Python

A monstrous serpent that guards the shrine of Delphi

Python is the earth-dragon of Delphi, he is the chthonic enemy of Apollo, who slew her and remade her former home his own oracle, the most famous in Greece.

There are various versions of Python’s birth and death at the hands of Apollo. In the earliest, the Homeric Hymn to Apollo, little detail is given about Apollo‘s combat with the serpent or her parentage. When Zeus lay with the goddess Leto, and she was to deliver Artemis and Apollo, Hera sent Python to pursue her throughout the lands, so that she could not be delivered wherever the sun shone. Thus when the infant was grown he pursued the python, making his way straight for Mount Parnassus where the serpent dwelled, and chased it to the oracle of Gaia at Delphi, and dared to penetrate the sacred precinct and kill her with his arrows beside the rock cleft where the priestess sat on her tripod.

“To placate local opinion at Delphi regular funeral games were instituted in honour of the dead hero Python, and her priestess was retained in office.” Zeus ordered Apollo to purify himself for the sacrilege and instituted the Pythian Games, over which Apollo was to preside, as penance for his act.

Erwin Rohde wrote that the Python was an earth spirit, who was conquered by Apollo, and buried under the Omphalos, and that it is a case of one god setting up his temple on the grave of another.

The priestess of the oracle at Delphi became known as the Pythia, after the place-name Pytho, which was named after the rotting serpent’s corpse after she was slain.

Originally Posted by Kain Darkwind of the Dicefreaks forums.

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Python
Huge magical beast (Cosmic, Earth)
Hit Dice	42d10 + 588 (1,008 hp)
Initiative	+17
Speed	60 ft., Climb 60 ft., swim 60 ft.
Armor Class	19 (+4 Dexterity, +7 natural, -2 size), touch 12, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple	+42/+78
Attack	Bite +60 melee (3d8 + 27 and poison) or poison spit +49 ranged touch (1d6 and contact poison)
Space/Reach	15 ft. /10 ft.
Special Attacks	Constrict 6d8 + 36, improved grab, poison
Special Qualities	Low-Light Vision, Scent, tremorsense 500 ft.
Saves	Fort +41, Ref +32, Will +29
Abilities	Strength 47, Dexterity 29, Constitution 35, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 22, Charisma 16
Skills	Balance +25, Climb +34, Escape Artist +30, Hide +30, Listen +40, Move Silently +32, Spot +40, Survival +36, Swim +31
Feats	Alertness, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Hide), Stealthy, Track
Epic Feats	Epic Ability Focus (constrict), Epic Endurance, Epic Fortitude, Epic Skill Focus (Hide), Epic Toughness, Legendary Wrestler, Superior Initiative
Climate/Terrain	Ancient Greece
Organization	Solitary (unique)
Challenge Rating	26
Treasure	None
Alignment	Neutral

Constrict (Ex): Python deals 6d8 + 36 damage with a successful grapple check. The creature must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 53) or lose consciousness for as long as it remains in the coils and 2d4 rounds thereafter.

Improved Grab: Python must hit with her bite attack to use this ability. If she gets a hold, she can constrict.

Poison (Ex): Injury, Fort DC 43, 1d10 Constitution/1d10 Constitution

Contact – Fort DC 38, dazzled/blindness

Skills: Python has a +12 racial bonus on Hide, Listen and Spot checks and a +16 racial bonus on Balance checks.