Tuz‘s Fearsome Foes: Tarnaagh, He Who Eats Dragons

Tarnaagh, He Who Eats Dragons

Gargantuan monstosity, chaotic evil
—
Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 230 (20d12 + 100)
Speed 50 ft., climb 40 ft.
—
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
24 (+7) 18 (+4) 20 (+5) 10 (0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1)
—
Proficiency +5
Saving Throws Str +12, Dex +9
Skills Athletics +12, Perception +7, Stealth +9
Damage Resistances (see adaptaion)
Damage Immunities lightning
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 17
Challenge 14 (11,500 XP)
—
Adaption. Taarnagh’s breath weapon and resistances change
determined by what kind of dragon Tarnaagh devoured last.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Taarnagh fails a saving throw,

he can choose to succeed instead.

Actions
Multiattack. Tarnaagh makes two attacks: one with its bite, and
one constrict or tail attack.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 23 (3d10 + 7) piercing damage plus 5 (1d10) damage
determined by the last dragon Tarnaagh devoured.

Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit:
14 (2d6 + 7) bludgeoning damage.

Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one

target. Hit: 29 (4d10 + 7) bludgeoning damage. The target is
grappled, escape DC 20. Until the grapple ends, the target
is restrained and Taarnagh can’t constrict another target.
[Strength Based]

Draconic Breath (Recharge 5-6). Tarnaagh uses a draconic

breath attack. The area of effect and damage type for this breath
is determined by the last dragon he devoured. Each creature
in the area of effect must make a DC 18 saving throw, taking 78 Artwork by Wayne England
(12d10) damage or half as much damage on a successful one.
[Constitution Based]

Swallow. Tarnaagh makes one bite attack against a large or
smaller target it is grappling. If the attack hits, the target is
swallowed and the grapple ends. While swallowed, the target
is blinded and restrained, has total cover against attacks and
other effects outside Tarnaagh, and takes 21 (6d6) damage of the
determined by the last dragon devoured at the start of each of
Tarnaagh’s turns. Tarnaagh can have only one creature swallowed
at a time.
If Tarnaagh takes 30 damage or more in a single turn from the
swallowed creature, Tarnaagh must succeed on a Constitution
saving throw or regurgitate the creature. The DC of the saving
throw is 15, or half the damage taken at the end of the turn. The
regurgitated creature is placed within 10 ft. of Tarnaagh and
falls prone. If Tarnaagh dies, a swallowed creature is no longer
restrained and can escape the corpse by using 15 ft. of movement,
exiting prone.
Legendary Actions
Tarnaagh can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options
below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only
at the end of another creature’s turn. Tarnaagh regains spent
legendary actions at the start of his turn.
Detect. Tarnaagh makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Tail. Tarnaagh makes a tail attack.
Thundering Roar (2 Actions). Tarnaagh unleashes a shattering
roar. Each creature within 30 ft. of Tarnaagh that can hear him
must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save a
creature takes 13 (3d8) thunder damage and is deafened until the
end of its next turn. On a successful save a creature takes only
half as much damage and is not deafened.
Swallow (Costs 2 Actions). Tarnaagh uses his Swallow action.

Created by DM Tuz
 Tuz‘s Fearsome Foes: Tarnaagh, He Who Eats Dragons

Tarnaagh Information Gathering

Before heading out to hunt Tarnaagh players might want to

He Who Eats Dragons

On the top of Thunder Mountain, covered by a perpetual
thunderstorm, lies a beast in deep content slumber. Only
once every few decades a mighty roar pierces the thundering
blanket on top of the mountain, a sign that the beasts slumber
has been disturbed. Taarnagh has risen from his slumber,
awoken by hunger.
Taarnagh is a well known beast in the region around Thun-
der Mountain. A Behir of gargantuan size that descends from
Thunder Mountain every few years to sate his hunger. Cu-
riously enough Taarnagh is not too interested in devouring
humans or livestock, though he destroys all settlements in
his way. The behir has developed a particular taste for a most
unlikely prey: dragons.
Draconic Diet. It is unknown how Tarnaagh developed his
appetite for dragons. Some people guess the behir got lucky
once, catching an adult dragon off-guard, some others assume
that some malignant entity force fed a dragon to the beast.
But ever since Tarnaagh consumed the flesh of dragons, it be-
gan changing him. The behir has taken on draconic features,
growing additional wild horns, growing rudimentary wings,
and mutates in strange new ways with each further dragon
devoured. Now it seems the flesh of dragons is the only thing
that can satisfy him. So he seeks it out like an addict, growing
more and more violent and desperate the longer he goes wit-
hout it. Once he found his prey of choice, he retreats to his
cave on top of thunder mountain, where he would fall into a
deep slumber to digest his meal.
gather information the one who, who eats dragons. You can
let them roll Intelligence (History), Intelligence (Investiga-
tion), or other skill checks to learn more about Tarnaagh.
DC 10 – Tarnaagh is a colossal sized behir that feasts exclu-
sively on the flesh of dragons, living on the top of Thunder
Mountain.
DC 15 – Because of Tarnaaghs taste for dragon flesh, the
perpetual consumption of this meat has changed him, turning
this behir into a part draconic creature.
DC 20 (History) – Climbing Thunder Mountain itself will be
dangerous due to the thunderstorm that covers it at all times.
This phenomenon is due to the long abandoned ruin on top
of the mountain, that once was the temple and private sanc-
tuary of a Storm Giant priestess from the times of Ostoria.
Elementals are known to manifest spontaneously around this
holy site.
DC 20 – The players learn about the last dragon that Tarn-
aagh devoured – therefore they be able to expect what kind of
form Tarnaagh has changed into.
DC 25 (Arcana) – Since Tarnaaghs physical form has been
influenced by the draconic flesh he has been consuming, it
has most likely taken on unique properties. Tarnaaghs skin,
bones and teeth might become valuable materials to create
unique magical weapons. [Players gain the option to create
Thundercrack or Chromatic Leather from Tarnaagh‘s remains]
DC 25 (History) – The name of the Storm Giant Priestess
was Frigbar, the Storm’s Bride. She was a high priestess of
Stronmaus and particularly his aspect of storm. She lived in
solitude from other giantkin on top of thundering mountain,
as to be close to the heavens. The only companion she had
was a single Behir that was bred to be her guardian.

Cycle of Sleep. Tarnaagh exists in a perpetual cycle of hunt,

feast, slumber and change. After killing his prey, Tarnaagh
prefers to swallow his prey whole. Depending on the size of Adaption
the dragon he devoured, it can take decades for him to digest Depending on the dragon Tarnaagh devoured last, the
it in deep sleep. Due to the adaptive nature of the flesh of damage of its bite, swallow, and breath weapon, and
dragons, Tarnaagh goes through a metamorphosis during shape of its breath weapon can change. Additionally
his rest. Depending on his draconic prey, Tarnaagh adapts Tarnaagh gains resistance to the damage type of its
features of his last meal. This is not limited to the dragon’s breath weapon.
physical features, like horns, scales or vestigial wings. Above Dragon Damage Type Breath Weapon
all else he adapts the unique abilities of the dragons he devou- Black Acid 5 by 60 ft. line (Dex. save)
red. Thus each time Tarnaagh awakes from his sleep to seek Blue Lightning 5 by 60 ft. line (Dex. save)
out new prey, he will be vastly different from his last hunt. Brass Fire 5 by 60 ft. line (Dex. save)
Bronze Lightning 5 by 60 ft. line (Dex. save)
Enemy of Dragons. It is needless to say that behir harbo- Copper Acid 5 by 60 ft. line (Dex. save)
red a deep natural hatred for dragonkind – but a behir who’s Gold Fire 60 ft. cone (Dex. save)
entire diet is limited to the flesh of dragons is a troubling
Green Poison 60 ft. cone (Con. save)
concept for any dragon. Though due to the dragon’s inherent
Red Fire 60 ft. cone (Dex. save)
pride and arrogance they would never admit to fear a foe such
as Tarnaagh, the stories surrounding Tarnaagh have spread Silver Cold 60 ft. cone (Con. save)
amongst dragon kind. Of course, some dragons might see White Cold 60 ft. cone (Con. save)
the existence of a predator of dragonkind as an unacceptable
insult to themselves and their kind, but most of them choose
to ignore Tarnaagh. After all, dragons are solitary creatures
who do not care much for the fate of others. But there are
exceptions, especially among those dragons that have lost a
beloved mate or child the one, who eats dragons.

Created by DM Tuz
 Tuz‘s Fearsome Foes: Tarnaagh, He Who Eats Dragons
Affiliated Creatures
Since Tarnaagh is a solitary creature there are not many Storm Elemental
creatures found near the ruins on top of Thunder Mountain. Large elemental, true neutral
But adventurers are sure to be facing monsters as they are —
Armor Class 15
ascending the mountain itself. Hit Points 119 (14d10 + 42)
Manticores, Peryton, Wyvern and other flying predators Speed 0 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)
might prey upon adventurers on their ascent. Closer to the —
summit, where the storm is the strongest, Storm Elementals STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
can be found lashing out at any creature they can find. 12 (+1) 20 (+5) 16 (+3) 6 (-2) 10 (0) 6 (-2)
But aside from Tarnaagh, the real challenge will be the —
Proficiency+3
climb itself. While adventurers have to deal with its inhabi- Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing and slashing
tants in the first few hundred feet the second half of the climb damage from nonmagical weapons, lightning, thunder
is dictated by the roaring storm, howling winds and unpre- Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, grappled, paralyzed,
dictable lightning strikes.
petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, unconcious
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages Auran
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
—
Charge. The first time the storm elemental takes lightning
damage in a turn, it can roll to recharge its Discharge attack.

Illumination. The elemental sheds sporatic bright light in a

30-foot radius and dim light in an additional 30 feet.

Lightning Form. The elemental can move through spaces

as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing. A creature that
touches the elemental or hits it with a melee attack while
within 5 ft. of it takes 5 (1d10) lightning damage. In addition,
the elemental can enter a hostile creature’s space and
stop there. The first time it enters a creature’s
space on a turn, that creature takes 5 (1d10)
lightning damage.

Actions
Multiattacks. The storm elemental makes 2
touch attacks.

Touch. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft.,

one target. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) lightning damage.

Discharge (Recharge 5-6). Each creature within

10 feet of the storm elemental must make a DC
14 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save the
creature takes 21 (4d10) lightning damage and
is static until the end of the elemental’s next
turn. At the end of the creature’s next turn each
creature within 5 ft. of the static creature takes 5
(1d10) lightning damage. On a successful saving throw a
creature takes half as much damage. [Constitution Based]

A static creature has disadvantage on the saving throw.

Artwork by
Paizo (Artist Uncredited)

Created by DM Tuz
 Tuz‘s Fearsome Foes: Tarnaagh, He Who Eats Dragons
Treasure
The ancient ostorian ruin on top of Thunder Mountain
harbors many treasures in form of ostorian artifacts, magic
items and piles and piles of gold. Adventurers that are able to
survive the perilous climb to the top of the mountain, as well
as slaying Tarnaag shall be appropriately rewarded with the
riches of the ostorian ruin.
Alternatively you can have a dragon hire the adventures
to deal with the malformed behir, promising a part of its
own hoard to the party as well as any riches they may find in
Tarnaag’s domicile.
Additionally characters that know how to utilize the skin
of the behir might be able to turn it into one of the unique
magical equipment detailed below. If the players are not
happy with either of these options, give them an alternative
to create 2 Dragon Slayer swords from the teeth and bones of
Tarnaagh.
Behir are known to be able to swallow prey several sizes
larger than themselves thanks to their elastic hide and general
flexibility. This whip is created out of Tarnaaghs hide, utili-
zing the beast’s powerful hide, that has been charged with the
lightning of Thunder Mountain.
Thundercrack
Very Rare Whip (requires attunement)
This magic whip has a +1 bonus to attack and damage
rolls made with this magic weapon and a reach of 15 feet.
Additionally this weapon deals an extra 2d4 lightning damage
to any target it hits. If both of these d4 roll the same num-
ber, a creature of your choice within 10 feet of your target
takes 2d4 lightning damage, if both of these d4 roll the same
number, another creature of your choice within 10 feet of
the secondary target, that has not been targeted yet, takes
2d4 lightning damage. Repeat this effect as long as you roll
doubles on the lightning damage.
Tarnaags adapting nature still prevails in his body. Its hide,
changed so many times over the centuries, still remembers
the forms it took in life. Therefore it makes for an incredibly
adaptive armor that will change if the situation demands it.
Chromatic Leather
Very Rare Studded Leather Armor (Requires attunement)
You have a 12 + Dexterity modifier +1 armor class while
wearing this armor. In addition the first time you take acid,
cold, fire, or lightning damage in a day you gain resistance
against the triggering damage type until the dawn of the next
day.
Lair: Thunder Mountain Summit
Thunder Mountain is a lonely mountain that is covered by a
perpetual and supernatural thunder storm. The cause for this
storm seem to be the ostorian ruins that rest on top of the
mountain. These ruins are the remnants of an ancient temple
dedicated to the giant diety Stronmaus.
 air Actions
L
When fighting in the ruins on top of Thunder Mountain,
Tarnaagh can take lair actions. On initiative count 20 (losing
initiative ties), Tarnaag takes a lair action to cause one of the
following effects.
• The strong wind on top of Thunder Mountain howls
and attempts to push any creature on the summit. Each
large or smaller sized creature in the area must succeed
on a DC 15 Strength saving throw, or be pushed 10 feet
and fall prone. Each affected creature is pushed in the
same direction (Dungeon Master’s choice).
• Lightning strikes at a randomly determined creature,
that is not Tarnaagh. The target creature and each crea-
ture within 5 feet of it must make a DC 15 Dexterity
saving throw, taking 16 (3d10) lightning damage on a
failed save, or half as much on a successful one.
• A radiant bolt of lightning hits Tarnaagh to energize it.
Tarnaagh regains 22 (4d10) hit points and has advan-
tage on all saving throws until the end of his next turn.
Tarnaagh can’t use this lair action again until it has used
a different one.
Regional Effect
The region around Thunder Mountain is influenced by
the supernatural storm, which creates one or more of the
following effects:
• Sudden strong winds and weather shifts are common
within 6 miles of Thunder Mountain.
• Metal objects can charge with electicity at random
within 3 miles of Thunder Mountain.
• Random lightning strikes within 1 mile of Thunder
Mountain can open short-lived portals to the Elemental
Plane of Air, allowing creatures of elemental air to slip
into the world.
These effects are not tied to Tarnaagh, but to the ostorian
ruins instead and exist as long as the sanctuary of the ruins
remains intact.
Created by Dungeon Master Tuz
You can find more of my content here:
twitter.com/dm_tuz
dm-tuz.tumblr.com/
If you like my work, consider supporting
me on www.patreon.com/DMTuz
Created by DM Tuz