Monster WIP: Tuliiha (Fire-tailed Dragonet)

Tuliiha (Fire-tailed Dragonet)

Tiny Dragon   Chaos (CN)

Hit Dice: 1+2 (6 hp)

Armor Class: 7 [12]

Save: 17 [T2]

Movement: 12 (fly 18)

Attacks: 1 bite (1d2) & 1 tail slap (1d6 fire)

Special Attacks: Fiery tail, thief skills
Special Defense: Immune to fire
No. Appearing: 1d4 (2d4)
Intelligence: Low (8)
Morale: Wary (5)
Treasure Type: None/Wealthy1,2,5 (Hoardx4)
Load: 25/50cn

CL/XP: 2/30

Tuliiha are tiny winged dragons, just two feet long. They have fine soft scales that resemble fur from a distance, dark gray or black shading to scarlet or gold at the tip of their tail. They prefer to act as pets or familiars for powerful and wealthy creatures; like true dragons, they are avaricious and desire gold, and they quickly abandon masters that don’t reward their affection with coins for their nest. Tuliiha can speak, mostly about themselves and how wonderful gold is.

Tuliiha avoid combat whenever possible. Their bite is barely effective, and their claws are simply too small to do damage to anything larger than a mouse.  They also lack a breath weapon, but can instead cause their tail to ignite with an intense flame that inflicts 1d6 points of fire damage on anyone they strike with it. Tuliiha themselves are immune to fire, and often bask in braziers and fireplaces.

Tuliiha are proactive in acquiring riches for themselves and their masters. They have the Delicate Tasks, Open Locks, Hide in Shadows, and Move Silently abilities of a 5^th-level Thief, and often embark on nocturnal careers of larceny and burglary. Their small size makes it a simple task to slip down chimneys or other small openings, and they can open small strongboxes, jewelry cases, and so on. It is for this reason that, while tuliiha are much prized as pets, their owners are regarded with suspicion.

A group of tuliiha is known as a conspiracy, and any gathering of 5 or more will have a leader of 3 HD and the abilities of a 7^th-level thief. Independent conspiracies of tuliiha (those not beholden to a stronger creature) rarely last long, since none of them are particularly interested in what other tuliiha have to say.