Basilisk (NH)

Basilisks are enormous, monstrous serpents, originally created by Taira to inhabit the jungle created by Tecci.
==Origins==
The first of Taira's mortal creations, the eldest basilisks emerged in the Calcified Jungle following the latter's creation outside the Forum. Given a shape reminiscent of their divine sire, the basilisks immediately set about seeking prey in the newly-formed jungles, establishing themselves as violent, but clever, predators.
==Physical Description and Special Traits==
Basilisks resemble massive serpents, with bodies often growing as thick as tree trunks amongst the larger specimens. Their scales are most commonly jet black, green, or copper, though some anomalies do exist; these scales are quite tough, and offer the basilisk resistance to piercing and slashing. Gifted with extremely strong jaws and venomous fangs, the bite of the basilisk is not to be underestimated; what is not crushed by the force of the basilisk's mouth snapping shut will often succumb to the potent toxins that the fangs unleash.
Still deadlier than the basilisk's bite, however, is the creature's gaze. Imbued with a touch of Taira's madness, the eyes of a basilisk possess the ability to numb the life force of that which looks into the serpent's gaze. Lesser mortals are easily petrified and turned to stone by this gaze, while stronger prey may instead be considerably slowed or immobilized. Even vegetation shows signs of distress when placed within a basilisk's sight for too long; wilting is common in smaller, more fragile plant life.
Category:Monsters (NH)