no more, and its eyes
if the pleurossa could be weaponized against the floral dragons. are hollow.
The sorcerer began to experiment with the pleurossa in a
remote camp deep in the forest, corrupting the benign fungus The mushrooms that grow
with magic. Izora tested her creation on a clematis dragon. on its body and head are
As the pleurossa consumed the dragon, the victim thrashed, the same toxic ones that
cutting Izora with its razor-like petals. Enthralled by the dragon’s the pleurossa produces.
transformation into a mindless host for the pleurossa, Izora paid Izora loved the dandelion
no attention to her own wounds. Pleurossa spores entered her dragons once; she was
bloodstream through the gashes on her hands, and started the the one who told me
process of corrupting her as well. about them in the
Over the following weeks, Izora continued her experiments first place.
as she became weaker and weaker while the pleurossa progressed
through her body. Eventually, she became so
sick she could only lie on her cot, cursing the
world that she wouldn’t be able to complete
her revenge. As she lay dying, Izora’s
thoughts were consumed by hatred for
floral dragons. But the pleurossa was
not only killing her—it was absorbing
her. As Izora’s consciousness merged
with the pleurossa, she became aware
of a vast, interconnected mycelial
network growing just beneath the
forest floor. Izora’s hatred and fear of
the floral dragons were so strong that
as the pleurossa consumed her, it was
fundamentally changed. The pleurossa
grew a rudimentary consciousness
fixated on completing Izora’s goal of
bringing an end to all floral dragons. Fig. 1 A dandelion
Within moments, Izora’s body was dragon shows
gone, leaving only her urge for revenge prominent signs
which lived on inside the pleurossa. of corruption.
Enhanced by Izora’s arcane power, the
pleurossa grew a large fruiting body,
the fearsome mushroom dragon. This
monstrosity would be the pleurossa’s
weapon to execute Izora’s undying wish
to exterminate all floral dragons.
FRIENDS & FOES 201

In the months that followed, Izora’s corrupted pleurossa
mushroom
Fig. 2 Thecor established itself in the forest, outcompeting the other fungi. The
ruption
dragon’s especially floral dragons living nearby soon fell to its corruption, including
spreads in humid the proud wisteria dragon that had destroyed Izora’s village.
fast . The pleurossa’s progress is slow yet devastating, while the
environments mushroom dragon causes massive destruction and spreads pleurossa
spores that can corrupt all living creatures. All floral dragons that
I heard reports of have encountered it know to beware the mushroom that moves.
fouled water near Meanwhile, Izora’s former friends had only the notes she left
the forest so I went behind in her camp to try to piece together what happened to
to investigate. As I her and how she is connected to this new and looming threat.
feared, the pleurossa PHYSIOLOGY
still dwells within
these woods. There is only one corrupted pleurossa, a vast underground mycelial
network spanning miles. Its web of mycelial threads enables the
Its presence pollutes fungus to sense the position of creatures in its forest. Recent
the area and makes observations indicate that the pleurossa is still expanding and may
it nigh uninhabitable. even be growing another fruiting body like the mushroom dragon.
I wish I could have There is no data on how old or large the network could become.
done more to stop it. Sprouting from the pleurossa as mushrooms sprout from their
I should never have mycelia, the mushroom dragon is an eight-legged monster with
let Izora go off alone enormous fungal growths for wings and a veiny hole for a mouth.
after we found her Four sharp teeth line the top of its maw, with two more
village destroyed. protruding from its bottom jaw. Its thick tail trails behind it,
shedding spores to spread the pleurossa corruption. Its spongey
scales are broad and as thick as mushroom caps. The mushroom
dragon is one with the pleurossa, and travels to areas where it can
hunt and infect new hosts with the fungal infection. Its dragon-like
form manifested from Izroa’s fixation on floral dragons.
202 FRIENDS & FOES
A few seconds’ exposure to the airborne spores around the
pleurossa or the mushroom dragon is enough for a host to become
infected. The pleurossa also infects creatures through wounds The mushroom dragon is
or by being ingested, and slowly kills the host if left unchecked. the living embodiment of
Once the corruption has progressed far enough, an infected host hatred for floral dragons.
connects to the pleurossa, able to sense its surroundings through I doubt the pleurossa
the mycelial network. As the corruption continues, hosts become would have been able to
more interconnected with the pleurossa until, eventually, they are produce such a creature on
absorbed entirely. The vast network feeds on the body’s nutrients its own. Izora’s magic must
and subsumes any remnant of the host’s mind. have powered it somehow.
HABITAT I wonder if there is
The pleurossa extends throughout the forest where it was corrupted anything left of my
by Izora. While the mushroom dragon can travel beyond this range, friend in there… and if
it is strongest when it is close to the mycelial network, which allows she can be saved.
it to sense its environment far beyond its own meager perception.
Within the forest, spores produced by the pleurossa network
and the dragon are an ever-present threat, giving the region a
distinct musty smell.
Floral dragons that live in the forest are either hosts or soon-
to-be hosts; none are immune to the infectious spores exuded by
the mushroom dragon. Some creatures and plants on the outskirts
of the pleurossa’s territory guard the forest, defending against the
spread of the corruption, even as they risk succumbing to the
mycelial network themselves.
BEHAVIOR
The mushroom dragon and the pleurossa have no capacity for
intelligent thought, only a primal need to destroy floral dragons.
Though the pleurossa can absorb any creature into the mycelial
network, its natural role as a decomposer of floral dragon corpses,
combined with Izora’s hatred, causes it to corrupt floral dragons
in unique ways. Whereas other corrupted creatures are eventually Fig. 3 The mushroom
consumed by the pleurossa, floral dragons’ petals wither and die, dragon feasts on the
their forms contort, and their minds remains of a kill.
rot. A floral dragon that undergoes
these changes eventually becomes a
corrupted floral dragon.
The pleurossa is unrecognizable
from its former role as a beneficial
fungus. It is now a monster—
single-minded and destructive. The
pleurossa siphons nutrients from hosts it absorbs
and uses the mushroom dragon to consume
living things in its path. As the pleurossa cannot
perceive its surroundings beyond the mycelial
network’s growth, it uses the mushroom dragon’s
capacity for flight to search for opportunities to
expand beyond its territory. Wherever the
mushroom dragon is sighted, the rest of
the pleurossa is never far behind.
FRIENDS & FOES 203

Fig. 4 The long tongues
of corrupted azalea
dragons liquify and drip
from their mouths.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Here are ways to include the pleurossa fungus and mushroom dragon
in your game.
D4 ADVENTURE HOOK
Under the effeinf cts of An elderly elf named Zethandriel [they/them] approaches the
d
the corruptio no loecngteer
n, party for help. They have been trying to stop the pleurossa for
floral dr ag on s 1 decades and are in search of fresh ideas. They tell the party their
need to eat becaieus e they friend Izora created the corrupted fungus and that she is likely
share al l nu tr nt s with lost forever.
the pleu ro ss a. A nomadic group sets up camp outside the pleurossa-infected
forest. They send several people into the forest to gather food, but
2
The azalea dragon’s none return. The leader of the group asks the party to find their
tongue melts away, and missing people.
mycelia root throughout Researchers captured a larkspur dragon with a single mushroom
its body. I never met growing from its skull. They have quarantined it to learn what is
an azalea dragon 3
wrong with it. The researchers hire the party to go into the forest
myself, but I vaguely and find the rest of the dragon’s blooming. They are willing to
remember Kaltaar pay generously and warn that the mushrooms are
telling me about them extremely dangerous
as I faded in and out of Winds from a storm carried pleurossa spores to a nearby village.
consciousness. 4
All inhabitants of the village have gained some levels of
corruption. The mushroom dragon will claim the village as its
He befriended a territory and advance to nearby settlements if it is not stopped.
pack of them once.
THE PLEUROSSA
FUNGUS’S TRAITS
Ideal. “All floral dragons are a threat to the world and must
be wiped out.”
Bond. “We are all one: the mushroom dragon, the corrupted
floral dragons, the network.”
Flaw. “I am corrupted by a dead sorcerer’s hatred.”
204 FRIENDS & FOES
Fig. 5 The
mushroom dragon’s
toxic spore breath
causes corruption.
THE PLEUROSSA NETWORK

Just a whiff of the
In combat, the pleurossa network is not a creature that can be mushroom dr on’s
attacked. It has a reserve of hit points it can distribute to the toxic breath isagen
mushroom dragon and corrupted floral dragons. At the
start of combat, it has 50 hp in its reserve. This amount can
to make you sickough
with corrupti It
be increased or decreased to change the difficulty of combat. is a cruel infeonct. ion
Gaining and Distributing Hit Points. When corrupted that results in a
creatures die, the pleurossa network gains a number of hit points torturously sl ow
equal to a roll of the creature’s hit dice. On initiative count 10 if left untreateded.ath
(losing ties) the pleurossa can distribute any number of hit points
to either one corrupted floral dragon of its choice or the mushroom
dragon, removing the same amount of hit points from its reserve.
Shared Perception. The pleurossa can perceive the world
I am too old to do
around it through its network of fungal fibers that reach throughout
anything about it now,
the ground and through the corrupted floral dragons and the
but if I publish these
mushroom dragon. Corrupted floral dragons and the mushroom
notes, they may reach
dragon can perceive everything the pleurossa does while they are
someone who can.
within its area.
Destroying the Pleurossa Network. The pleurossa network
can’t be attacked directly but can be destroyed. To destroy the
pleurossa, it must die and be unable to regrow. Once the mushroom
dragon has been defeated, the pleurossa has few defenses until it
can grow a new one. During this time, it can be destroyed through
any logical method with enough power and effort, such as fire,
fungicide, or magic. Alternatively, if Izora’s corrupting influence
can be removed or calmed, the pleurossa will return to its former
unthreatening state as a natural part of the ecosystem.
FRIENDS & FOES 205

CORRUPTED FLORAL DRAGONS
When floral dragons and other creatures are infected by the
pleurossa, they gain levels of corruption, as detailed in the
Corruption Effects table. Floral dragons have disadvantage on all
saving throws made to resist corruption. The infection slowly takes
away their sense of self as they become one with the pleurossa.
Common signs of infection in floral dragons are decaying petals,
visible bones, broken wings, and hollow eye sockets. Mushrooms
sprout where flowers should be on an infected dragon’s back, skull,
and tail. If a floral dragon gains 6 levels of corruption, it becomes
a corrupted floral dragon, as detailed in the Corrupted Floral
Dragon Template. The corrupted azalea dragon, corrupted
dandelion dragon, corrupted larkspur dragon, and corrupted
wisteria dragon are provided as examples.
CORRUPTION
The mushroom dragon and the pleurossa network can infect
creatures with corruption. This disease turns creatures into hosts,
slowly kills them, and absorbs them into the pleurossa network. The
infection can be obtained by inhaling toxic spores, sustaining injury,
or ingesting corrupted organic material. Wearing a face covering
grants advantage on saving throws against corruption through
inhalation, and wearing adamantine armor grants advantage on
saving throws against corruption through injury. Constructs and
undead are immune to corruption.
Effects. Corruption is measured in six levels. The Corruption
The changes that the Effects table shows the consequences of each level of corruption.
corruption causes are A creature suffers the effects of its current level of corruption as well
perhaps most pronounced as all lower levels. A floral dragon that gains six levels of corruption
in the larkspur dragon. becomes a corrupted floral dragon.
The dragon’s song becomes Progression of Corruption. On its own, corruption progresses
an agonized screech, and slowly. Once every 2d12 days, a creature with at least 1 level of
signs of the mycelial corruption must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw. On a
network emerge all over failure, the creature gains a level of corruption. Repeated exposure
its body and head. to the spores or the attacks of corrupted floral dragons can rapidly
increase corruption.
Death While Corrupted. When a creature with one or more
While we were just levels of corruption dies, it is absorbed into the pleurossa. The
starting out, pleurossa network gains a number of hit points equal to a roll of
I was looking for the the creature’s hit dice, which become part of its hit point reserve.
hydrangea dragon when Ending the Corruption. Corruption lasts until all levels of
Kaltaar found the corruption are removed by a greater restoration spell or
larkspur dragon. I would similar magic.
have liked to have seen Temporary Immunity. Once a creature has removed all levels
one in its prime. of corruption, it is immune to corruption for the next 24 hours.
206 FRIENDS & FOES

CORRUPTION EFFECTS
LEVEL EFFECT
Infected. The creature is poisoned. This level can be removed if,
1 within 8 hours of infection, the creature is subject to the lesser
restoration spell or an item that cures the poisoned condition.
Mild. The creature has disadvantage on Constitution
2
saving throws.
Moderate. The mushroom dragon can see through the creature’s
3 eyes. The creature is blinded with regard to its own senses and
gains blindsight out to a range of 10 feet.
Advanced. Each time the creature takes damage, it takes an
4
extra 3 necrotic damage.
Severe. At the start of each of the creature’s turns, it must make
5 a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, it can either
move, take an action, or take a bonus action.
Complete Corruption. The creature dies and becomes one
with the pleurossa. The pleurossa network gains a number of
hit points equal to a roll of the creature’s hit dice. Only a true
6 resurrection or wish spell or divine intervention can restore the
creature to life. Alternatively, if the creature is a floral dragon,
it becomes a corrupted floral dragon as detailed in the
Corrupted Floral Dragon Template.
Fig. 6 The head and neck

of a corrupted larkspur
dragon twist away from
its body.
FRIENDS & FOES 207

CORRUPTED FLORAL
DRAGON TEMPLATE
When a floral dragon becomes a corrupted floral dragon, it retains
its statistics with the following alterations. The GM decides if a
corrupted floral dragon retains or loses any or all of its lair actions.
CORRUPTED TRAITS
All corrupted floral dragons share these traits:
Ideal. “All floral dragons must be corrupted.”
Bond. “I am one with the pleurossa.”
Flaw. “I am singleminded in my hatred for floral dragons.”
CORRUPTED ABILITIES
Altered Ability Scores. The corrupted floral dragon’s Intelligence
becomes 3 (−4), its Wisdom becomes 12 (+1), and its Charisma
becomes 4 (−3).
Resistances. The corrupted floral dragon gains resistance
to necrotic damage.
Immunities. The corrupted floral dragon gains immunity
to poison damage. The corrupted floral dragon can’t be blinded,
charmed, deafened, frightened, petrified, or poisoned.
It also doesn’t suffer from exhaustion.
Fungally Controlled. The corrupted floral dragon is part of the
pluerossa network. While it is within the pluerossa’s area, it is aware
of everything the pluerossa percieves. It carries out the desires of the
pleurrosa without hesitation.
Senses. The corrupted floral dragon gains blindsight out to a
range of 60 feet if it didn’t already have it. It is blind beyond this
radius and loses any other senses it had previously.
Speed. The corrupted floral dragon gains a burrow speed
of 30 feet. If the dragon has a fly speed, it is halved.
Languages. The corrupted floral dragon can no longer
understand or speak any language.
Magic Resistance. The corrupted floral dragon has advantage
on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
CORRUPTED ACTIONS
Melee Weapon Spores. If the dragon has a melee weapon attack
that deals piercing or slashing damage, on a hit a target must
succeed on a Constitution saving throw or gain one level of
corruption. The DC is equal to 8 + the dragon’s proficiency
bonus + the dragon’s Constitution modifier. Floral dragons
have disadvantage on this saving throw.
Weakened. The corrupted floral dragon can’t cast spells or
take legendary actions.
Floral Presence. If the corrupted dragon had a Floral Presence
before it was corrupted, it is replaced with the following feature
with the range, damage, and saving throw determined by the
original dragon’s CR:
Fungal Presence (Recharge of 5–6.) The dragon exhales
spores in a cone originating from itself. Each creature in that area
must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save,
a creature takes poison and necrotic damage and gains a level
of corruption. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much
damage. If a target’s saving throw is successful, the target is immune
to the dragon’s Fungal Presence for the next 24 hours. The Fungal
Presence Strength table shows the ability’s range, damage, and
saving throw DC.
208 FRIENDS & FOES
FUNGAL PRESENCE STRENGTH
ORIGINAL CR RANGE DAMAGE SAVING THROW DC
0–1/2 10-foot cone 2 (1d4) poison and 2 (1d4) necrotic 12
1–3 20-foot cone 3 (1d6) poison and 3 (1d6) necrotic 13
THE PLEUROSSA’S LAIR

The pleurossa fully infests the forest where it merged with Izora.
There is no place its mycelial tendrils do not reach. While the
mushroom dragon is within its area, the pleurossa can take
lair actions.
LAIR ACTIONS
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the pleurossa takes
a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the pleurossa
can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:
The pleurossa summons a corrupted floral dragon of CR 4 or
lower to aid the mushroom dragon in combat. Roll initiative
for the corrupted floral dragon. The pleurossa can use this lair
action twice per day.
Glittering spores fill the air in a 20-foot cube. Each creature
within that area must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving
throw or be affected as if by the faerie fire spell.
The pleurossa network unearths itself in a 20-foot radius
centered on a point on the ground within 120 feet of the
mushroom dragon. The area becomes difficult terrain and each
creature in that area must succeed on a DC 19 Strength saving
throw or be restrained by roots until the pleurossa takes another
lair action. A creature can be freed if it or another creature takes
an action to make a DC 15 Strength check and succeeds.
REGIONAL EFFECTS
The region containing the pleurossa is warped by its presence,
which creates one or more of the following effects:
Water sources within 5 miles of the lair are contaminated.
A creature that drinks the water is poisoned for 1d4 + 1 hours
after ingesting it.
Plants and animals appear sickly, and the forest is eerily silent
as no birds sing here.
The mushrooms that grow in the forest are corrupted. A
creature that ingests a mushroom must succeed on a DC 22
Constitution saving throw or gain one level of corruption.
If the pleurossa dies, these effects fade over the course of 1d10 days.
FRIENDS & FOES 209

Corrupted
Azalea
Dragon
Medium dragon, neutral evil

Speed 40 ft.

15 (+2) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 3 (−4) 12 (+1) 4 (−3)
Saving Throws Dex +4, Con +4, Wis +3, Cha −2

Damage Resistances necrotic
Damage Vulnerabilities cold
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion frightened, petrified, poisoned
Languages —
Fungally Controlled. The corrupted dragon is part of the pluerossa fungus network. It is aware
of everything other corrupted floral dragons and the mushroom dragon perceive at all times, and
it carries out the desires of the pleurrosa fungus.
Keen Hearing and Smell. The corrupted dragon has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks
that rely on hearing or smell.
Magic Resistance. The corrupted dragon has advantage on saving throws against spells and other
magical effects
Pack Tactics. The corrupted dragon has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one
of the dragon’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing damage and
if the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned
until the end of its next turn and gain a level of corruption. Floral dragons have disadvantage on this
saving throw.
210 FRIENDS & FOES

FRIENDS & FOES 211
Corrupted
Dandelion
Dragon
Tiny dragon, neutral evil
Armor Class 12

3 (−4) 15 (+2) 13 (+1) 3 (−4) 12 (+1) 4 (−3)

Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion frightened, petrified, poisoned
Languages —
of everything other corrupted floral dragons and the mushroom dragon perceive at all times,
and it carries out the desires of the pleurrosa fungus.
Magic Resistance. The corrupted dragon has advantage on saving throws against spells
and other magical effects
Temporal Sensitivity. The corrupted dragon has advantage on initiative rolls and can choose
to reroll its initiative at the start of each round. If it rerolls, it must use the new result.
Time Acceleration (1/Day). The corrupted dragon takes an additional action on its turn.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage,
and the target must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or gain one level of corruption.
Floral dragons have disadvantage on this saving throw.
212 FRIENDS & FOES

FRIENDS & FOES 213
Corrupted
LarKspur
Dragon
Large dragon, neutral evil

Hit Points 90 (12d10 + 24)

16 (+3) 17 (+3) 15 (+2) 3 (−4) 12 (+1) 4 (−3)

Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, petrified, poisoned
Languages —
Fleet of Foot. The corrupted dragon can use a bonus action on each of its turns to take the
Dash action.
of everything other corrupted floral dragons and the mushroom dragon perceive at all times,
and it carries out the desires of the pleurrosa fungus.
Magic Resistance. The corrupted dragon has advantage on saving throws against spells and
other magical effects.
Poisonous Petals. A creature that touches the corrupted dragon or hits it with a melee attack
while within 5 feet of it takes 7 (2d6) poison damage.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The corrupted dragon makes two attacks: one with its beak and one with its talons.
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage plus
5 (1d10) poison damage and the target must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or gain
one level of corruption. Floral dragons have disadvantage on this saving throw.
Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage
Floral dragons have disadvantage on this saving throw.
214 FRIENDS & FOES

FRIENDS & FOES 215
Corrupted
Wisteria
Dragon
Huge dragon, any non-good alignment

Hit Points 256 (19d12 + 133)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 30 ft., fly 40 ft.

24 (+7) 13 (+1) 25 (+7) 3 (−4) 12 (+1) 4 (−3)

Skills Arcana +2, Deception +3, History +2, Insight +7, Perception +7
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, petrified, poisoned
Languages —
Fey Ancestry. The dragon has advantage on saving throws

against being charmed, and magic can’t put the dragon to sleep.
Fungally Controlled. The corrupted dragon is part of the pluerossa
fungus network. It is aware of everything other corrupted floral dragons
and the mushroom dragon perceive at all times, and it carries out the
desires of the pleurrosa fungus.
Magic Resistance. The dragon has advantage on saving
throws against spells and other magical effects.
Regeneration. The dragon regains 10 hit points at the start of
its turn. If the dragon takes cold damage, this trait doesn’t function
at the start of the dragon’s next turn. The dragon dies only if it
starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate.
l, fey wisteria dr agon is

Even the powerefuinf tion. W hil e co rrupted,
vulnerable to thmane ec d tail with away
er ,
its luxurious elan on be ne at h, an d its
revealing the sks beet co me limp and ragged.
iri de sc en t wi ng
what remains of Izora
I wonder if sh finally su cc eeded
knows thating ethe dragon that
in punish home. I doubt it
.
destroyed her
216 FRIENDS & FOES
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Fungal Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with
its bite and two with its stomp.
Floral dragons have disadvantage on the save.
Stomp. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
Grasping Vines (Recharge 5–6). Vines entangle each creature of the dragon’s choice within 90 feet
of it. Each target must make a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) piercing damage on a
failed save, or half as much on a success. On a failure, a target is grappled and restrained (escape DC
19). While restrained, a target takes 18 (4d8) piercing damage at the start of each of its turns.
Fungal Presence. The dragon exhales spores in a 60-foot cone originating from itself. Each creature
in that area must make a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 16 (3d10)
poison and 16 (3d10) necrotic damage and gains a level of corruption. On a successful save, a creature
takes half as much damage. If a target’s saving throw is successful, the target is immune to this dragon’s
Fungal Presence for the next 24 hours.
Fig. 7 The flowers of a

corrupted wisteria dragon rot
and fall off, exposing its bones.
FRIENDS & FOES 217

Mushroom
Dragon
Gargantuan dragon, neutral evil

Hit Points 350 (20d20 + 140)
Speed 60 ft., burrow 60 ft., fly 20 ft.,

27 (+8) 14 (+2) 25 (+7) 3 (−4) 12 (+1) 4 (−3)
Saving Throws Dex +9, Con +14, Int +3, Cha +4

Damage Resistances necrotic, damage from spells; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage
from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, petrified, poisoned
Languages —
Magic Resistance. The dragon has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The dragon’s weapon attacks are magical.
Mycelial Sight. While the dragon is within 100 feet of the pleurossa network, its blindsight extends
as far as the network reaches and it is immune to the blinded condition.
Toxic Spores. A creature that starts its turn within 20 feet of the dragon must succeed on a DC 22
Constitution saving throw or gain one level of corruption. Creatures that don’t need to breathe are
immune to this effect.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Overwhelming Spores. It then makes three attacks: one with
its bite, one with its corrupting claws, and one with its tail.
Corrupting Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 26 (4d8 + 8)
slashing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 22 Constitution saving throw or gain one
level of corruption. Floral dragons have disadvantage on the save.
If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 23 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
218 FRIENDS & FOES

Overwhelming Spores. The dragon releases a cloud of spores. Each creature of the dragon’s choice that
is within 120 feet of the dragon must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become charmed
for 1 minute. On its turn, a charmed creature must move up to its speed toward the dragon by the
most direct route possible. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending
the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the
creature is immune to the dragon’s Overwhelming Spores for the next 24 hours.
Corrupting Fungal Presence (Recharge 5–6). The dragon exhales putrid spores in a 120-foot cone.
Each creature in that area must make a DC 22 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature
takes 32 (5d12) poison damage and 32 (5d12) necrotic damage and gains a level of corruption.
On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and does not gain any corruption.
REACTIONS
Spore Sacrifice. When the dragon would take damage, it can use its reaction to halve the damage and
force a creature of its choice within 300 feet of the dragon and has 3 or more levels of corruption to
take the other half.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Move. The dragon moves up to half its speed.
FRIENDS & FOES 219

Creatures by
Challenge Rating
CR 1/4 CR 4 CR 14
Dandelion Dragon Water Lily Dragon Vampire Lily Dragon
CR 1/2 CR 5 CR 15
Clematis Dragon Larkspur Dragon Lamium Dragon
Rhododendron Dragon Ornithogalum Dragon
Vespon Queen
CR 6
Peony Dragon CR 16
CR 1 Cherry Blossom Dragon
CR 7
Azalea Dragon
Hydrangea Dragon CR 17
CR 2 Corrupted Wisteria Dragon
CR 8
Amaranth Dragon Wisteria Dragon
Magnolia Dragon
Florivore
CR 21
Jade Vine Dragon CR 9
Swarm of Vespons Mushroom Dragon
Aconite Dragon
CR 3 CR 25
CR 11
Heliconia Dragon Manchineel Dragon
Greater Aconite Dragon
CR 27
CR 12
Apple Tree Dragon
Succulent Dragon
220 INDEXES
Index of
Magic Items
armor of the vampire lily dragon 161
cherry blossom token 29
clematis-tainted weapon 51
dandelion hourglass 61
floral dragon grooming rake 21
great harvest apple 71
hydrangea dragon antidote 97
ornithogalum dragon elixir 136
ornithogalum dragon honey 194
peony dragon essence 144
succulent water of life 152
wisteria dragon perfume 177
INDEXES 221
Index of
Creatures
A M
aconite dragon 8–15, 52, 161 magnolia dragon 20, 87, 89, 105, 124–131
amaranth dragon 16–23, 44, 68, 127, 128, manchineel dragon 38, 66–69, 70, 71, 74–83
131, 187 mushroom dragon 6, 52, 198–209, 210–17,
apple tree dragon 66–73, 76–80, 186, 193 218–219
azalea dragon 32–38, 42–44, 193, 195
O
C ornithogalum dragon 68, 132–139, 194
cherry blossom dragon 24–31, 186
clematis dragon 12–13, 14, 48–54, 112,
160, 162, 167, 201 P
clematis venom 51 peony dragon 120–121, 140–147, 195
corrupted azalea dragon 204, 206, 210–211 pleurossa fungus 6, 68, 187, 198–209, 218
corrupted dandelion dragon 201, 206, 212–213 R
corrupted floral dragons 203, 204, 205, 206–209, rhododendron dragon 34–36, 38, 40–46, 61, 68,
210–217 188
corrupted larkspur dragon 206, 207, 214–215
corrupted wisteria dragon 202, 206, 216–217 S
succulent dragon 60, 148–155, 186
D
dandelion dragon 35, 45, 56–63, 120, 151, V
152, 193, 201 vampire lily dragon 52, 105, 156–163, 179,
193
F vespon 36, 60, 69, 87, 90, 136,
florivore 182–189 143, 144–145, 147, 160,
175, 185–186, 188,
G 190–197
greater aconite dragon 15
W
H water lily dragon 44, 112, 164–171
heliconia dragon 80–81, 84–90, 104–105, wisteria dragon 36–37, 68, 71, 79, 161,
112, 128 162, 172–179, 200–202
hydrangea dragon 88, 89, 90, 92–99
hydrangea dragon poison 97
J
jade vine dragon 35, 88–89, 90, 100–107,
128
L
lamium dragon 44, 108–115, 167, 186,
187, 195
larkspur dragon 60–61, 89, 105, 116–123,
144–145, 161
222 INDEXES
INDEXES 223

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ART & CONCEPT BY KIN WALD TM

Illustrator Kin Wald Graphic Designers Ricardo Evangelho

AN EXTRA-SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR AMAZING PATREON SUPPORTERS AND

first printing 2024

SAFETY AT THE TABLE

Handwriting like this belongs to Amina [she/they], an orc bard.

Handwriting like this belongs to Izora [[she/her]], a human sorcerer.

To whoever finds these humble notes, may

igated the wonderound s

Do not do as we did and meddle with the

6 HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

3 Clematis dragons are a bane, and it is my job to cull them.

4 I’m bored of hunting weaker prey. I want a challenge.

5 I must eat other aconite dragons to grow two more heads.

6 I tasted humanoid flesh once, and I crave more.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

If the dragon dies, these effects fade

Amaranth dragon s anarde

I saw a glorious plume of amaranth

its head, and it closed its eye s,

2 I like to surprise and startle humanoids as a joke.

3 I always win games of hide and seek.

4 I have an affinity for playing fetch.

8 I lick people when I like them.

4 I want to make as many new friends as I can.

Afte r a few days at home with

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Saving Throws Dex +4, Con +4

Keen Senses. The dragon has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks.

San yu and asked to hear a

Fig. 1 Che rry

I am raising my wyrmling to take over responsibility for my

It felt great to be among

Armor Class 18 (natural armor)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Packs tend to form alliances with intelligent dragons in order

2 I’m curious about the world beyond my territory.

3 The sound of music soothes my wild heart.

4 I’m cold, cunning, and ruthless.

5 I am proud, distant, and aloof.

6 Once I make a friend, I trust them as if they were one of my pack.

7 I’ve been burned before and am slow to trust others.

8 I bite first and ask questions later.

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Saving Throws Dex +4, Con +4, Wis +3, Cha +1

2 I’m curious about the world outside of my home.

3 I roar when I hear anything suspicious.

5 I like to smell people first before I can trust them.

6 I am very affectionate and show my love with licks.

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Saving Throws Con +4, Wis +2

Clematis dragons are

2 I am always hungry and beg loudly for scraps.

4 Lazing on a lilypad is my idea of heaven.

5 My territory is mine alone, and I defend it against all trespassers.

7 I will eat, or try to eat, anything I can fit my jaws around.

8 I am easily agitated and quick to bite.