Page 71 - Serpent Kingdoms

MONSTERS

In humanoid form, a wereserpent is slender, fi ne-featured, Many wereserpents of Faerûn are rogues or arcane spellcast-
and lithe, moving as fl uidly as an elf dancer. It typically has dark ers, and most of them hate nagas and yuan-ti (but not snakes).
eyes and hair and dresses in skin-revealing clothing with large Wereserpents that can cast arcane spells tend to be either soli-
openings. A wereserpent usually does not have body piercings, tary stalkers and slayers of yuan-ti or—very rarely—friends or
and it avoids jewelry that’s affi xed to the body rather than to allies of the Coiled Cabal (see Chapter 1).
garments. At least one fallen noble family of Tethyr consists entirely
of wereserpents. The Janor clan, whose members are now scat-
Combat tered up and down the Sword Coast, crave obscurity despite their
success as merchants, and they use a variety of false names and
Wereserpents in human form tend to fi ght with knives or spells, guises to protect the family secret.
usually as a last resort when open confl ict
can’t be avoided. In snake form, they fi ght Mlarraun
as constrictors. A wereserpent in hybrid form
can cast spells or wield weapons with its human- Medium Magical Beast
oid arms and hands, constrict with its coils, and Hit Dice: 2d10 (11 hp)
bite. Changing from any of its forms to another Initiative: +3
is a standard action. Except as noted below, Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), climb 20 ft.,
wereserpents function the same as other swim 20 ft.
lycanthropes (see the Lycanthrope entry Armor Class: 16 (+3 Dex, +3 natural),
in the Monster Manual). touch 13, fl at-footed 13
Alternate Form (Su): A Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+1
were serpent can assume the Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d4–1 plus
form of a Medium constric- poison) or spit +5 ranged touch
tor snake or a snake-human hybrid. (poison)
Constrict (Ex): On a successful grapple check, a Full Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d4–1 plus
wereserpent in snake or hybrid form deals 1d3+6 poison) or spit +5 ranged touch (poison) Illustration by Jeremy Jarvis
points of damage. Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Curse of Lycanthropy (Su): Any hu- Special Attacks: Poison
manoid or giant hit by the wereserpent’s bite Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., low-
attack in animal or hybrid form must succeed on a DC light vision, scent, stone torpor
15 Fortitude saving throw or contract lycanthropy. Wereserpents Saves: Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +1
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a wereserpent Abilities: Str 8, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a Skills: Balance +11, Climb +11, Hide +12, Listen +5, Spot +5,
grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of oppor- Swim +7
tunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and Feats: Weapon Finesse
can constrict. Environment: Warm plains
Serpent Empathy (Ex): Communicate with serpents and ser- Organization: Solitary
pentfolk, and +4 racial bonus on Charisma-based checks against Challenge Rating: 1
serpents and serpentfolk. Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
The wereserpent presented here is based on a 1st-level human Advancement: —
warrior who is a natural lycanthrope, using the following base Level Adjustment: —
ability scores: Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.
A thin, triangular, scaled head peers out of the underbrush,
In the Realms watching for prey.

Wereserpents can be found anywhere in Faerûn, although they The “spitting snakes” of Realmslore are common just west of
hide their natures as much as possible. They’re particularly the Nagawater, on the plains known locally as Serpents’ Holding.
common around established yuan-ti settlements where snake and They spend their days sleeping, sunning, or hunting. When the
human breeding experiments have been going on for centuries, opportunity presents itself, a mlarraun may slay several herd
and in cities (especially tropical ports) where yuan-ti slavers and beasts or other large creatures at once and leave them as ready
agents operate. food. Mlarrauns eat rotting carrion as readily as they do fresh

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