Sea Serpent, Gilded

Family: Sea Serpents

Medium dragon, neutral

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 52 (8d8 + 16)
Speed 0 ft., swim 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	5 (-3)	11 (+0)	7 (-2)

Skills Athletics +5, Perception +2
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned, prone
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Draconic
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

Special Traits

• Amphibious. The gilded serpent can breathe air and water.

Actions

• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d10 + 3) piercing damage and if the target is a creature, it must succeed at a DC 14 Constitution saving throw. On a failed saving throw, the target is poisoned for 1 minute. While poisoned, the target is also stunned. A poisoned creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
• Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage and the target is grappled if it is Medium-sized or smaller (escape DC 13). At the beginning of each of the serpent’s turn, the grappled creature takes 12 (2d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage.

About

This serpent is about 8 feet long and 2 feet thick. Its body scales are small and smooth, with the brilliant luster of gold. It has a long, narrow crocodilian snout and a cluster of antenna-like whiskers sweeping back from just above its jaws.

One of the rarest of sea serpents, the gilded serpent is known for its glittering golden hide and is often hunted for this skin and for the powerful narcotic that can be made from its venom. In the wild, gilded sea serpents live on the most secluded islands and hidden lagoons, where they nest in sandy lairs and shallow, sun-warmed waters. Wealthy coastal lords have been known to acquire gilded sea serpent eggs or infants and raised them captivity. These serpents are usually revered as holy or prized as status symbols; captive gilded serpents that are mistreated quickly lose the will to live and die.

The golden hide of a gilded serpent can be harvested and made into a single set of scale mail that fits a Medium or smaller creature. This armor is considered masterwork and has the same properties as mithril scale armor.

The poison of the gilded serpent can be milked or harvested as well, then made into a powerful narcotic drug called golden bliss.

Gilded sea serpents flee danger when they can, using their ability to swim swiftly to evade danger as quickly as possible. If cornered or surprised, however, they lash out with their bite and use their constriction attack if their prey is small enough. The venom of a gilded sea serpent numbs the flesh to pain and induces a state of catatonic stupor.