Veeru
“Golden dragon” © deviantArt user Nimphradora. Accessed at their gallery here
[The last of the three familiar options I’m converting from Dragon Magazine 86. This is probably the one I’ve changed the most, having toned down its abilities significantly to bring it more in line with a modern pseudodragon. The original had a bite attack that could confuse for hours, and it could cast Otto’s irresistible dance, which is an 8th level spell these days. I imagine that a veeru’s personality is like that of Daffy Duck, specifically the Tex Avery/Bob Clampett era.]
Veeru CR 1 CN Dragon This tiny draconic creature has a long, seahorse-like head and golden scales. Its paws end in webbed feet, and its wings are shaped like the fins of a fish.
A veeru is a semiaquatic dragon with a love of pranks and mockery. They live in marshes or along the banks of rivers, weaving nests of grass and floating mats that drift along the water. Veeru can mimic the sounds of birds and humanoids, and use this to distract, annoy, and generally waste the time of people passing through their territories. They endeavor to remain hidden during these japes, keeping their dupe guessing about the nature of their antagonist. If a veeru is caught in combat, it generally attempts to distract enemies and then flee. Its bite addles the mind, and it can infuse its jokes with enough magic to temporarily incapacitate a foe. They rarely if ever fight to the death.
Most veeru are chaotic neutral, but other alignments do exist. Chaotic good veeru are relatively rare, and they use their pranks to entertain children and thwart the efforts of raiders attacking the innocent. Chaotic evil veeru enjoy drawing out the pain and misery of their targets, and may lead a victim into hazardous terrain or the jaws of a large predator. Veeru do keep treasure, but are more interested in ephemeral pleasures such as fine food and drink, a good joke or story, or music. A few veeru join forces with a spellcaster in order to see the world and antagonize its residents beyond their gullies and streams. A chaotic spellcaster of 5th level or higher can take a veeru familiar with the Improved Familiar feat.
