Linnorm, Cairn

Cairn Linnorm Creature18

Uncommon CE Gargantuan Dragon

Senses Perception +30; darkvision, scent (imprecise) 60 feet, true seeing

Languages Aklo, Draconic, Sylvan

Skills Acrobatics +32, Athletics +35

Str +9, Dex +6, Con +8, Int -2, Wis +6, Cha +7

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AC 43; Fort +34, Ref +30, Will +26; +1 status to all saves vs. magic

HP 360, regeneration 15 (deactivated by cold iron); Immunities acid, curse, paralyzed, sleep; Weaknesses cold iron 15

Curse of the Crooked Cane (curse, primal) When a creature slays a cairn linnorm, it must succeed at a DC 44 Will save or become permanently enfeebled 2. In addition, the victim ages at an accelerated rate, aging 1 year every day, eventually causing it to die of old age if the curse is left untended.

Attack of Opportunity [reaction] Tail only.

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Speed 35 feet, climb 40 feet, fly 100 feet, swim 40 feet; freedom of movement

Melee [one-action] jaws +35 (magical, reach 25 feet), Damage 3d12+17 piercing plus cairn linnorm venom

Melee [one-action] claw +35 (agile, magical, reach 25 feet), Damage 3d8+17 slashing

Melee [one-action] tail +35 (agile, magical, reach 25 feet), Damage 3d10+17 bludgeoning plus Improved Grab

Primal Innate Spells DC 40; Constant (8th) freedom of movement; (7th) true seeing

Breath Weapon [two-actions] (acid, evocation, primal) The cairn linnorm expels a 60-foot cone of negative energy-infused acid, dealing 19d6 acid damage to creatures in the area (DC 40 basic Reflex save). The acid also saps the life out of affected creatures. At the beginning of the linnorm’s next turn, each creature that failed the Reflex save must succeed at a DC 40 Fortitude save or become drained 1 (drained 2 on a critical failure). The cairn linnorm can’t use Breath Weapon again for 1d4 rounds.

Cairn Linnorm Venom (acid, poison) Saving Throw DC 41 Fortitude; Maximum Duration 10 rounds; Stage 1 6d6 acid damage and drained 1 (1 round); Stage 2 8d6 acid damage and drained 2 (1 round)

About

Cairn linnorms are disturbing, even by linnorm standards. They make their homes in necropolises, burial grounds, and the sites of immense and gory battles. Some point out that cairn linnorms feast on shambling undead and thus provide a service to the living, but these beasts are not choosy and will happily consume any creature, whether or not it draws breath.

Some tales state that cairn linnorms will not-or cannot-enter a tomb without the permission of a descendant of the deceased (or the permission of the deceased itself, in the instance that it has risen from the dead). Likewise, once a cairn linnorm has entered a tomb, it won’t leave until it has secured permission to do so. Whether such legends are true or not is anyone’s guess; nevertheless, reports of a cairn linnorm in the vicinity are harrowing enough to dissuade even the most foolhardy grave robber from peeking into too many crypts or mausoleums.