B/X had quite a few monsters unique to itself, which just never seemed to worm their way into the general monster population of D&D's other and later editions.
Sea Dragon
AC 1[18]
HD 8
Atk Bite (3d8)
Special Breath Weapon
Move 18(Swim or Fly)
Save 6 (Fighter8)
No. Appearing 1d4
Morale 9
AL N
Treasure Type H
These highly intelligent dragons are typically deep blue-green in color with bright green or yellow crest and fins. A fifth of sea dragons are able to speak common and employ spells. Sea Dragons can breath out a flood of sticky, burning poison (save or die) up to 100' long and 20' wide. Primarily aquatic, sea dragons can nonetheless take to the air for brief flights of 6 rounds or less. Most live in exotic sea-cave grottoes or the hulls of sunken, coral-encrusted treasure galleys. Younger (5HD) and older (11HD) sea dragons exist, but are shy of human contact.
I imagine the beast on the B/X covers to be a sea dragon--it's in a grotto, after all.
ReplyDeleteI always thought it was weird that such a classic monster never appeared anywhere else, but the DragonTurtle survived. I guess the DT was a bit more distinctive and kaiju, but still.
ReplyDeleteIt was only a couple of weeks ago that I noticed what the B/X sea dragon was. I've never looked closely, I guess, because I've always thought it was the dragon turtle.
ReplyDelete