[MW Zodiac] Shēn Dragon - CR 11 Large Dragon (Zodiac) - $10 Reward

“Lin, I have a hard time believing that a shēn dragon stole your report for the third time this week. If it happens again, I’ll be forced to expel you from the academy and list ‘Will of the Zodiac’ as the reason.”

— Professor Duoyi, Tenured Skeptic

Nothing brings more joy to a shēn dragon than a good prank—the more self-important and regal the victim, the better! Princes, parking enforcement officers, and other zodiac dragons all number amongst their favourite targets. Emperor Qian Chao, for example, was tricked into wearing fine silks that turned invisible in sunlight, the perfect comeuppance for a loquacious, arrogant ruler who liked to preach to his starving subjects on the virtues of moderation while they wilted in the hot sun.

Ninth to Cross. Where other animals saw a great journey towards ascension, the monkey saw a wellspring of infinite entertainment. It joined the crowd of critters on the road for its own amusement, calling out teasing insults, dumping bowls of water, and painting preposterous images on the flanks of the sleeping pilgrims. It soon found its favorite victim: the rooster. 

Accompanied by a flock of adoring chickens—all eager to aid their leader in achieving ascension—the rooster’s pompous flounce, upturned beak, and ridiculous array of colourful feathers was impossible for the monkey to resist. Prank after prank humiliated the pretentious fowl who took each insult with grace. Impressed by the resolve, the monkey gradually came to respect the rooster, and the two soon became friends.

Shortly after they rescued the goat, the trio reached the bank of the river. The monkey, noting the abundance of lumber nearby, suggested they build a raft to cross. With the grinding of wood on sand, a final step, and a victorious cheer, the freshly ascended shēn dragon considered all the new pranks it could pull in its divine form.

Pranks from Above. Shēn dragons have gained a reputation for being a nuisance, especially among wealthy travellers that cross their path. Their creativity and desire for novelty drive them to come up with all kinds of hair-brained schemes, and pretentious nobles in gilded caravans make the perfect test subjects. They swoop from above, magically rearrange the entire ensemble, and disappear in a flash of light before anyone can react. Lord Wan T. Aun, a notorious peddler of oversized, overpriced cuisine, allegedly found himself riding atop a massive dumpling wearing nothing but his own steamer lid, while his oxen enjoyed the cushioned interior of his carriage.

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Get the stats for this fearsome foe in the ATTACHED FILES!

Enjoy the gorgeous rendered art for it HERE;

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