Ophiduan, Semiferum Caste

This creature appears as a hideous, yet somehow pathetic, cross of man and snake. A vaguely humanoid torso, covered in reptilian scales, melds into an enormous serpentine tail at the waste. A gaunt humanoid face, also covered in scales, bulges in odd spots as fangs far too large for the mouth push at the thin lips from within. Sporadic tufts of hair just from the top of the head, giving the creature almost a sickly appearance.

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Source: Pathfinder d20pfsrd.com

Ophiduan, Semiferum Caste CR 3

XP 800 CE Medium monstrous humanoid (reptilian) Init +1; Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Scent; Perception +7

DEFENSE

AC 19, touch 12, flat-footed 17 (+3 armor, +1 Dexterity, +1 Dodge, +4 natural) hp 26 (4d10+4) Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +4 Defensive Abilities immune to poison; SR 14

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft. Melee Spiked Chain +5 (2d4), bite +0 (1d4 plus poison) Ranged longbow +4 (1d8/x3) Special Attacks poison Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th) 1/day – charm person (DC 12), darkness, hypnotism (DC 12)

STATISTICS

Strength 10, Dexterity 13, Constitution 12, Intelligence 10, Wisdom 12, Charisma 12 Base Atk +4; CMB +4; CMD 15 (cannot be tripped) Feats Dodge, StealthyB,Weapon Finesse Skills Climb +7, Escape Artist +6, Perception +7, Stealth +9 Languages Ophiduan, Common Gear masterwork studded leather

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Poison (Ex) bite—injury; save Fort DC 13, frequency 1/round for 6 rounds, effect 1d2 Constitution, cure 1 saves The save DC is Constitution-based.

ECOLOGY

Environment warm forest or jungle Organization solitary, pair, clutch (3-4), nest (2-5 hominis, 2-13 semiferum, and 2-4 anguineum), or brood (10-80 hominis, 20-160 semiferum, and 10-40 anguineum) Treasure double standard

Tactics

Semiferum ophiduan are straightforward combatants, and are used as frontline soldiers by their more powerful and intelligent brethren. The semiferum are culturally predisposed to consider themselves worthless and expendable, so they often continue to fight against odds that would send other creatures into retreat.

The semiferum caste represents the earliest attempts by the anguineum to create an ophiduan/ human crossbreed. Unlike their later creations, the hominis,the semiferum are a mongrel combination of traits,far weaker than either their progenitors or their successors. Because they are capable of breeding, however, the semiferum have continued, and today make up a servile underclass of ophiduan society.

Semiferum are often called “snake centaurs” by those who see them but know nothing of their true nature. Their scales cover the same range of colors as those of the hominis, but are usually duller, and often appear slightly sickly. Due to the length of their serpentine tails, semiferum are slightly longer (when stretched out) than tall humans, but do not quite qualify as large creatures. They are roughly 20% taller and heavier than humans.

Section 15: Copyright Notice – The Iconic Bestiary: Classics of Fantasy

The Iconic Bestiary: Classics of Fantasy Copyright 2005, Lions Den Press; Author Ari Marmell