Elder Serpent (D&D Template)

Elder Serpent is perhaps the earliest example of a 'Monster Template' in D&D appearing in 2nd Edition AD&D's Monstrous Manual to be applied to any of the snakes in that publication. The template is based on a legend that the older a snake gets the wiser it becomes. The template increases a snake's hitpoints, intelligence score from animal to just below Human average, improves thier morale against open flames, gives them a desire for glittering objects (improving the type of treasure they have), and granting them the ability to speak (though with a lisp aka Ssnake Sspeak). They regardless of type gain a venomous attack that's highly lethal, the capacity to constrict foes, and to hypnotize (see Hypnosnake). The publication that introduced this template states that the largest of Eldersnakes is known as the Grand Snakemaster (presumably every plane with snakes has one) whose sheded skin (and only the sheded skin) has remarkable healing powers for those who eat it. In that publication the largest snake is the Giant Sea Snake at 50+ meters in length. Found only in tropical waters and sometimes in vast groups (presumably to spawn). They occassionally (20% of the time if hungry) attack ships (and thus such a Grand Snakemaster has likely gathered a notable hoard of seabound loot). They are capable of reaching remarkable depths and thus a quest to find such a Grand Snakemaster would be worthy of an entire campaign. The extent of the healing powers is not stated but as a reward for such a quest they would likely be grand. The Grand Snakemaster is set appart from other Elder Serpents not only in size but in being immortal, incapable of dying of old age.
Category:D&D