The Blight Dragon

If it spreads, you're dead.

Custom Art by Jeremy Hart

This month I am celebrating 1 year of zine creation. What started as a way to pass along tips and ideas for DMs turned into world building.

In my My latest issue of Crit Happens: Hex Crawl of Horror Dragon’s of Kre’ash I feature the Blight Dragon named Rotfang. He is a nasty, neutral dragon that only cares about spreading his wonderful blight.

He is holed up in Guardian Grove, home of The Witches of the Blackened Earth. I would not say he is their pet, it’s more like he rents the land and occasionally collaborates with the witches when necessary.

Here’s more from the zine about The Blight Dragon

The Blight Dragon traditionally serves Xyn (demigod of death and decay), and finds comfort in dead and decaying forests and grasslands.

The most well known Blight Dragon is Rotfang of the Guardian Grove, who serves no one but has a loose alliance with the entity known as Schism.

Blight dragons feed off of death, disease and decay which includes the caracasses of animals and human. They are drawn by the smell of death within 2 miles.

Although the blight dragon has no wings, it’s ability to creep and pounce from a distance earn them the name Creeping Death.

Location: Guardian Grove, home of the Witches of the Blackened Earth and anywhere decay and rot flourish.

Speed: Can move 40ft per round and has stealth/camouflage.

Armor Class: Difficult (17-25)

Hit Points: 110

Attacks: (2) Claws 1d8 dmg Bite 1d8 dmg. Breath Weapon (see below)

Special Abilities: Stealth +4, Rot Breath: PC’s must make a Con save or take 2d10 hp of decay damage. In addition, non-magical armor/shield/weapons must make a save (DC 12) or begin to rust or ruin. Recharges on 5-6.

Defenses: Thorns do 1d10 piercing damage. Save vs poison (CON) and the PC takes 1d4 points of decay dmg per round and becomes contagious.

d6 Blight Dragon Lair Effects

Effects can be temporary (lasting 1d4 hours/rounds or until a short rest). PCs should roll a Con check (DC 13) to avoid being impacted by some of these conditions.

1 Rot - Non-Magical armor and weapons begin to decay lowering PCs AC and To Hit bonuses.

2 Fungal Bloom: Character’s skin grows fungi which produces noxious gas resulting in persistent coughing.

3 Stagnant Air: Causes nausea. Failed save results in disadvantage on combat checks

4 Vine Zombies: Dead plants contort into 1d4 grotesque, thorny skeletal forms dripping with a foul-smelling sap.

5 Spoil: All water/food sources become contaminated. Consuming them causes immediate sickness and requires a CON saving throw to avoid poisoning.

6 Wither: Moisture is slowly drained from PC’s bodies producing wrinkled flesh and dehydration. Make a CON check to resist.

If you enjoyed the Blight Dragon, you can pick up your copy and receive 3 more dragons, The Sand Dragon, The Dread Dragon and the Primeval Dragon plust over 15 named dragons running around Kre’ash.

You can also pick it up as part of the Hex Crawl of Horror Bundle jam packed with NPC’s, lore, a fleshed out city, maps and more.

So, how might you use the Blight Dragon in your game?