Sea Serpent, Gilded

This serpent is about 8 feet long and 2 feet thick. Its body scales are small and smooth, with the brilliant luster of gold. It has a long, narrow crocodilian snout and a cluster of antenna-like whiskers sweeping back from just above its jaws.

Gilded Sea Serpent CR 5

XP 1,600
N Medium dragon (aquatic)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +11

DEFENSE

AC 30, touch 14, flat-footed 26 (+4 Dex, +16 natural)
hp 52 (5d12+15 plus 5)
Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +7
DR 5/gold; Immune paralysis and sleep, dragon traits

OFFENSE

Speed 10 ft.; swim 40 ft.
Melee bite +9 (1d8+1 plus poison)
Special Attacks constrict (1d8+1), poison

STATISTICS

Str 12, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 7, Wis 16, Cha 17
Base Atk +5; CMB +6 (+10 grapple); CMD 20 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Great Fortitude, Swim-By AttackB, Toughness, Weapon Finesse
Skills Perception +11, Stealth +12, Survival +11, Swim +17
Languages Draconic

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Poison (Ex)

Bite–injury; save Fort DC 15; frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect 1d4 Wis; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Golden Bliss (Narcotic)

This drug is made from the venom of a gilded sea serpent. A serpent that is milked of its venom produces enough poison to make 2d4 doses of golden bliss per day. This requires a DC 15 Craft (alchemy or poison) check. When inhaled, the drug produces a euphoric catatonia and provides complete protection against mind-influencing magic and psionic incursion.

Type: inhaled; Addiction severe, Fortitude DC 15
Price 40 gp
Effects 1d3x10 minutes; +4 Charisma, immunity to mind-affecting effects and psionic incursion.
Damage 4 Wisdom damage

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate and warm aquatic
Organization solitary, pair or cluster (3-8)
Treasure none (see below)

One of the rarest of sea serpents, the gilded serpent is known for its glittering golden hide, and is often hunted for this skin, and for the powerful narcotic that can be made from its venom. In the wild, gilded sea serpents live on the most secluded islands and hidden lagoons, where they nest in sandy lairs and shallow, sun-warmed waters. Wealthy coastal lords have been known to acquire gilded sea serpent eggs or infants and raised them captivity. These serpents are usually revered as holy or prized as status symbols; captive gilded serpents that are mistreated quickly lose the will to live and die.

The golden hide of a gilded serpent can be harvested and made into a single set of scale mail that fits a Medium or smaller creature. This armor is considered masterwork, and has the same properties as mithral scale armor.

The poison of the gilded serpent can be milked or harvested as well, then made into a powerful narcotic drug called golden bliss.

Gilded sea serpents flee danger when they can, using their ability to swim swiftly to evade danger as quickly as possible. If cornered or surprised, however, they lash out with their bite, and use their constriction attack if their prey is small enough. The venom of a gilded sea serpent numbs the flesh to pain and induces a state of catatonic stupor.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Gilded Sea Serpent from the Tome of Horrors Complete, Copyright 2011, Necromancer Games, Inc., published and distributed by Frog God Games; Authors Scott Greene and Patrick Lawinger.

scroll to top