Category:Necrophidius

This section contains canon info from officially published sources

Despite its appearance, a necrophidius is not undead.^[1][2] Rather, it a strange construct (specifically, a type of golem^[1], though they seemed to lack the golem's immunity to magic) comprised of a serpentine skeleton topped with a humanoid, though nonetheless fanged, skull for a head.^[1][2] Also known as death worms^[1], necrophidius golems have a few special abilities to render their foes incapacitated. A necrophidius can enter a mesmerizing, writhing motion^[1][2] that leaves an opponent dazed^[2] and unable to act^[1][2], similarly to a hypnotism spell^[1]; this ability is referred to as the Dance of Death (not to be confused with the Dance of the Dead).^[1][2] In addition, the bite of a necrophidus causes paralysis and unconsciousness for a brief time.^[1][2] This incapacitation comes from a magical^[1], supernatural effect^[2], not a poison.^[1]

Although mindless, a necrophidius is highly skilled in stealth and ambush, traditionally preferred tactics.^[1][2]

Descriptive Text

This section contains Homebrew non-canon info, created by fans

"Captain Weathermay was to the end, and even beyond, a collector of curios. A crate arrived for him the very morning of our departure. I had little right and less reason to examine it, so had it stowed in the hull and hoped that its sizable trinket might bring his wife and children some solace. Too late I learned that it had excited the avarice of several crewmen. Three nights out of Sri Raji they pried it open and set loose the contents. These I encountered when a loud thump brought me out on deck. There the men had sprouted roots, their eyes held by the swaying, indeed the dancing, of a giant serpent. Only it was indecently clothed in neither skin nor even flesh. The thing was bare bones, a complete skeleton of a great constrictor, save for the substitution of a human skull. Blade wielding men, skeletons of men that is, accompanied it and were making mincemeat of my deckhands. I rang the general alarm and, at length, we prevailed, albeit by the narrowest of margins. At dawn we roused ourselves to wipe down the deck. The thing's fanged skull was discovered and I examined it. Judging by the broken and poorly healed jaw bone, the man to whom it had belonged had been a brawler or at least had suffered some terrible accident. Then I thought, like Captain Weathermay had long ago, whose body we had just left behind, buried in the soil of that fell land . . . ."

-Extract from the testimony of Lieutenant Hawthorne Wescote of The Retriever

Descriptive text contributed by cure to John W. Mangrum's Teeny Tiny Tales of Terror project (posted on the Fraternity of Shadows message board).

John W. Mangrum's Necrophidius Lore^[3]

This section contains Potential-canon info, revealed by the creators from never-published sources

Fiend Folio

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (arcana) can learn more about necrophidia. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.

DC Result 12 This skeletal serpent with the humanoid skull is not undead; rather, it is a construct called a necrophidius. This result reveals all construct traits.

17 A necrophidius can paralyze creatures for several minutes with its bite. Necrophidia are created by spellcaster, which they then serve. These creatures are often found in the service of necromancers or undead spellcasters, such as liches.

22 Although it is mindless, a necrophidius is an instinctually stealthy combatant and prefers to attack when its foes drop their defenses. Despite its sinister demeanor, creating a necrophidius does not call upon any particularly malign magical forces.

27 A necrophidius can mesmerize creatures that watch its hypnotic, swaying dance. Those who succumb to the sight are dazed, giving the necrophidius the drop on them.

References

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