Feathered Serpent, Mature
by Jamie BatyHWA2 61
Medium Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 2d10 (11 hp)
Initiative: +3 (+3 Dex)
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), fly 90 ft. (good)
Armout Class: 14 (+3 Dex, +1 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 11
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+2
Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d6)
Full Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d6)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60ft., flight, low-light vision, serpent-mint consumption
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +2
Abilities: Str 11, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 16
Skills: Hide +5, Listen +9, Move Silently +5, Spot +9
Feats: Weapon Finesse
Environment: Any land (Rarely), Floating Continent of Ashmorain
Organisation: Solitary, Company (2-5), or Nest (5-20)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always lawful good
Advancement: by character class
Level Adjustment: -
Mature feathered serpents are identical to their juvenile brethren, with two exceptions: they are as intelligent as humans and are always lawful good. At some point in their early lives, a juvenile feathered serpent will migrate to a hidden nesting area on the Floating Continent of Ashmorain. There the serpent will withdraw into a cocoon for a period of time, during which it will awaken its innate sentience and gains inborn knowledge.
Upon emerging from the cocoon, the mature feathered serpent will usually remain on the continent to watch over the cocoons, newly hatched mature feathered serpents and the Queen. There is a distinct civilisation on Ashmorain, although most humans would not recognise it as such. From time to time, more powerful mature feathered serpents will leave the continent, and even the Hollow World, often at the behest of the Queen.
All mature feathered serpents speak Neathar, Azcan, and Nithian, and usually one to two more regional languages.
Combat
Mature feathered serpent will attack with its bite. They will instinctively fight to protect the cocoons and the Queen.
Flight (Ex): A mature feathered serpent can cease or resume flight as a free action.
Serpent-mint Consumption (Su): A mature feathered serpent gains 1-10 temporary hitpoints, +1 natural AC, and +1 to all attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws and skill checks after consuming a sprig of serpent-mint. These bonuses last for 1d4 hours.
Skills: Feathered serpents have a +4 racial bonus to all Spot and Listen checks.