Sanguis Squamae The Arcane Scholar

Sanguis Squamae was not always called Blood Scales, nor was he always a solitary seeker of forbidden knowledge. Once, he served as the eldest dragon in the Obsidian Conclave, a gathering of scaled mages who guarded the ancient grimoires and mystical secrets of the world. Yet his hunger for understanding grew insatiable—each spell mastered only revealed ten more mysteries, each artifact studied unveiled deeper truths yet uncovered. His obsession alienated him from his kin, who viewed his endless pursuit of arcane power as reckless and corrupting. When the Conclave voted to seal away certain dangerous tomes, Sanguis refused to comply, choosing instead to gather what treasures and texts he could and vanish into legend. The other dragons whispered that he had been consumed by his own ambition, transformed by the very magic he worshipped into something neither wholly dragon nor wholly scholar, but a fusion of both—hence his new epithet, Blood Scales. The discovery of Credunt Insulis felt like destiny whispering through the winds. For centuries, the island had existed outside the known world, shrouded in chaotic magical storms that repelled all but the most determined explorers. Ancient maps spoke of it as a repository of forgotten sorcery, a place where the oldest magics still thrummed through stone and soil, untouched by the standardization and dilution of modern practice. Sanguis arrived expecting to find crumbling libraries and dormant reliquaries, but instead found something far more precious: an entire realm where magic operated by rules long abandoned by civilization. The absence of other dragons only deepened his resolve—here, he would finally be alone with his true love, surrounded by mysteries waiting centuries to be unraveled. Blood Scales has made his lair deep within the island's heart, where the boundaries between the arcane and reality grow gossamer-thin, determined that no force in the known world will pry him away from this paradise of untamed knowledge.

Strength

30, modifier +10

Dexterity

14, modifier +2

Constitution

30, modifier +10

Intelligence

28, modifier +9

Wisdom

20, modifier +5

Charisma

24, modifier +7

Arcane Breath

Sanguis exhales a 90-ft. cone of arcane energy. Each creature must make a DC 25 Dexterity saving throw, taking 70 (20d6) force damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one.

Spellcasting

Sanguis casts spells as a 20th-level wizard. He has a spell save DC of 25 and can cast 3 spells per turn.

Tail Swipe

Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 40 (6d10 + 10) bludgeoning damage and the target must succeed on a DC 25 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Arcane Grasp

Sanguis targets one creature within 60 ft. The target must succeed on a DC 25 Strength saving throw or take 50 (10d10) force damage and be restrained until the end of Sanguis's next turn.

Knowledge Drain

Sanguis targets one creature within 30 ft. The target must succeed on a DC 25 Intelligence saving throw or lose 1d4 levels of spell slots (up to 5th level) and Sanguis regains hit points equal to the total level lost.

Mystic Shield

Sanguis creates a shimmering barrier. Until the start of his next turn, he gains +5 to AC and resistance to all damage.

Arcane Mastery

Sanguis has advantage on Intelligence checks related to magic.

Dragon's Resilience

Sanguis regains 20 hit points at the start of his turn if he has at least 1 hit point.

Knowledge Thief

Once per turn, Sanguis can steal a spell from a creature he damages.

Aura of Magic

Creatures within 30 feet of Sanguis have disadvantage on saving throws against spells.

strength

+18

dexterity

+10

constitution

+18

intelligence

+17

wisdom

+13

charisma

+15

Arcane Surge

Sanguis can take 3 legendary actions, 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. Sanguis regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

Spell Reflection

Sanguis reflects a spell targeting him back at the caster. The caster must make a saving throw against Sanguis's spell save DC.

Knowledge Unleashed

Sanguis can cast a spell without expending a spell slot. The spell must be of 5th level or lower.

Fire

Lightning

Necrotic

Poison

Psychic

Charmed

Frightened

Paralyzed

Poisoned