Radiant Dragon Template

Radiant dragons are dragons, often metallic, that absorbed too much positive energy from the higher planes, transforming into radiant dragons. These glorious, yet terrifying, creatures can be found in the high places of the world, or places bathed in light and warmth. They can serve as deified protectors to pious villages, or as puritanical devastators to those that would do evil in their sight.

Born of Light

Dragons that commit heroic acts or deeds of great kindness are sometimes bestowed with the gift of radiance by deities, demi-gods, and archfey. They might also find themselves flying so far up into the sunlit skies that they find themselves in the higher planes of existence, where one is far too contented and enlightened to leave. These dragons may not always intend or desire to become radiant dragons, but once the transformation is complete, they always show gratitude for the transformation.

Living Beacons

Looking upon the scales of a radiant dragon for too long in the full light of day leads to blindness, though the brief sight is wonderful to behold. So absorbed with positive energy are these dragons that they emit a dull glow when in poorly lit areas, and reflect the full light of day in bright places. While difficult to force them into such places, radiant dragons become far weaker when their light is snuffed out by total darkness, such as in caverns or structures devoid of light. The constant reflection of light from their scales combined with their new euphoric breath weaponry leads many that look upon them to think that they're demi-gods or some other divine being, worthy of praise, if not outright worship.

Guardians and Tyrants

So overcome with radiance are these dragons that they are driven to protect as well as dole out judgement. Those they deem worthy and good come under the protection and domain of the dragon, who helps them as best it can, from combatting threats to creating dams, and settling disputes. These wise guardians sometimes hibernate beneath the settlements they guard, awaiting greater conflicts to solve atop their horde of keepsakes and marks of honor. However, some radiant dragons become so assaulted by the depravity of those creatures surrounding them that they become intolerable of them, seeking to destroy that which they cannot tolerate. A settlement that commits too many sins and attracts the ire of a radiant dragon soon becomes a wasteland or worse yet, a prison, as the dragon imposes his strictures and his will over the "tainted denizens". These dragons eventually grow so overzealous that they become greater threats than that which they protect against.

Radiant Dragon Template

Though both metallic and chromatic dragons are capable of gaining radiance, it is far more likely that older metallic dragons will attune to the positive energies of the higher planes. Once transformed into a radiant dragon, the dragon can no longer descend to darker forms such as the dracolich or the shadow dragon.

When a dragon becomes a radiant dragon, it retains its statistics except as described below. The radiant dragon might reatain or lose any or all of its lair actions or inherit new ones ad the DM sees fit.

Damage Resistances. The dragon has resistance to radiant damage.

Skill Proficiency: Insight. The dragon's proficiency bonus is doubled for its Wisdom (Insight) checks.

Blinding Radiance. While in bright light, the dragon emits and reflects an aura of light in the same color as their scales. When a creature that can see the dragon starts its turn within 30 ft. of the dragon, they must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or become blind until the end of the dragon's next turn.

Enemy of Shadow. While in total darkness, the dragon has disadvantage on attack rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks, and loses any darkvision the dragon may have.

New Action: Bite. If the dragon deals acid, cold, fire, lighting, or poison damage with its bite, change that damage type to radiant.

New Action: Radiant Breath. Any damage-dealing breath weapon possessed by the dragon deals radiant damage instead of its original damage type. A humanoid reduced to 0 hit points by this damage dies and is turned to ash.

New Action: Euphoria Breath. If the dragon has at least one additional breath weapon, it is replaced by this ability instead, using the same DC as the breath weapon that is being replaced:

Euphoria Breath. The dragon exhales a pervading light in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw or become charmed by the dragon for 1 minute. If a creature is both frightened and charmed by the dragon, it treats the dragon like a god and obeys any orders given by the dragon to the best of its ability. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. A creature both charmed and frightened by the dragon may not repeat saving throws for either Frightful Presence or Euphoria Breath unless they take damage.





Credit: Clint Cearley