Basilisk
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.
Basilisk's Gaze
Prerequisite(s)
BasiliskBenefits
Turn to stone permanently (as flesh to stone), range 30 feet, Fortitude DC 15 negates. A creature petrified in this matter that is then coated (not just splashed) with fresh basilisk blood (taken from a basilisk no more than 1 hour dead) is instantly restored to flesh. A single basilisk contains enough blood to coat 1d3 Medium creatures in this manner. The save DC is Constitution-based.Basic Information
Anatomy
An adult basilisk is 13 feet long, with fully half of that made up by its long tail, and weighs 300 pounds. Some breeds have short, curved horns on their noses or small crests of bony growths topping their heads like crowns. Though normally solitary creatures, coming together only to mate and lay eggs, in particularly dangerous areas small groups may band together for protection and attack intruders en masse.
Biological Traits
- Great Fortitude
Adults can live to 60+ years of age given their mostly docile nature and thier natural resistance to disese and poisons
Genetics and Reproduction
Both sexes are covered in spike-like quills that extend from between the scaley plates on their back. Males sometimes sport a single curved horn on their snout, but it wears down with age or is prone to breaking off entirely in battle. As a result basilisk sex is difficult to determine from casual inspection.
Basilisks reach sexual maturity at three years of age and remain sexually fertile for the duration of their lives. Females can lay up to one clutch of eggs a year, doing so only when food is abundant. Males compete in shows of dominance for mating rites, rearing up on their hind two sets of legs and emitting a low earthy growl.
Rivals who refuse to back down in these displays will escalate to mating combat, slamming their chests against their opponent until one backs down. The winner quickly mates and in two to three weeks the female lays a clutch of roughly fist sized eggs. She will go on to incubate these with her body for a period of months, becoming increasing violent to all but her mating partner. Mated pairs will remain in close relation until the nest hatches, but quickly lose interest in each other once nestlings hatch.
Ecology and Habitats
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 these dens are often marked by statues of people and animals in lifelike poses—the petrified remains of those unfortunate enough to stumble across the basilisk.
Known Basilisk haunts
- Lower Gajarpan - The Basilisks under the Gajarpan-Aduz are prized hunting trophies for the Stone Giants above.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Basilisks have the ability to consume the creatures they petrify, their churning stomach acid dissolving and extracting nutrients from the stone, but the process is slow and inefficient, making them lazy and sluggish. As a result, basilisks rarely stalk prey or chase those who avoid their gaze, counting on their stealth and the element of surprise to keep them safe and fed. When not lying in wait for the small mammals, birds, and reptiles that normally make up their diet, basilisks spend their time sleeping in their lairs, and those brave enough to capture basilisks or hide treasure near them find that they make natural guardians and watchdogs.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Basilisks are not highly social creatures, typically gathering only in small groups of three to five adults sharing a cave. Adult males are typically solitary hunters and opt to instead dig a burrow large enough for themselves and a potential mate. Larger colonies are not unheard of, and if conditions permit large broods in excess of 20+ adults can inhabit large cave systems.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
- Hide
- DC 20 Survival - A basilisk hide with spines that can be used to construct a Studded Basilisk Leather Armor that fits a small creature.
- DC 15 Survival - A basilisk hide that can be used to construct a Basilisk Leather Armor that fits a small creature.
- DC 10 Survival - A lesser Basilisk hide (350gp) that can be used to construct a Basilisk Hide Armor that fits a small creature.
- Eyes
- DC 20 Survival - 2 Basilisk's Eyes (2300 gp each). A
basilisk's eye
can be used to cast Flesh to Stone spell
Basilisk's Eye
- Name
- Basilisk's Eye
- Cost
- 2300 gp
- Weight
- 1/10 lb
- Description_
- When held, a creature can use the eye to cast Flesh to Stone (save DC 12). This consumes the eye. Casting with the eye is riskier than casting with a scroll. A Basilisk's eye has a wider fumble range 1-2 where if the caster fumbles they become stone.
- Tags
- Pathfinder, Magic Item
- IsShared
- 1
one time.SRDFlesh to Stone
transmutation \ earth \
Casting time: standard action V, S, M (lime, water, and earth)Range: medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)Duration: instantaneousEffect: Fortitude negates; Spell Resistance yesTargets: one creatureDescription
This spell restores a petrified creature to its normal state, restoring life and goods. The creature must make a DC 15 Fortitude save to survive the process. Any petrified creature, regardless of size, can be restored. The spell also can convert a mass of stone into a fleshy substance. Such flesh is inert and lacking a vital life force unless a life force or magical energy is available. For example, this spell would turn an animated stone statue into an animated flesh statue, but an ordinary statue would become a mass of inert flesh in the shape of the statue. You can affect an object that fits within a cylinder from 1 foot to 3 feet in diameter and up to 10 feet long or a cylinder of up to those dimensions in a larger mass of stone. - DC 15 Survival - 1 Basilisk Eye (2300 gp each).
- DC 20 Survival - 2 Basilisk's Eyes (2300 gp each). A
basilisk's eye
- Teeth
- DC 10 Survival - 2 Basilisk fangs (766 gp each). They can be crafted (smith’s tools) into a Basilisk Fang Dagger
dagger
and 10 Basilisk Teeth (150 gp total), they can be crafted into Basilisk Tooth Arrows Arrows
Basilisk Fang Dagger
Damage (S) Damage (M) Type Critical Range 1d4 + 1d6 Poison Damage 1d4 + 1+ 1d6 Poison Damage Piercing, one-handed, Melee, thrown, Light Blade, tribal, Bone, Poisoning, Magical {19-20}*2 20 ft. (thrown)
Special: +1 to Hit bonusCost: 2300 gpWeight: 1 lbThis Dagger is crafted from the Fang of a Basilisk, and confers a measure of its poisonous bite.
that deals an additional poison damage on a hit.Basilisk Tooth Arrows
- Name
- Basilisk Tooth Arrows
- Cost
- 460 gp /10 arrows
- Description_
- These arrows do an additional +1 to damage and 1d6 of Poison Damage
- Tags
- Pathfinder, Ammunition, Poision, Magical
- IsShared
- 1
- DC 10 Survival - 2 Basilisk fangs (766 gp each). They can be crafted (smith’s tools) into a Basilisk Fang Dagger
dagger
- Flesh
- DC 20 Survival - 3 Applications of Basilisk Blood (1000 gp each). Used to restore petrified creatures.
- DC 15 Survival - 1 Application of
Basilisk Blood
(1000 gp each).
Basilisk Blood
- Name
- Basilisk Blood
- Cost
- 1000 gp
- Weight
- 1 lb
- Description_
- a fresh Application of Basilisk Blood will cure a medium creature of Petrification after an hour the blood no longer works
- Tags
- Pathfinder, Magic Item
- IsShared
- 1
- DC 10 Survival - 6 servings of Basilisk Meat. This meat fortifies the Eater's flesh against injury
- DC 5 Survival - 4 servings of
Basilisk Meat
.
Basilisk Meat
- Name
- Basilisk Meat
- Cost
- 50 gp
- Weight
- 1 lb
- Description_
- If eaten within 12 hours of harvesting, Basilisk meat will convey a +1 bonus to AC for 12 hours
- Tags
- Pathfinder, Magic Item
- IsShared
- 1
- Guts
- DC 15 Survival Basilisk Stomach. (2000 gp each) It can be master-crafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a Stone Salve
Salve
, which ends the petrified condition on a creature it is applied to.
Stone Salve
- Name
- Stone Salve
- Cost
- 4,000 gp
- Description_
- This ointment has two uses. If an ounce of it is applied to the flesh of a petrified creature, it returns the creature to flesh as the stone to flesh spell. If an ounce of it is applied to the flesh of a nonpetrified creature, it protects the creature as a stoneskin spell.
The price and creation cost given are per ounce.
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Feats Craft Wondrous Item, stone to flesh, stoneskin; Cost 2,000 gp - Tags
- Pathfinder, Magic Item
- IsShared
- 1
- DC 15 Survival Basilisk Stomach. (2000 gp each) It can be master-crafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a Stone Salve
Salve
Facial characteristics
Basilisks possess an extremely strong jaw and a natural under bite. Their bite force is strong enough to crush both bone and rock. A basilisk's mouth is filled with thick pointed teeth, these constantly wear down or snap off and are in a constant process of regrowing replacements.
Average Intelligence
- Iron Will
- Basilisks are inherently stubborn and are unlikely to be dissuaded by a threat.
- Perception Focus
- Basilisks spend long hours watching and listening into the darkness for unwarry prey.
Skill Focus
Choose a skill. You are particularly adept at that skill.
Benefits
You get a +3 bonus on all checks involving the chosen skill. If you have 10 or more ranks in that skill, this bonus increases to +6.Special
You can gain this feat multiple times. Its effects do not stack. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new skill.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
- Darkvision
A Basilisk can visually percieve their surroundings up to 60 ft. away in the abscence of any light.
- Low-Light Vision
- in low light conditions a basilisk can percieve colors as if in normal light
Low-Light Vision
Benefits
Characters with low-light vision have eyes that are so sensitive to light that they can see twice as far as normal in dim light. Low-light vision is color vision. A spellcaster with low-light vision can read a scroll as long as even the tiniest candle flame is next to him as a source of light. Characters with low-light vision can see outdoors on a moonlit night as well as they can during the day. - Blindfight
Blind-Fight
You are skilled at attacking opponents that you cannot clearly perceive.
Benefits
In melee, every time you miss because of concealment (see Combat), you can reroll your miss chance percentile roll one time to see if you actually hit. An invisible attacker gets no advantages related to hitting you in melee. That is, you don’t lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class, and the attacker doesn’t get the usual +2 bonus for being invisible. The invisible attacker’s bonuses do still apply for ranged attacks, however. You do not need to make Acrobatics skill checks to move at full speed while blinded.Normal
Regular attack roll modifiers for invisible attackers trying to hit you apply, and you lose your Dexterity bonus to AC. The speed reduction for darkness and poor visibility also applies.Special
The Blind-Fight feat is of no use against a character who is the subject of a blink spell. - a basilisks senses of touch, hearing, and smell can identify hostile creatures even without the use of thier eyes
Civilization and Culture
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
For unknown reasons, weasels and ferrets are immune to the basilisk’s stare and sometimes sneak into basilisk lairs while a parent is hunting in order to consume its young. Some legends suggest that a basilisk’s blood can transmute common stones into other material, but this is likely a case of witnesses misinterpreting the magical restoration of previously petrified creatures or body parts.
Other References
r/DnDBehindTheScreen- Basilisk. 2015. https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/35gjqf/basilisk/.
Scientific Name
Reptilia Basiliscus Orethum
Conservation Status
Hunted for their innate magical properties, feared for their power to instantly end a life, and found in near every climate provided they can find a cave or dig a burrow.
Average Height
3'
Average Weight
250 lbs
Average Length
13'
Average Physique
The creatures are propelled by four pairs of thick squat legs that move in alternating rhyme to avoid stumbling. At the end of each foot are three large clawed toes. A basilisk's tail is thick and protected by layered plates, serving more as a deposit for stores of excess fat rather than providing balance.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Basilisk coloration varies depending on region and conditions at birth. Most individuals are a range of dull greens, with colors ranging to dark browns, oranges, greys, and even black.
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