Buy me a coffeeHoop Snake
“Dare to Discover: The Hoop Snake, the Mythical Serpent that Rolls to Hunt!”
Appearance: The Hoop Snake is a large, formidable serpent, often reaching lengths comparable to that of a fully grown Anaconda. Its scales are a mix of earthy tones, providing excellent camouflage in its various habitats. The snake’s most distinctive feature is its tail, which ends in a venomous stinger. This stinger is said to be sharp enough to pierce through the toughest of hides, delivering a potent venom to its unfortunate victim. In some instances, the snake is described as having a set of elongated spines evenly spaced along the inner lining of its circular-shaped body. These spines, while adding to the snake’s fearsome appearance, are also thought to aid in its unique method of locomotion.
Behavior: The Hoop Snake exhibits a behavior that sets it apart from any known snake species. It has the ability to grasp its tail in its jaws, forming itself into a wheel or hoop. Once in this form, it can roll after its prey with surprising speed. This rolling motion is not only a means of locomotion but also a unique hunting strategy that sets it apart. This behavior, combined with its formidable size and venomous stinger, makes the Hoop Snake a predator to be reckoned with.
Habitat: The Hoop Snake is adaptable and can be found in a variety of environments. From the dense forests and wide plains of North America to the harsh and unforgiving landscapes of the Australian Outback, the Hoop Snake is a creature that embodies the dangers and mysteries of the wild. Its earthy-toned scales provide excellent camouflage, allowing it to blend seamlessly into its surroundings.
Modus Operandi: Its method of hunting is as unique as its form. It hunts by rolling towards its prey at high speeds, using the momentum to close the distance quickly. Once it gets close enough, it releases its tail and straightens out, skewering its victim with its venomous tail. The venom is said to be so potent that it can kill a tree, which is often the only refuge for the prey trying to escape this rolling terror.
Motivation: The Hoop Snake, like any creature, is driven by the need to survive. It hunts and defends itself as necessary. Despite its fearsome reputation, it is also a part of the delicate balance of nature. Its unique behavior and hunting strategy, while terrifying to its prey, serve a purpose in the larger ecosystem. The Hoop Snake is also sometimes used as a symbol of the cycle of life and death, due to its resemblance to the ouroboros. This symbolism adds a layer of depth to the tales of the Hoop Snake, making it not just a creature of terror, but also a symbol of the eternal cycle of life and death.
Hoop Snake 5e
Hoop Snake Pathfinder
Hoop Snake
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class: 15 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 68 (8d10 + 24)
Speed: 30 ft., roll 60 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 (+3) | 14 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 2 (-4) | 12 (+1) | 4 (-3) |
Senses: Blindsight 10 Ft., passive Perception 11
Languages: —
Challenge: 4 (1,100 XP)
Rolling Charge: If the Hoop Snake moves at least 20 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a stinger attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 9 (2d8) piercing damage.
Actions
- Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.
- Stinger: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
- Roll: The Hoop Snake curls into a hoop and rolls in a straight line up to its roll speed. It can move through the space of any creature smaller than Large. If it would collide with a creature of Large size or bigger, it can make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw to stop before the collision.
Reactions
- Unroll: When the Hoop Snake is targeted by an attack, it can unroll itself and make a stinger attack against the attacker.
The Hoop Snake is whip thin and longer than a man is tall. Its tail bears a strange callused pad.
Taken from the Creature Codex
Although they are commonly mistaken for ordinary venomous snakes, hoop snakes are especially feared in regions where they live. If spotted in time, an ordinary snake is easy to outrun and usually strikes only to defend itself. Not only are hoop snakes fast, they sometimes intentionally hunt humanoids. Although a hoop snake is too small to eat a human, they feed primarily on rats, carrion birds and other creatures attracted to decaying flesh. If no corpses are available in its habitat, it will gladly make its own to serve as bait.
By grabbing its tail in its mouth and rolling like a wagon wheel, they can sprint as fast a horse can run. Most hoop snakes only use this ability when hunting prey or fleeing a predator, however—the hoop form is decidedly noticeable and draws the attention of people and predators alike. In battle, a hoop snake latches onto its victim with poisonous fangs and wraps around the creature, injecting venom and squeezing it to death simultaneously.
They grow to ten feet long. Different hoop snakes have different colorations, but they tend to the bright and garish rather than dull and camouflaged. Blue with brown lateral stripes is the most common coloration, followed by red, yellow and black banded. Like most snakes, hoop snakes are solitary for most of their lives, but will cluster in huge numbers to hibernate during the winter.
Hoop snakes are more intelligent than the average snake, possessing canniness closer to that of dogs or cats than most reptiles. As such, some folk seek to domesticate them and use them as guard animals—a tricky proposition. Hoop snakes are fond of the taste of milk, occasionally latching onto the udders of livestock and drinking them dry, so fresh milk and lots of it is often the key to training a hoop snake.
Hoop Snake CR 3
XP 800
N Medium animal
Init +3; Senses low-light vision, Perception +7, scent
Defense
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 12(+2 natural, +3 Dex, +1 dodge)
hp 27
Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +3Offense
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.; 50 ft. while in hoop form
Melee bite +5 (1d4+3 plus poison plus grab)
Special Abilities constrict (1d6+3)
Statistics
Str 15, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 2, Wis15, Cha 8
Base Atk +3; CMB +5 (+9 grab); CMD 19
Feats Dodge, Mobility
Skills Climb +14, Perception +7, Stealth +4, Swim +14
SQ hoop form
Ecology
Environment temperate plains and hills
Organization solitary or knot (2-40)
Treasure incidental
Special Abilities
Hoop Form (Ex) As a move action, a hoop snake can curl itself into a ring by grabbing its tail in its mouth. When it is in hoop form, its move speed becomes 50 ft., but it cannot use its climb or swim speeds. A hoop snake making a charge in hoop form gains a +4 bonus to its attack roll. A hoop snake in hoop form suffers a -8 penalty to Stealth checks. As soon as a hoop snake makes an attack, it drops out of hoop form as a free action. A hoop snake can leave hoop form at any time as a free action.
Poison (Ex) bite—injury; save Fort DC 13, frequency 1/round for 4 rounds, effect 1d4 Con, cure 2 saves. The save DC is Constitution based.
Hoop Snake Animal Companions
Starting Statistics: Size Small; Speed 20 feet, climb 20 ft., swim 30 ft.; AC +1 natural armor; Attack bite (1d3),; Ability Scores Str 11, Dex 18, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 8; Special Qualities low-light vision, hoop form (40 ft.), poison (1d3 Con), scent
4th-Level Advancement: Size Medium; AC +1 natural armor;Ability Scores Str +4, Con +2; Special Qualities constrict (1d6), grab, hoop form (60 ft.), poison (1d4 Con)