Buy me a coffeeCerastes, the Desert’s Silent Curse
“The Cerastes lies in silence, horns rising like twigs from the sand—until the earth splits and death strikes from below.”
The Cerastes is a monstrous, serpentine creature reaching up to 25 feet in length. Its boneless body glides like silk beneath the sand, covered in matte, sand-colored scales that shimmer faintly in the sun. Its most distinct feature is a set of two to four twisted horns jutting from its head—curved, ridged, and deceptively organic in appearance. These horns resemble sun-bleached roots or buried antlers and serve as both lure and weapon. Its lidless eyes are pale gold and slit-pupiled, often kept closed beneath a translucent membrane when buried.
Behaviour
The Cerastes is a patient and calculating ambush predator, capable of lying motionless beneath the sand for days. It does not hunt indiscriminately but chooses its targets, favoring the curious, the unwary, or the overconfident. It strikes without warning and without mercy. Though unintelligent by humanoid standards, the Cerastes displays predatory cunning, using misdirection and terrain to its advantage.
Habitat
Cerastes dwell in sun-scorched deserts, especially in remote, cursed, or sacred areas where few dare tread. Their lairs are marked not by bones or burrows, but by eerily undisturbed sand, where wind and animal tracks mysteriously vanish. These creatures are most commonly found in:
- Abandoned trade routes
- Ruined desert temples
- Shifting dune fields where no life stirs
Modus Operandi
The Cerastes buries its entire body beneath the sand, exposing only its horns. These protrusions mimic harmless detritus—twigs, buried relics, or desert fauna—designed to draw in the curious. When a creature approaches, it explodes from the sand in a blur of motion, coiling around its prey with unnatural speed. Victims are crushed, bitten, and often dragged beneath the sand to suffocate. The Cerastes does not chase; it vanishes back into the earth as swiftly as it strikes.
Motivation
The Cerastes is driven by instinct sharpened by malice. It kills to feed, but also to maintain dominance over its territory. Some ancient cultures believed the Cerastes to be a manifestation of the desert’s will—a living curse set upon those who trespass into sacred sands. Though not intelligent, its actions hint at a cruel awareness: it prefers victims who hesitate, who speak aloud, who wonder what lies beneath.
Cerastes 5e
Cerastes, Pathfinder
Cerastes 3.5
Cerastes
Large monstrosity, neutral evil
Armor Class 17 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 136 (16d10 + 48)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 20 ft., climb 20 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 20 (+5) | 16 (+3) | 6 (–2) | 14 (+2) | 8 (–1) |
Saving Throws Dex +9, Wis +6
Skills Stealth +9, Perception +6, Survival +6
Damage Resistances Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened, Prone
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Tremorsense 60 ft., Passive Perception 16
Languages —
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Traits
Amorphous Movement
The Cerastes has no true spine, allowing it to move through narrow spaces without squeezing and to contort its body to avoid attacks. It can move through spaces as narrow as 6 inches wide without penalty.
Sand Camouflage
While buried in sand or loose earth, the Cerastes has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.
Buried Ambush
If the Cerastes starts its turn fully buried (beneath sand or loose soil) and unseen, its first melee attack on that turn deals an additional 14 (4d6) poison damage.
Poison Immunity
The Cerastes is immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition.
Actions
Multiattack
The Cerastes makes two attacks: one with its Bite and one with its Horns.
Bite
Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) poison damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 minute. The poisoned target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns.
Horns
Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage. If the target is grappled by the Cerastes, it is also restrained (escape DC 16).
Sand Swallow (Recharge 5–6)
The Cerastes targets one creature grappled by it. The creature must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or be swallowed whole as the Cerastes drags it beneath the sand. While swallowed, the creature is blinded and restrained, has total cover, and takes 21 (6d6) acid damage at the start of each of the Cerastes’ turns. The swallowed creature can attempt to escape by dealing 30 damage to the Cerastes’ interior (AC 14). The Cerastes can have only one swallowed creature at a time.
Legendary Actions
The Cerastes can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The Cerastes regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
- Coil Strike. The Cerastes makes one Horns attack.
- Burrow. The Cerastes burrows up to 20 feet without provoking opportunity attacks and can emerge in an unoccupied space within 10 feet.
- Poison Spit (Costs 2 Actions). The Cerastes spits a glob of venom in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in the area must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw, taking 27 (6d8) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success.
Tactics
The Cerastes is a patient ambush predator. It prefers to lie buried beneath loose sand or soil, exposing only its horns to lure prey closer. When an enemy ventures near, it uses its Burrow legendary action to surprise and restrain foes with its Horns, then bites to poison. If it successfully grapples a target, it attempts to swallow it whole, dragging the victim beneath the sand to finish it off.
The Cerastes avoids direct confrontations with multiple foes but uses terrain and hit-and-run tactics to pick off isolated enemies. It favors hit-and-run strikes, using burrow and camouflage to disappear after attacks.
Lore
Legends say the Cerastes is born from the desert’s malice, a serpent spirit with no spine and multiple horns, lying in wait beneath the sand for unwary travelers. Tribes tell of hearing the faint scrape of sand before the earth erupts with deadly fury. The creature’s venom is said to induce terrifying hallucinations before death.
Cerastes
Large Magical Beast (Serpentine)
CR 6
XP 2,400
NE
Init +6
Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 30 ft.; Perception +12
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15 (+3 Dex, +5 natural)
HP 85 (10d10+30)
Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +6
Defensive Abilities camouflage (sand/loose earth), improved uncanny dodge
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., burrow 20 ft.
Melee bite +13 (2d6+4 plus poison), 2 horns +11 (1d8+4)
Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks poison (injury, DC 16), constrict (1d8+4), swallow whole (10 ft. reach, AC 16, 30 hp)
STATISTICS
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 16 (+3) | 17 (+3) | 4 (–3) | 14 (+2) | 6 (–2) |
Base Attack +10; CMB +14 (+18 grapple); CMD 26
Feats Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (bite), Weapon Focus (horns)
Skills Perception +12, Stealth +12 (+20 in sand), Survival +10
Languages —
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Camouflage (Ex)
The cerastes gains a +8 racial bonus on Stealth checks while buried in sand or loose earth.
Poison (Ex)
Bite delivers potent venom. Fortitude DC 16 save or take 1d6 Con damage and be sickened for 1 minute (new save each round).
Swallow Whole (Ex)
The cerastes can swallow a foe of up to Large size by making a successful grapple check. The swallowed creature is blinded and restrained, takes 2d6+4 acid damage per round, and can attempt to cut its way out (AC 16, 30 hp).
Tremorsense (Ex)
The cerastes can sense vibrations in the ground within 30 feet, pinpointing creatures even when unable to see them.
ECOLOGY
Environment hot deserts and arid wastelands
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure standard
DESCRIPTION
The cerastes is a massive serpentine predator of scorching deserts, its boneless body perfectly adapted to slipping beneath the sands. Its twisted horns protrude above the surface, resembling dead roots or desert debris, luring unwary travelers close. When prey approaches, it erupts with lightning speed, striking with a venomous bite and crushing coils before dragging victims beneath the sand to suffocate and digest.
Known as both a living curse and guardian of forgotten ruins, the cerastes embodies the hidden perils of the desert—silent, patient, and deadly.
Cerastes
Large Magical Beast (Serpentine)
Hit Dice: 10d10+40 (95 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 40 ft., burrow 20 ft.
Armor Class: 18 (+2 Dex, +6 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +10/+18
Attack: Bite +15 melee (2d6+6 plus poison)
Full Attack: Bite +15 melee (2d6+6 plus poison) and 2 horns +13 melee (1d8+3)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Constrict (1d8+6), poison (injury, DC 16), swallow whole (10 ft. reach, AC 16, 40 hp)
Special Qualities: Camouflage, tremorsense 30 ft., improved uncanny dodge, burrow
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +11, Will +7
Abilities: Str 22, Dex 15, Con 18, Int 3, Wis 14, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +17 (+25 in sand), Move Silently +17 (+25 in sand), Spot +11, Survival +9
Feats: Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (bite), Weapon Focus (horns), Combat Reflexes, Improved Grab
Description
The cerastes is a sinuous, boneless serpent-like magical beast found in the harshest deserts. Its sandy scales shimmer with natural camouflage, and its twisted, gnarled horns protrude above the sand like desert roots. It is a patient ambush predator, relying on stealth and surprise to capture prey. Travelers who venture into its territory may only see what appears to be harmless desert debris before the creature strikes.
Combat Tactics
- The cerastes typically buries itself beneath loose sand, exposing only its horns to lure prey.
- When an enemy draws near, it erupts from the sand with a sudden, powerful strike, using its bite to inject venom and its horns to grapple.
- If it successfully grapples a foe, it attempts to swallow the victim whole, dragging them beneath the sand where suffocation and acid digestion begin.
- It prefers to attack isolated targets and uses its burrow speed to disappear and reposition.
- Uses improved uncanny dodge to avoid being flanked, and its tremorsense to detect hidden or buried enemies.
Special Abilities
- Camouflage (Ex):
The cerastes gains a +8 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks while buried in sand or loose earth. - Poison (Ex):
Bite attack delivers venom. Fortitude DC 16 save or suffer 1d6 Constitution damage and be sickened for 1 minute (new save each round). - Improved Grab (Ex):
To use this ability, it must hit with its horns attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. - Constrict (Ex):
Deals 1d8+6 damage when it maintains a successful grapple. - Swallow Whole (Ex):
The cerastes can swallow a grabbed opponent of up to Large size by making a successful grapple check. The swallowed opponent takes 2d6+6 points of acid damage each round from the cerastes’ digestive fluids. A swallowed opponent can cut its way out by dealing 40 points of damage to the cerastes’ inside (AC 16). The cerastes can have only one creature swallowed at a time. - Tremorsense (Ex):
It can sense and pinpoint vibrations within 30 feet, enabling it to detect creatures moving on the ground even when unseen or buried. - Burrow (Ex):
It can burrow through sand, loose earth, and similarly soft terrain at 20 feet per round. It cannot burrow through rock or harder materials.
Ecology
- Environment: Deserts and arid wastelands
- Organization: Solitary or pair
- Treasure: Standard (often hoards desert relics or shiny objects)
Lore
Legends tell of the cerastes as a living curse of the desert, a guardian of lost ruins and a deadly hazard to travelers. Its presence is often betrayed only by the sudden eruption of sand and the agonized screams of its victims. Some desert cultures regard it with reverence, believing the cerastes to be the desert’s wrath made flesh.