Gargantuan dragon, lawful good

Armor Class: 22

Hit Points: 546

Speed: 40 ft , fly: 80 ft , swim: 40 ft

STR

30 +10

DEX

14 +2

CON

29 +9

INT

18 +4

WIS

17 +3

CHA

28 +9

Saving Throws: DEX +9, CON +16, WIS +10, CHA +16

Skills: Insight +10. Perception +17, Persuasion +16, Stealth +9

Damage Immunities: Fire

Senses: Blindsight 60ft., Darkvision 120ft., Passive Perception 27

Languages: Common, Draconic

Challenge Rating: 24 ( 62000 XP)

Proficiency Bonus: +7

Actions

Multiattack. The dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.   Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (2d10 + 10) piercing damage.   Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d6 + 10) slashing damage.   Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d8 + 10) bludgeoning damage.   Frightful Presence. Each creature of the dragon's choice that is within 120 feet of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 24 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened 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. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the dragon's Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.   Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6). The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons.   Fire Breath. The dragon exhales fire in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 24 Dexterity saving throw, taking 71 (13d10) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.   Weakening Breath. The dragon exhales gas in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 24 Strength saving throw or have disadvantage on Strength-based attack rolls, Strength checks, and Strength saving throws 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.   Change Shape. The dragon magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating no higher than its own, or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (the dragon's choice).

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.   Detect. The dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.   Tail Attack. The dragon makes a tail attack.   Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 15 feet of the dragon must succeed on a DC 25 Dexterity saving throw or take 17 (2d6 + 10) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.

Lair Actions

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 glimpses the future, so it has advantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws until initiative count 20 on the next round.
• One creature the dragon can see within 120 feet of it must succeed on a DC 15 Charisma saving throw or be banished to a dream plane, a different plane of existence the dragon has imagined into being. To escape, the creature must use its action to make a Charisma check contested by the dragon’s. If the creature wins, it escapes the dream plane. Otherwise, the effect ends on initiative count 20 on the next round. When the effect ends, the creature reappears in the space it left or in the nearest unoccupied space if that one is occupied.

• Beguiling Glow. Warm light fills a 30-foot-radius sphere centered on the dragon; each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by the dragon until initiative count 20 on the next round.

Gold dragons make their homes in out-of-the-way places, where they can do as they please without arousing suspicion or fear. Most dwell near idyllic lakes and rivers, mist-shrouded islands, cave complexes hidden behind sparkling waterfalls, or ancient ruins.   Despite their affection for people and their diverse cultures, gold dragons typically make their lairs in hidden places far from civilization, where only the most desperate and dedicated can find them. Many live in the ruins of vanished cultures, appreciating the beautiful inevitability of entropy and the reminder of how easily progress can be lost without careful tending. Crumbling shrines, towers reclaimed by the wilderness, and fallen fortresses all appeal to a gold dragon’s sense of history—though they can be equally enraptured by picturesque natural settings. A gold dragon lair almost always involves water, be it a river, a lake, or an ocean shore.   Some golden dragon lair features could be as follows:

• Waterfall Cave. A rushing river cascades over the cliff in a scintillating waterfall, concealing the entrance to the dragon’s cavern complex. Past this thundering curtain, a cave opens into the grand hall.
• Grand Hall. Six glowing crystalline columns support the ceiling of this cave. The columns’ colors reflect the dragon’s mood, and they can animate to defend the lair.
• Gallery. A passageway running left from the grand hall is lined with busts of allies and enemies from the dragon’s past. This area contains the water mirror, a magical glass case filled by seepage from the river above, which the dragon uses to scry across both distance and time.
• Sleeping Chamber. At the end of the gallery passage, the dragon’s sleeping chamber opens up, its walls lined with shelves holding books and useful magic items.
• Treasury Hall. Armored doors within the sleeping chamber lead to the dragon’s treasury hall, which features an 80-foot sheer drop into a viewing gallery.
• Hoard and Vault. A chamber on the right side of the treasury hall holds the dragon’s hoard, which serves to distract would-be thieves from a store of dangerous and corrupting artifacts hidden in a secret vault opposite the hoard chamber.
• Pantry. A rough chamber off the right side of the great hall acts as the dragon’s pantry, holding racks of pearls and other gems.
• Apartments. In the top right corner of the map, a worked-stone alcove leads to Humanoid-scale apartments to accommodate the dragon’s most honored comrades, as well as the dragon in Humanoid form.
• Pavilions. Outside the lair, weathered pavilions climb the cliffs overlooking the waterfall’s plunge pool, offering a convenient place for the dragon to meet visitors. Beyond the pavilions, an elegant pathway winds through self-manicuring gardens before ending abruptly in trackless wilderness.

Regional Effects

The region containing a legendary gold dragon’s lair is warped by the dragon’s magic, which creates one or more of the following effects:

• Whenever a creature that can understand a language sleeps or enters a state of trance or reverie within 6 miles of the dragon’s lair, the dragon can establish telepathic contact with that creature and converse with it in its dreams. The creature remembers its conversation with the dragon upon waking.
• Banks of beautiful, opalescent mist manifest within 6 miles of the dragon’s lair. The mist doesn’t obscure anything. It assumes haunting forms when evil creatures are near the dragon or other non-evil creatures in the mist, warning such creatures of the danger.
• Gems and pearls within 1 mile of the dragon’s lair sparkle and gleam, shedding dim light in a 5-foot radius.

• Beneficent Trail. Within 10 miles of the dragon’s lair, small runes in the shape of a gold dragon appear to creatures in great need, marking a subtle trail leading to the dragon’s lair.
• Emanation of Justice. Creatures that spend a year within 6 miles of the dragon’s lair value fairness and justice over their personal feelings.
• Liar’s Revelation. Within 6 miles of the dragon’s lair, any creature attempting to tell a deliberate lie must succeed on a DC 15 Charisma saving throw or find itself accidentally revealing the truth it was attempting to conceal. The first time a creature fails this saving throw, it is immune to this effect for 24 hours.

Suggested Environments

Forest, Grassland