Basilisk

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Basilisk (CR 8)

The basilisk, often called the “King of Serpents,” is in fact not a serpent at all, but rather an eight-legged reptile with a nasty disposition and the ability to turn creatures to stone with its gaze. Folklore holds that, much like the cockatrice, the first basilisks hatched from eggs laid by snakes and incubated by roosters, but little in the basilisk's physiology lends any credence to this claim.

Basilisks live in nearly any terrestrial environment, from forest to desert, and their hides tend to match and reflect their surroundings—a desert-dwelling basilisk might be tan or brown, while one that lives in a forest could be bright green. They tend to make their lairs in caves, burrows, or other sheltered areas, and infest ruins and sewers. Basilisks are quite comfortable living in cities with humanoid races, and their considerable stealth and sluggish habits make them eerily effective at remaining undetected.

Basilisks, amazingly enough, can be tamed as guard creatures quite well if they are raised from eggs. Hooding their deadly eyes makes them into quite affectionate and loyal pets, incredibly enough.

GENERAL

CR 8 Hit Dice 12

XP 4,800

N, Medium, Magical Beast

Init +4; Senses darkvision 60ft, low-light 120ft, Perception +12

DEFENSE

AC 27, touch 16, flat-footed 21 (+6 dex, +11 armor)

hp 125

Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +7

Aura: -

SR: -

Special Defenses: -

Immunities: -

Weaknesses: -

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Space / Reach: 5 ft. / 5 ft.

Single Melee Bite +14 (2d8/x2)

Full Melee Bite +14 (2d8/x2)

Ranged Stoning Gaze +12 Ranged Touch (2d8+2/x2) + Petrification

Full Ranged 3x Stoning Gaze +12 Ranged Touch (2d8+2/x2) + Petrification

Special Attacks Petrification

Action Points 0

STATISTICS

Str 16, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 12

Base Atk +8; CMB +15; CMD 28

Feats Precise Shot, Snap Shot, Nimble Shot (applied to eyes)

Skills Stealth +14

Languages -

SPECIAL ABILITIES

<special abilities should have a save DC 18>

<special attack damage (standard action): 4d6+1>

<special attack damage (aoe’s, swift actions or inflicting status effects): 2d6>

Stoning Gaze

Stoning Gaze is a ranged touch attack that is treated as a ray. Stoning Gaze may be used in melee without provoking attacks of opportunity. When it hits, stoning gaze inflicts 2d6+2(x2) of untyped energy damage, and the target must make a saving throw against Petrification (see below).

Petrification

Creatures struck by a basilisks Stoning Gaze must make a Fort save versus a DC of 18. Those who succeed suffer no further ill effects. Those who fail their save gain the Torpid condition and are placed at risk. If they are struck again by the basilisk's Stoning Gaze while Torpid, they gain the Entangled condition until the end of the encounter if they fail the DC18 Fort saving throw. if they fail a third save while Entangled, they are Petrified.

In all cases, if a creature is reduced to zero hitpoints or less by Stoning Gaze damage, they are immediately Petrified without benefit of save.

TREASURE

sell value of approximately 3,250 gp

COMBAT TACTICS

By far, a basilisk's best weapons are its eyes. In combat, basilisks will back away steadily, zapping enemies with Stoning Gaze. They will always prefer to use their Stoning Gaze, and their precise shot and snap shot abilities mean they can use their deadly gaze in melee and even to make attacks of opportunity. If they can, they will end the fight at range, and then move in to consume their stoned victims wherever they lie.