I took Flyby Attack as my 1st level feat and heathon and common as my bonus languages with one slot kept free (hopefully for draconic). For my four bonus skill points I'll take your suggestion and take a rank each in Knowledge nature and local. The two remaining points are tricky to figure out. A few ideas I had was Craft (alchemy) or Profession (herbalist) since my PC is pretty clever and pseudodragons are familiar with various leaves, fruits and berries from their omnivorous diet. Aside from that, I'm considering Craft (calligraphy) since my dragon has many written examples to study and copy and Profession (scout) since he's familiar with his woodland home. The problem with Professions is that they represent services that a character can use to earn money; something I have trouble imagining my PC getting into. What do you think?
I've read through the Dragon mag article. Much of the crunchy bits are obsolete, though the fluffy bits are interesting. Here are a few highlights:
• Pseudodragons supposedly use their telepathic abilities to "eavesdrop" on a potential companions' thoughts to judge their worth.
• Pseudodragons most often bond with humans, elves, halflings and gnomes as lifelong companions, in that order of preference. Some pseudodragons choose members of sylvan races as companions such as nymphs, dryads and centaurs.
• A pseudodragon can only link with one companion at a time, and the bond can then only be broken by the death of either participant. Through their link, the dragons can transmit everything they see and hear to their companion out to a range of 240 yards. They can also share their spell resistance with their companion through physical contact.
• A pseudodragon's barbed tail is sharp like a hypodermic needle and they are able to wield it against foes directly in front of them; much like a scorpion.
• Pseudodragon venom can be harvested; up to 20 ounces per week or 12 ounces at once if slain. It in turn can be sold for about 100 gp per ounce. Pseudodragons consider being milked for venom demeaning.
• Beings poisoned enter a cataleptic state in which their bodies grow rigid yet remain pliable, so that victims will tend to remain in any position into which they are moved.
• Pseudodragons are generally diurnal because they're cold blooded and need the heat of the sun to generate body heat to remain active. At night they grow sluggish.
I'd dispute that conclusion myself.
• Pseudodragons lair in hollow trees, caves, or even in abandoned underground burrows.
• Pseudodragons hibernates through the winter months.
• Pseudodragons collect bright shiny objects; colored glass, coins and especially gemstones. They tend to value attractiveness rather than inherent value.
• While omnivorous, pseudodragons prefer fresh meat above all else. Their diet consists primarily of rodents and small birds. They also eat leaves, fruits and berries. They refuse to touch carrion due to their finicky natures.
• Though generally solitary, pseudodragons congregate in the spring to mate in large groups, and with multiple partners, over a period of three days. Males are particularly territorial during these times and will immediately attack any trespassers.
• Females lay clutches of 4–6 brown speckled eggs that hatch in mid-summer. Differing fatherhood is possible for eggs of the same clutch. The mother cares for her young throughout the summer and fall and allows them to share her lair while hibernating through the winter. The young then set off to establish their own lair come spring.
• Amongst their own kind, pseudodragon make use of "thought-names"; a series of identifying images or memories that can be transmitted quickly with a mere though. Though names are hard to translate into words, so pseudodragons often allow their companions to assign them cute pet-names.
• Pseudodragon scales are translucent (much like fingernails) and it's the flesh beneath which can change color. Achievable colors are red, green, brown, black or any shade between; with multiple combinations at once being possible to mimic leafy camouflage.
• Pseudodragons periodically molt patches pf skin as they outgrow their old scales. They do so monthly through their first year, and about twice a year thereafter, though the process doesn't hinder them in any way. They do so by rubbing against rocks and tree bark.
• Pseudodragon skin can be used in the manufacture of rings of chameleon power, potions of rainbow hues and cloaks of elvinkind. Their blood can be used in the production of rings of spell resistance.
Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any questions.
It is always useful to have some facts that lead you to new ideas.
