Basilisk, Gloom

Family: Basilisk

Medium monstrosity, unaligned

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 52 (8d8 + 16)
Speed 20 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	8 (-1)	15 (+2)	2 (-4)	8 (-1)	7 (?2)

Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 9
Languages None
Challenge 3 (700 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Shadow Gaze. If a creature starts its turn within 30 feet of the basilisk and the two of them can see each other, the basilisk can force the creature to make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw if the basilisk isn’t incapacitated. On a failed save, the creature magically begins to turn into a shadow and is restrained. It must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn. On a success, the effect ends. On a failure, the creature is turned into a shadow until freed by the remove curse spell or other magic. A creature that isn’t surprised can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If it does so, it can’t see the basilisk until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If it looks at the basilisk in the meantime, it must immediately make the save. If the basilisk sees its reflection within 30 feet of it in bright light, it mistakes itself for a rival and targets itself with its gaze.

ACTIONS

• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.

ABOUT

In the Void, creatures dwell and have been altered, either through exposure to void energies or the experiments of mad wizards.

One of the more fearsome versions of this is the gloom basilisk. Much bigger than its traditional counterpart, with waves of shadow coming off it like heat shimmers, the gloom basilisk has sent many a party of adventurers running for the hills and questioning their career choices.

All in the Gaze. Most adventurers will be aware of the fact that, like most gorgons, the basilisk can petrify with its stare.

However, the gloom basilisk is different, as it inflicts a sort of ghostism on its victims, turning them into silent shadows which are often mistaken for ghosts. A powerful magical practitioner with the remove curse spell or similar magic can remove this effect, but often they don’t realize the apparition they see is a living person.