Zmey

Crashing through the forest, this three-headed dragon stands upright, its spiked tail thrashing from side to side as it walks. A vicious mouth lined with glistening teeth graces each head, and its green scales gleam in the fleeting sunlight.

Hunting beneath the canopy of the forest, lurking below the surfaces of lakes, and guarding caves concealing great treasure and mystery, the zmey has two roles—vicious terror and nature’s protector.

Claws of the Forest. Single-mindedly destructive, the zmey keeps the heart of the forest free from interlopers. Rumors suggest the heart of an ancient forest itself can control the actions of these beasts, while others believe that they have a pact with certain forest druids. Certainly they are clever enough, often destroying bridges, dams, or logging camps infringing on their territory.

Solitary Hunters. Zmey avoid their own kind, seeking out isolated hunting grounds. They eat any organic matter, but they favor the fresh meat of large birds and mammals. The smarter the prey, the better, because zmey believe that intellect flavors the meat. They consider alseids, halflings, and gnomes especially succulent.

Three-Headed Rage. Dappled black and green scales cover this enormous beast and its three towering necks are long and powerful. Each neck is topped with an identical, menacing head, and each head is flanked by spiny, frilled membranes. A forked tongue flickers across long pale teeth, and six pairs of eyes burn red with rage.

When a zmey stands upright, it measures 25 feet from snout to tail. The beast weighs over 9,000 lb.

Zmey

Huge dragon, chaotic evil
Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 189 (18d12 + 72)
Speed 30 ft., fly 50 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
22 (+6) 13 (+1) 19 (+4) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 12 (+1)

Saving Throws Con +9, Wis +8, Cha +6
Skills Perception +8
Damage Resistances cold, fire
Condition Immunities paralyzed, unconscious
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 90 ft., passive Perception 18
Languages Common, Draconic, Elvish, Sylvan
Challenge 14 (11,500 XP)

Amphibious. The zmey can breathe air and water.

Lake Leap. A zmey spends much of its time lurking in lakes and ponds. When submerged in a natural pool of standing water, it can transport itself as a bonus action to a similar body of water within 5,000 feet. Rapidly flowing water doesn’t serve for this ability, but the zmey can leap to or from a river or stream where the water is calm and slow-moving.

Legendary Resistance (1/Day). If the zmey fails a saving throw, it can count it as a success instead.

Multiheaded. The zmey normally has three heads. While it has more than one head, the zmey has advantage on saving throws against being blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, and stunned. If the zmey takes 40 or more damage in a single turn (and the damage isn’t poison or psychic), one of its heads is severed. If all three of its heads are severed, the zmey dies.

Regeneration. The zmey regains 15 hit points at the start of its turn. If the zmey takes acid or fire damage, this trait doesn’t function at the start of the zmey’s next turn. Regeneration stops functioning when all heads are severed. It takes 24 hours for a zmey to regrow a functional head.

Spawn Headling. The severed head of a zmey grows into a zmey headling 2d6 rounds after being separated from the body. Smearing at least a pound of salt on the severed head’s stump prevents this transformation.

Actions

Multiattack. The zmey makes one bite attack per head and one claws attack.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d12 + 6) piercing damage.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d12 + 6) slashing damage.

Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.

Fire Breath (Recharge 5-6). The zmey breathes up to three 60-foot cones of fire, one from each of its heads. Creatures in a cone take 16 (3d10) fire damage, or half damage with a successful DC 16 Dexterity saving throw. If cones overlap, their damage adds together but each target makes only one saving throw. A zmey can choose whether this attack harms plants or plant creatures.

Legendary Actions

The zmey can take 1 legendary action per head, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The zmey regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Bite. The zmey makes a bite attack.

Tail Attack. The zmey makes a tail attack.

Trample. The zmey moves up to half its land speed. It can enter enemy-occupied spaces but can’t end its move there. Creatures in spaces the zmey enters must make successful DC 14 Dexterity saving throws or take 10 (1d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage and fall prone.

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