This well muscled dragon has fine scales the color of overripe lemons and strangely luminous green eyes. Its wings are short and seem barely capable of lifting it off the ground and its body is stocky and lacks the grace of its draconic brothers, yet its claws are razor sharp and its mouth is filled with long saber-like fangs that are caked with a sickly brown glaze.

A distant relative of the evil chromatic dragons, the svara is an evil and conniving dragon found in temperate locations. One of the most mercenary of all dragons, svara typically hire themselves out as guardian beasts to evil warlords and deranged wizards, and enjoy the chance to poison anything in their path.

Svara Level 19 Solo Soldier

Huge natural magical beast (dragon)                XP 12,000
Initiative +10; Senses Perception +19; darkvision
HP 880; Bloodied 440
AC 38; Fortitude 35, Reflex 31, Will 33
Resist poison 25
Saving Throw +5
Speed 7, fly 9 (hover), overland flight 11
Action Points 2

[M] Bite (standard; at-will) • Poison
Reach 3; +26 vs. AC; 2d8 + 6 damage and the svara makes a secondary attack.
Secondary Attack: +22 vs. Fortitude; the target takes ongoing 5 poison damage and takes a -2 penalty to its Reflex defense against the svara’s breath weapon and poisonous exhalation (save ends both).
[m] Claw (standard; at-will)
Reach 3; +26 vs. AC; 1d10 + 6 damage and the target is pulled 1 square.
Double Bite (standard; at-will) • Poison
The svara makes two bite attacks against different targets
[c] Breath Weapon (standard; recharge 5, 6) • Poison
Close blast 5; +21 vs. Reflex; 3d10 + 6 poison damage and the target takes ongoing 10 poison damage and is dazed (save ends both). Miss: Half damage.
[c] Bloodied Breath (free, when first bloodied; encounter) • Poison
The svara’s breath weapon recharges, and it uses it immediately.
[c] Frightful Presence (standard; encounter) • Fear
Close burst 10; +21 vs. Will; the target is stunned until the end of the svara’s next turn. Aftereffect: The target takes a –2 penalty to attack rolls (save ends)
[c] Poisonous Exhalation (standard; encounter) • Poison, Zone
Close burst 3; +21 vs. Reflex; targets in the burst take 10 poison damage and the poisonous exhalation creates a zone of poisonous vapors which grants the svara concealment. Creatures that start their turns in the zone (other than the svara) take 5 poison damage and lose any resistance to poison they might have. At the end of its turn the svara rolls a d6. On a roll of 4 or more the zone persists, otherwise it dissipates.

Alignment Evil Languages Common, Draconic
Skills Athletics +24, Intimidate +18
Str 26 (+19) Dex 16 (+16) Wis 20 (+14)
Con 24 (+20) Int 12 (+13) Cha 15 (+13)

Svara Combat Tactics
A svara start off any combat by using its frightful presence. It then uses its double bite against the most dexterous looking individual before spending an action point and using its breath weapon on them.

On the following rounds the svara activates its poisonous exhalation then focuses on pulling creatures through the zone with its claw attack. A svara normally flees once its uses its bloodied breath, but has been known to fight to the death when commanded by a stronger creature.

Svara Lore
A character knows the following information with a successful Nature check.
DC 15: The svara (also known as a svtra or svahar) is an extremely poisonous dragon with yellow scales. A svara favors cool temperate marshes and woodlands, but can be found just about anywhere due to its lust for gold, topaz and amber, and its propensity for violence.
DC 20: Svara often hire themselves out as guardian beasts or shock troopers to powerful evil individuals or kingdoms. They make poor mounts due to their extremely poisonous nature, but are loyal as long as the pay is good and they get the chance to poison water sources such as wells and rivers. Svara hate other dragons (particularly green and gold dragons) and never work for chromatic dragons as mercenaries.

Encounter Groups
Svara are often found allied with other evil monsters for profit or the chance to poison things. Many of the creatures they are allied with are resistant or immune to poison.

Level 20 encounter (XP 14,800)
• 1 svara (level 19 solo soldier)
• 2 shadow snakes (level 16 skirmishers)
Level 22 encounter (XP 20,800)
• 1 svara (level 19 solo soldier)
• 1 rakshasa noble (level 19 controller)
• 2 giant mummies (level 21 brute)

This is the second and final installment in Mr. Larwood’s series on Albanian dragons. We look forward to fleeing in terror meeting our newest draconic overlords in a future installment of the Monday Monster.