d20 Bards and Sages Publishing Snakes.pdf

SNAKES!

Written by Keith Nielsen

Edited by Julie Hedge

Snakes are one of the most diverse groups of creatures on the planet, yet generally they are treated as only two types: vipers and

constrictors. This oversimplification of snakes makes for rather boring, and often unchallenging, encounters with these amazing

animals. This product hopes to spice up your campaign by introducing snakes in a more specific manner. Instead of simply

classifying them based on size, this product takes real world snakes and attempts to present them in a way that will provide a new,

exciting challenge for your players.

This product references real world snakes and contains no magical items, spells, or supernatural affects. Because of this, this

product can be used in both fantasy and modern games.

CONTENTS

Part One: Snake Encounters

pg 3

General Information

Snakes and Powerful Characters

Medical Treatment of Snake-Related Injuries

Venomous versus Poisonous

Snakes in the Medicine Cabinet

Snake Products

Part Two: Snakes

pg 5

Constrictors

Anaconda

Boa Constrictor

Python

Venomous Snakes

Black Mamba

Death Adder

Golden Tree Snake

King Cobra

Northern Adder

Rattlesnake

Sea Snake

Spitting Cobra

Water Moccasin

Part Three: Misc

pg 13

References

Open Game License

Part One: Snake Encounters

General Information

Snakes generally want little to do with humanoids. Most do

not identify humanoids as food, and therefore prefer to avoid

contact with humanoids when possible. Even when the largest

snakes are involved, generally they only become aggressive

when food is scarce or if they feel threatened. Most encounters

with snakes are accidental or circumstantial.

While the true nature of snakes is not nearly as dramatic as

the theatrical “killer snakes” portrayed in other media, it also

makes snake encounters unpredictable. Snakes are more likely

to come into play at inopportune times when the players are not

exactly ready to deal with them. Some examples are:

*One or more snakes crawls into the camp and curls up next to

the heroes or slithers into their bedrolls to get warm.

*While combating larger, more dangerous opponents, the

snake’s nest is disturbed at it strikes out.

*Snakes have made a nest among a treasure trove or some other

place players are trying to squeeze into.

*A snake is accidentally stepped on or otherwise disturbed by

the party’s casual actions.

Snakes and Powerful Characters

While a venomous snake can easily kill a low-level character,

snakes generally do not come in to play when players achieve

higher levels. All those snakes in the wild did not suddenly

metamorphose into higher challenge rating creatures,

however. They are still there, and they can still be a problem for

high-level characters. Remember, players should not automati-

cally get a spot check to notice a snake. The player on watch is

generally watching for perceived threats. Since the snake is not

a threat until it feels threatened, there would be no reason to

assume the player would automatically have a chance to notice

it and more than he might notice a mosquito that happens to

carry malaria.

While snakes may not be a direct threat to a powerful party,

they can cause peripheral problems. For example, large con-

strictors have been known to attack and kill large

creatures. Horses tied to a tree while the party sleeps may be too

tempting of a meal for an anaconda. A snake can quickly take

down small animal familiars. An animal companion that goes

off to hunt may never return, having fallen victim to

snakebite. And a small viper that has taken up residence in

someone’s backpack might decide to reveal itself at a bad time,

like when the owner sticks his hand inside.

Green Tree Python, Photo courtesy LA Dawson

Venomous snakes, however, are more complicated. Their

venom can have a variety of affects. These affects do not

naturally heal if left untreated. In fact, a venomous snakebite

left untreated can become life threatening quickly. A healing

spell can heal the hit point damage caused by the bite, but not

any damage caused by the venom itself. Certain venoms have

specific effects that can be countered by spells other than

Neutralize Poison. For example, the paralysis caused by some

venoms can be countered by a Remove Paralysis spell.

If magical healing is not available, a player can attempt a

mundane heal check to save the victim. Each venomous snake

presented in this product includes the DC needed to correctly

treat snakebite. If the person making the check has a master-

work healing kit, it is assumed that the kit includes antivenin,

and therefore only the straight healing or treat injury check

need be made.

If the player does not have a masterwork healing kit, then

treatment becomes complicated. The player suffers a –10 pen-

alty to the check if she does not have a healing kit.

Venomous versus poisonous

Snake venom is generally treated as a poison, however

venomous and poisonous are two different things. Both venom

and poisons are toxins, toxic materials, created by living things,

which harm the body of the victim. However they act in differ-

ent ways. Venom is an injected substance produced by animals

for defense or hunting. A poison is a substance that causes

damage upon absorption or ingestion. Creatures that get bo-

nuses to saves versus poison, or who are immune to poison, are

Medical Treatment of Snake-related injuries

Constrictor snakes are pretty direct in their damage. They bite

and constrict, causing mundane piercing or crushing

damage. This results generally in straight hit point loss, which

is treated normally. A normal healing spell will heal the dam-

age, as will normal rest.

not necessarily resistant or immune to venom. This is because

while a creature may have a natural condition that prohibits the

absorption or digestion of a poison, venoms are injected di-

rectly into the bloodstream and therefore those natural resis-

tances should not apply. Therefore, a bonus to saves versus

poison should not automatically apply to venoms.

It’s also important to note that the treatments for venoms

versus poisons are generally different. Most treatments for

poisoning attempt to purge the poison from the body. Examples

include the inducing of vomiting, consumption of large quanti-

ties of liquids, or the consumption of activated charcoal to

absorb and then flush the poison through the digestive

tract. Venom, on the other hand, is generally treated by antiven-

ins, which include antibodies that actually break down and

destroy the venom in the body. Poison resistance, therefore,

deals with the body’s ability to flush poison from the

system. Venom resistance involves an immune system

response. Persons who get a bonus to saving throws versus

disease, or who are immune to mundane diseases, should there-

fore receive similar bonuses versus venom.

Some venoms are referred to as hematoxic, which means that

they primarily affect the blood. A hematoxic venom destroys

tissue and is very painful. Hematoxins attack red blood cells

and tissue and prevent the blood from clotting. Neurotoxic

venoms attack the nervous system and brain. These may cause

almost no pain, but shut can down the respiratory systems and

interfere with heart functions.

These are sold in single dose vials and must be injected. Cost

50 gp/vial.

Antivenin: For simplification of gameplay, it is assumed that

all antivenin will treat any snakebite. A player with Craft

(Alchemy) can create antivenin in the field. To do so, the player

must be able to milk a venomous snake. Milking a live snake

requires a Knowledge (Nature) check DC 15. Venom can be

extracted from a dead snake, but produces very little useable

venom. The alchemist would need five dead snakes to procure

enough venom to make one dose antivenin. A live snake can be

milked to produce enough venom to create three doses of

antivenin.

Once the venom is procured, the alchemist them must make

a Craft check (DC 25). It takes 10 minutes to prepare the

antivenin for use. Once prepared, it can be stored indefinitely.

Antivenin is sold in single dose vials and must be

injected. Cost 30 gp/vial.

Snake Blood: Snake blood is often used as a base liquid for

remedies involving increasing stamina. Snake Blood remedies

can be used to help ward off the affects of fatigue. One potion

grants a +1 bonus to saving throws to avoid becoming ex-

hausted or fatigued. It also increased the percentage chance of

a dying character to stabilize by 2%. Craft (Alchemy) check

DC 25. Snake Blood remedies are generally sold in potion

bottles and include alcohol as an ingredient. In order to deter-

mine how many doses can be crafted from a snake, divide the

snake’s length by 4. Cost 10 gp/potion.

Snakes in the Medicine Cabinet

Snakes are often hunted as food, for their hides, and for their

venom. They are also collected and traded as pets or used for

pest control. In many cultures, snakes are believed to have a

variety of therapeutic powers. There is no reason to believe the

same would not be true in fantasy realms. In low magic or

no-magic settings, snakes would be valuable

commodities. Healers and physicians would rely on a variety of

snake products to treat patients. And even in high-magic

worlds, the common peasant would rarely have access to magi-

cal healing.

Snake Oil: Created from the fatty tissue of snakes, this oil

actually does offer some relief from inflammations and muscle

pain, as well as fight infection. Adding snake oil to a healing

kit grants a +1 bonus to any heal or treat injury

check. Craft (Alchemy) check (DC 25). Snake oil is sold in

bottles that hold 5 doses. In order to determine how many doses

can be crafted from a snake, divide the snake’s length by

3. Cost 20 gp/bottle.

Snake Products

Anesthetic: Neurotoxin snake venom can be used as a localized

anesthetic. This requires milking a live snake for the

venom. Milking a live snake requires a Knowledge (Nature)

check DC 15. Venom can be extracted from a dead snake, but

produces very little useable venom. The alchemist would need

five dead snakes to procure enough venom to make one

dose. Once the venom is procured, the alchemist them must

make a Craft check (DC 25). Once prepared, it can be stored for

fourteen days.

Anesthetics are generally only used during surgery, and as

such provide no special benefit in a healing kit. A doctor

performing surgery without use of anesthetics may suffer a

circumstance penalty of –4 to the heal or treat injury check as

the patient squirms from the pain.

Some governments attempt to limit the sale of anesthetics,

and most reputable vendors will not sell more than one dose at

a time to a customer due to the danger of overdosing, since

using more than the recommended dose runs the risk of harm-

ing a patient’s nervous system.

Snake Bile: Extracted from the snake’s gallbladder, snake bile

can be added to alcoholic beverages to give them a stronger

taste. Popular at taverns near docks or where mercenaries and

similar types congregate, the drinks will often be given exotic

sounding names even if it is just normal whiskey with snake

bile mixed in. Snake bile can be toxic if not prepared properly

before use (Craft: Alchemy DC 10 to both extract and

prepare). Untreated snake bile, if consumed, sickens the victim

for 2d4 hours (Fortitude Save DC 12). Even if it is prepared

properly, persons with Constitution scores of less than 12 must

make a Fortitude Save DC 12 or become sickened for 1d4

hours after consuming such a beverage. Drinks with snake bile

normally cost twice as much as the normal version. Snake bile

is also sold in single dose vials at 1 sp/vial.

Snake Meat : Smoked snake meat holds up well, making it

extremely useful for travelers. It is highly nutritious and, when

prepared properly, rather tasty. Snake would be a popular menu

item at taverns that serve wild game, and a practical alternative

to trail rations, and would have the same market value.

Snakeskin: Surprisingly smooth, lightweight, and waterproof,

snakeskin is highly prized by both adventurers for its resilience

and the fashion-conscious for its beauty. A skilled leather-

worker can harvest one square foot of useable hide for every

five foot of the snake (Craft: Leatherworking DC

18). Snakeskin sells for 1 sp per square foot. Snakeskin is

generally not thick enough to be used in armor construction,

however it is popular in boots, belts, gloves, backpacks, and

purses. Items crafted from snakeskin are considered master-

work items.

Part Two: Snakes

Tellow Anaconda, Photo courtesy LA Dawson

Constrictors

Constrictor snakes are far less likely to attack humanoids than

venomous snakes. They are generally lethargic, and prefer to

sun themselves or hunt for prey over interacting with

humans. Unless aggressively threatened, constrictors tend to

ignore most humanoids medium size or larger and do not

identify them as food. Small or tiny humanoids, however, may

be considered food.

Despite their massive size, constrictors are stealthy creatures

that use their natural camouflage and surroundings to their

advantage.

There are dozens of varieties of constrictors, however we have

simplified them to the three general types. These snakes come

in a variety of colors, from pale yellow to deep red to black,

depending on their environment.

Anaconda, Constrictor Snake, Giant

Huge Animal

Hit Dice: 11d8+25 (74 hp)

Initiative: +2

Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), climb 15 ft., swim 30 ft.

Armor Class: 16 (–2 size, +2 Dex, +6 natural), touch 10,

flat-footed 10

Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+24

Attack: Bite +15 melee (1d8+11)

Full Attack: Bite +15 melee (1d8+11)

Space/Reach: 20 ft./10 ft.

Special Attacks: Constrict 1d8+11, improved grab

Special Qualities: Scent

Saves: Fort +9, Ref +9, Will +4

Abilities: Str 26, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2

Skills: Balance +11, Climb +12, Hide +10, Listen +8, Move

Silently +10, Spot +8, Swim +16

Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Skill Focus (Hide), Toughness

Environment: Warm forests

Organization: Solitary

Challenge Rating: 6

Advancement: 12–16 HD (Huge); 17–33 HD (Gargantuan)

Level Adjustment: —

Anaconda

Description:

The largest known snake, this nocturnal hunter uses stealth to

sneak up on prey. Rumored to grow as large as 50 ft long, this

creature in the water is so stealthy that potential prey won’t even

see the ripples in the water until it strikes.

Combat:

For all their size and strength, anacondas are not

aggressive. They won’t generally attack unless they are sure

they will have the time to subdue and consume their prey. They

will, however, stalk potential prey and wait for an

opportunity. Anacondas generally hunt from the water, and are

just as likely to drown their prey as they are to crush

them. Therefore a grappled opponent runs the risk of drowning.

Boa Constrictor

Description:

These snakes grow to up to 12 ft long, and are among the most

docile of the constrictors. Unless threatened or hungry, many

boas can be safely handled and can become pretty tame. Boas

prefer rodents and small animals as prey, and generally do not

concern themselves with humanoids.

Constrict (Ex): On a successful grapple check, a constrictor

snake deals 1d8+11 points of damage.

Combat:

Boas are relatively quick, and if threatened prefer to flee. If

cornered or hungry, they will attempt to grapple the opponent

and if possible swallow the opponent whole. If the opponent is

not an edible size, it will crush the opponent until it stops

moving, and then attempt to flee.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a constrictor snake

must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple

as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it

wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict.

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