Agathion, DraconalThis noble creature seems to be part serpent, part humanoid, and part dragon, with great wings and a crown of horns.
Draconal CR 20Source Bestiary 2 pg. 18
XP 307,200
NG Large outsider (agathion, extraplanar, good)
Init +6; Senses blindsense 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision; Perception +48
Aura protective aura (20 ft.)
DefenseAC 36, touch 18, flat-footed 33 (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 insight, +18 natural, –1 size) (+4 deflection vs. evil)
hp 324 (24d10+192); regeneration 10 (evil weapons and spells)
Fort +22, Ref +16, Will +17; +4 vs. poison, +4 resistance vs. evil
DR 15/evil and silver; Immune one energy type (see Celestial Focus), electricity, petrification; Resist cold 10, sonic 10; SR 31
OffenseSpeed 40 ft., fly 120 ft. (average)
Melee bite +36 (2d6+13 plus 1d6 energy), 2 claws +31 (1d8+6 plus 1d6 energy)
Space 10 ft., Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks breath weapon (120-ft. line, 20d6 energy damage, Reflex DC 30 half, usable once every 1d4 rounds)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 24th; concentration +30)
Constant—speak with animals
At will—beast shape II, command (DC 17), detect thoughts, elemental body III (air or water elementals only), greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. of objects only), gust of wind, hold monster (DC 20), identify, light, lightning bolt (DC 19), mage hand, message
7/day—break enchantment, cure serious wounds, neutralize poison, remove disease
3/day—control water, control weather, control winds, heal, plane shift (DC 23)
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 17th; concentration +23)
9th—implosion (DC 26), storm of vengeanceD (DC 26)
8th—demandD, earthquake, quickened holy smite (DC 21)
7th—empowered breath of life, empowered flame strike (DC 22), holy word (DC 24), quickened invisibility purge, repulsionD (DC 24)
6th—animate objects, blade barrierD (DC 23), find the path, heal, heroes’ feast, quickened remove paralysis
5th—breath of life, dispel evilD, flame strike (DC 22), greater command (DC 22), spell resistance, true seeing
4th—cure critical wounds (3), freedom of movement, holy smiteD (DC 21), repel vermin (DC 21)
3rd—bestow curse (DC 20), daylight, dispel magic, helping hand, magic vestmentD, prayer, protection from energy
2nd—align weaponD (good only), calm emotions (DC 19), enthrall, hold person (DC 19), lesser restoration (2), shield other
1st—bless, detect undead, divine favorD, obscuring mist, remove fear, sanctuary (DC 18), shield of faith
0—detect poison, guidance, purify food and drink, stabilize
D domain spell; Domains Good, Nobility
StatisticsStr 36, Dex 15, Con 27, Int 24, Wis 24, Cha 23
Base Atk +24; CMB +38; CMD 57 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Alertness, Combat Casting, Dodge, Empower Spell, Greater Spell Penetration, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Mobility, Power Attack, Quicken Spell, Skill Focus (Perception), Spell Penetration
Skills Acrobatics +25, Bluff +29, Diplomacy +26, Escape Artist +22, Heal +27, Intimidate +29, Knowledge (arcana) +30, Knowledge (nature) +27, Knowledge (planes) +34, Knowledge (religion) +31, Perception +48, Sense Motive +34, Spellcraft +27, Stealth +21, Use Magic Device +26; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception
Languages Celestial, Draconic, Infernal; speak with animals, truespeech
SQ celestial focus, divine insight, lay on hands (10d6, 16/day, as a 20th-level paladin)
EcologyEnvironment any air (Nirvana)
Organization solitary, pair, or flight (3–6)
Treasure double
Special AbilitiesCelestial Focus (Ex) A draconal’s color indicates aspects of its power and attunement to the powers of the good planes. These determine the draconal’s breath weapon, the additional energy damage of its claw and bite attacks, additional resistances and immunities, and its additional domain choices (see Spells, below).
Divine Insight (Su) A draconal adds its Charisma bonus as an insight bonus to Armor Class.
Protective Aura (Su) Against attacks made or effects created by evil creatures, this ability provides a +4 deflection bonus to AC and a +4 resistance bonus on saving throws to anyone within 20 feet of the draconal. Otherwise, it functions as a magic circle against evil effect and a lesser globe of invulnerability, both with a radius of 20 feet (caster level equals draconal’s HD). (The defensive benefits from the circle are not included in a draconal’s stat block.)
Spells Draconals cast spells as 17th-level clerics. Like clerics, they have access to two domains, selecting from the following list: Air, Good, Nobility, Weather, and two additional domain options based on their color (see facing page). The majority of draconals choose Good and Nobility as their domains (as represented by this stat block). Draconals have a domain spell slot at each spell level but do not gain the granted powers of their chosen domains, nor do they gain access to other cleric abilities.
DescriptionDraconals are mighty agathion lords, few in number and greatly removed from mortal affairs. They watch over powerful magic and are direct agents of the gods and the needs of the good planes. Patient and ageless, they plan for the long term, which often frustrates mortal creatures who seek to gain their assistance with a threat in the here and now. A draconal would rather support or enhance a group of heroes than tackle a problem directly, maintaining its focus on planar matters.
Draconals are attuned to nature and believe in cycles of life and death. Though they are good, they understand that the presence of evil gives good creatures something to strive against, preventing stagnation and complacency. This means their outlook sometimes appears almost neutral, though they hate suffering and needless death.Draconal Colors
A draconal’s coloration represents mystical elements relating to energy, life, and the natural world. These colors are normally chromatic rather than metallic, and an ignorant person seeing a draconal’s colors may mistake her for an evil half-dragon. However, some draconals have metallic or gem-like coloration; for example, a yellow draconal may appear mustard yellow or metallic gold, while a white draconal may be chalk white, pearlescent white, or metallic silver. Draconals can change their coloration after a lengthy period of meditation, but normally only do this in response to some horrible evil that requires their direct intervention. This change affects the draconals’ personality, and may alter their physical shape or apparent gender.
Black: Black is a balance between male and female energy, and represents the sky, stars, immortality, and leadership. Black draconals are immune to fire damage, and their breath weapon is fire. A black draconal adds Fire, Glory, and Luck to its list of possible domains.
Green: Green is slightly skewed toward masculinity. It represents wood, plants, and flowers. Green draconals are immune to cold damage, and their breath weapon is cold. A green draconal adds Animal, Plant, and Water to its list of possible domains.
Red: Red is a strongly masculine color, and most red draconals are male or have aggressive or gregarious personalities. Red represents fire, light, and warding against bad luck. Red draconals are immune to fire damage, and their breath weapon is fire. A red draconal adds Fire, Protection, and Sun to its list of possible domains.
White: White is slightly skewed toward femininity, and most white draconals are female or have protective or serene personalities. White represents brightness, fulfillment, metal, mourning, and purity. White draconals are immune to cold damage, and their breath weapon is cold. A white draconal adds Artifice, Liberation, and Repose to its list of possible domains.
Yellow: Like black, yellow is a balance between male and female energy. Yellow represents earth, oracles, stone, and luck. Yellow draconals are immune to acid, and their breath weapon is acid. A yellow draconal adds Earth, Glory, and Luck to its list of possible domains.Creatures in "Agathion" CategorySource Bestiary 2 pg. 15
Agathions are a race of beast-aspect outsiders native to the plane of Nirvana, a realm of pure good unconcerned with the dogma of law (represented by Heaven) or chaos (represented by Elysium). Though Nirvana is a place of rest where blessed souls seek enlightenment, agathions are aggressive and interventionist in the mortal world when it comes to dealing with evil. Created from the souls of good mortals who have managed to achieve the enlightenment they sought in life (or in some cases, after death), agathions embody the principles of a peaceable kingdom while marshaling their strength to defend that kingdom from any who would despoil it. Because they strike an ethical balance between the chaotic, fey-like azatas and the lawful, rigid process of the archons, agathions are often liaisons between the celestial races, soothing hot tempers and working toward mutual goals of vanquishing evil and protecting good.
All agathions have an animal-like aspect. Some are more humanoid in appearance, while others spend their entire existence in a form nearly identical to that of a true animal. Each type of agathion serves a particular role in Nirvana, and their duties on other planes echo these responsibilities: leonals watch over Nirvana's portals and have a guardian-like aspect in other worlds, draconals carry the wisdom of the ages and observe and guide exceptional mortals, vulpinals are bards and messengers and bear important news to celestial generals and mortal heroes, and so on. Agathions are proud of their feral aspects and don't take kindly to the suggestion that they are cursed folk like lycanthropes or nothing more than magical talking beasts. Every agathion was once a mortal who aspired to goodness and was rewarded in the afterlife with a form suiting her talents and personality; suggesting that an agathion's form is a kind of punishment is a terrible insult.
The following pages describe only a few of the best-known kinds of agathions, but other types exist, corresponding to other conventional animals (bears, dinosaurs, fish, wolves, and so on), with a few having shapes that resemble insects (particularly beetles, butterflies, and mantises); a handful resemble stranger creatures (such as basilisks and owlbears) or unique “animals” native to extreme environments on distant worlds. Certain animals, particularly those associated with scavenging activities (such as hyenas, buzzards, or jackals) or parasitism (like lampreys or ticks) specifically do not have agathions associated with them—these animals are not intrinsically evil, but their habits and ecological niches are far from the noble and proud traditions that most of the souls who seek enlightenment upon Nirvana would associate with themselves.
Individual agathions may be male or female, but they do not reproduce among their own kind—every agathion is a unique individual made from the soul of a good mortal. This does not prevent them from falling in love or having affairs with mortals, and a few aasimar and celestial sorcerer bloodlines derive from past contact with agathions, particularly among communities not averse to anthropomorphic humanoids. Indeed, many mythologies tie numerous races of this kind to the inevitable result of human tribes forming strong emotional attachments to visiting agathions.
Agathions speak Celestial, Draconic, and Infernal, though they can communicate with any intelligent creature because of their truespeech ability. They can also communicate with animals using a similar, silent ability. Even the weakest agathion is able to heal itself or others using a power similar to a paladin's ability to lay on hands. All agathions have a number of similar traits, as detailed in Appendix 3 of this book.
Agathions serving a particular deity or empyreal lord may have additional abilities depending on the role their deity assigns them. For example, a cetaceal serving a goddess of volcanic islands may be able to change shape into a more human-like form to walk on land, and may be immune to fire to tolerate and tend to the life-rich thermal vents at the ocean floor.
Agathion Leaders
Though agathions lack an organized hierarchy, each type of agathion has a few individuals invested with power by the gods of Nirvana or the plane itself. Common agathions look to these exceptional examples for leadership, wisdom, and inspiration; these enlightened folk do not openly claim any responsibilities or rank over their fellows, but welcome the obligations this added power places upon them and do not deny their status or shirk their duties. Part of a category of powerful outsiders known collectively as empyreal lords, these leaders are often significantly larger than common agathions (up to double the normal size, in some cases), and have unusual coloration (such as iron-gray fur) or unique sensory manifestations associated with their presence (such as illusory birds, a constant melody, the scent of oranges, or a calming aura). No agathion fails to recognize their presence when not disguised. Agathion leaders can serve as heralds for deities, although they tend not to encourage religions based on their teachings. The following is but a selection of notable agathion leaders.
Chavod Broken-Spear (cetaceal)
Kelumarion the King Over the Mountain (leonal)
Korada of the Dream Lotus (avoral)
Lady Taramyth the Singing Flame (vulpinal)
Sixlife the Violet Fury (silvanshee)
Walks with Golden Stars (draconal)
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