Basilisk

Art by Michael Bielaczyc

A basilisk is a giant reptile that can turn flesh and blood creature to stone. They can grow up to 12 feet long from snout to tip of tail, though they have short legs and, other than their stony gaze, can only bite their prey.

It is thought that they were created by ancient wizard magic for guarding of places of power.

—Wolfram Buhl, Buc de Megichen Teir, (translated to the common tongue in 5763)

Basilisk

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  • CV: 4
  • Class: Monster
  • Type: Magical Beast
  • Speed: 30’
  • HP: 37
  • Damage Modifier: 1d6
  • Armor Value: 5
  • Attack: Bite* 75% 1d6+4+1d6
  • Skills: Dodge 50%, Jump 40%, Climb 40%, Spot 40%, Listen 40%, Hide 24%, Stealth 24% 
  • Special: Stone Breath
  • Weaknesses: Mirrors
  • Horror: (If Turning to Stone) 2/2d4
  • Treasure: Standard (Lair)

*Bite The large mouth of a basilisk can only be dodged or parried with a shield; weapons are too small to block it.

Horror Anyone who begins to turn to stone suffers Horror at the unnatural transformation. 2/2d4

Stone Breath Contrary to belief, it is not the gaze of a basilisk that turns people to stone; it is its breath. Once every two rounds, as a Move or Standard action, a basilisk can breathe a 15’ cone of breath that can turn the skin of living creatures and plants into stone. A difficult Stamina check can resist the monster’s breath. If it is not resisted, the skin of the affected creature or plant begins to calcify, turning to a gray stone-like surface. In the first 2 rounds, the affected creature can only move at half speed. In the next two rounds, they can no longer walk, but they can complete other actions, but any action is difficult. In the following two rounds, they can speak but nothing more. They become encased in the calci-stone, alive but unable to move. 

A creature petrified in this matter that is then coated (not just splashed) with fresh basilisk saliva (taken from a basilisk no more than 1 hour dead) is instantly restored to flesh. A single basilisk contains enough saliva to coat 1d3 Medium creatures in this manner.

Treasure A basilisk enjoys hoarding belongings from those it hunts. It likes shiny objects piling them in the back of its lair.

Average worth 600 gp. 50% coins, 30% gems and jewelry, 20% objects and equipment.

Remnants and Reagents

Basilisk Hide (Remnant)

A basilisk skin makes a hardy cloak, able to withstand most elements and impervious to acid. 

Value: 150 gp

Harvesting Difficulty: Average

Basilisk Saliva (Reagent)

They have 3 doses of saliva that can dissolve stone (a 6’x6’x1’ section reach). 

Value: 20 gp per dose

Harvesting Difficulty: Easy

Stone Gland (Reagent)

Basilisks have a gland that contains a liquid that acts the same as their Stone Breath. Removing this gland is delicate, and any mishap on a Survival check means the harvester becomes contaminated with the gland’s contents and begins to turn.

Value: 100 gp

Harvesting Difficulty: Difficult

Basilisk Lairs

  • 1-50 A natural cavern that has been turned into a lair.
  • 51-70 An old ruin, with a crumbled structure that the basilisk has burrowed under.
  • 71-80 A group os basilisks has made a burrow in a field of creatures turned to stone.
  • 81-95 Bound by some ancient magic, the basilisk guards a specific territory.
  • 96-100 A basilisk has made a lair with a group of hulking horrors, living symbiotically.