Monster: Drake, Aeolian

Drake, Aeolian (Gareth's Drake)
Armour Class: 5
Hit Dice: 5+5*
Move: 120' (40')
fly 180' (60')
Attacks: 1 bite
Damage: 1-10 + poison
No. Appearing: 1-2 (2-8)
Save As: F6
Morale: 9
Treasure Type: U
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 300

Largest of the known breeds of drake, the aeolian drake masses as large in the body as a good-sized horse and -- with the correct breeding and training -- is as amenable to being used as a mount. Aeolian drakes have smaller, rounder scales in variegated patterns of violet and grey, violet-black feathering shading to grey, and brilliant yellow eyes. Slightly stockier and shorter in neck and tail, aeolian drakes prefer a head-on approach to most obstacles.

In combat an aeolian drake bites, inflicting 1-10 hit points of damage, and unlike smaller drakes an aeolian drake seldom attacks with its claws. The poison of an aeolian drake is relatively weak, causing only 2-8 turns of dizziness if the saving throw is failed; if its bite is not enough to subdue an opponent an aeolian prefers to use its frozen wind if possible -- beating its wings rapidly, the drake creates a field of bitter cold in a 5x30' line, inflicting 2-12 hit points of damage.