Page 90 - Serpent Kingdoms

MONSTERS

Saves: Fort +4, Ref +7, Will +10 Spell-Like Abilities: At will—animal trance (DC 15),
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 19, Wis 19, Cha 17 cause fear (DC 15), entangle (DC 15); 3/day—deeper dark-
Skills: Climb +11, Concentration +13, Craft (any) +16, Hide +10, ness, dispel magic, neutralize poison (DC 18), resist energy (self
Knowledge (religion) +15, Listen +17, Spot +17, Swim +10 only), suggestion (DC 17); 1/day—baleful polymorph (DC 19;
B
B
Feats: Alertness , Blind-Fight , Dodge, Improved Initiative, into snake form only). Caster level 11th. The save DCs are
Mobility Charisma-based.
Environment: Warm forests Venomous Tentacles (Sp): Once per day, a holy guardian can
Organization: Solitary, pair, gang (3–4), or guard detail (3–12) produce an effect that functions like the Evard’s black tentacles
Challenge Rating: 8 spell, except that the tentacles also deliver poison (contact, Forti-
Treasure: Double standard tude DC 21, initial and secondary damage 1d6 Con) during each
Alignment: Usually chaotic evil round of grappling. This ability is the equivalent of an
Advancement: By character class 8th-level spell.
Level Adjustment: +6 Alternate Form (Sp): A holy guardian
can assume the form of a Tiny to
A sinuous, snakelike creature with human arms Large viper (see the Snake entry on
sways hypnotically, raising a shining scimitar in page 280 of the Monster Manual) as
its defense. a psionic ability. This ability is similar
to a polymorph spell (caster level 19th), but
The holy guardian is rare kind of yuan-ti the holy guardian doesn’t regain any lost
bred to guard temples and altars of Sseth. hit points by changing form and can take
Unless ordered to do something else by a only viper shapes. The holy guardian loses its
constrict ability in viper form but uses its own
yuan-ti cleric of Sseth personally known poison for its bite attack.
Illustration by Carl Frank in their trust with alert diligence psionically change the coloration of itself and
to them, holy guardians defend the
sacred places and property placed
Chameleon Power (Sp): A holy guardian can
its equipment to match its surroundings,
and dedication—to the death if
gaining a +10 circumstance bonus on
necessary.
A holy guardian resembles a yuan-ti half-
Hide checks.
blood with its serpent head, human arms,
Detect Poison (Sp): A holy guard-
and serpent tail. It stands about 7 feet tall
(caster level 6th) at will.
when rearing upright and weighs about ian can use detect poison as the spell
270 pounds. Its dark scales lighten Skills: A holy guardian receives
only slightly toward the tail a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks
and are always of uniform hue, and can always choose to take 10
Yuan-ti holy guardian
never patterned or lighter on the on Climb checks, even if rushed or threatened.
underbelly. A holy guardian has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check
Holy guardians speak Abyssal, Common, Draconic, and to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always
Yuan-ti. choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endan-
gered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it
Combat swims in a straight line.

A holy guardian fi ghts cunningly, seeking cover and ceding In the Realms
areas as needed in order to encircle, outfl ank, or otherwise trap
intruders. Holy guardians are occasionally sent on hunting expeditions
Constrict (Ex): On a successful grapple check, a holy guard- to fi nd food for clerics of Sseth or supplies for a temple, or to
ian deals 1d6+6 points of damage. recover stolen temple wealth. Otherwise, they are found only
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a holy guardian in holy sites. Their typical standing orders are to capture in-
must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a truders if possible so that the clergy of Sseth can interrogate
grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of oppor- them. Should capture prove infeasible, intruders are slain with-
tunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can out hesitation.
constrict. Holy guardians are trained from hatching to obey clerics
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 16, initial and secondary of Sseth fi rst, and family or tribal elders second. Unlike most
damage 1d6 Con. The save DC is Constitution-based. yuan-ti, they do not spend the majority of their time scheming

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