Serpentfolk

This serpentine humanoid has bright scaly skin, a long sinuous tail, and a fanged serpent's head.

Serpentfolk CR 4

XP 1,200

NE Medium monstrous humanoid

Init +9; Senses darkvision 60 ft., scent; Perception +10

Defense

AC 18, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+5 Dex, +3 natural)

hp 42 (5d10+15)

Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +6

Immune mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison; SR 15

Offense

Speed 30 ft.

Melee mwk dagger +11 (1d4–1/19–20), bite +5 (1d6–1 plus poison)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th; concentration +7)

At will—disguise self (DC 14), ventriloquism

1/day—blur, mirror image, suggestion (DC 16)

Statistics

Str 8, Dex 21, Con 17, Int 18, Wis 15, Cha 16

Base Atk +5; CMB +4; CMD 19

Feats Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse

Skills Acrobatics +10, Disguise +8, Escape Artist +18, Knowledge (arcana) +9, Perception +10, Sense Motive +7, Spellcraft +9, Use Magic Device +12; Racial Modifiers +4 Use Magic Device, +8 Escape Artist

Languages Aklo, Common, Draconic, Undercommon; telepathy 100 ft.

Ecology

Environment any land (usually jungles or underground)

Organization solitary, pair, or cult (3–12)

Treasure NPC gear (masterwork dagger, other treasure)

Special Abilities

Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 15; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Str; cure 2 saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

To the serpentfolk, the pursuit of knowledge and magic is the highest goal. Their legends speak of how humanity rose to power only through the theft of serpent magic, a legend that may form the basis of the hatred toward humanity most serpentfolk harbor. They view themselves as the undisputed masters of magic, be it arcane or divine. Yet despite this, the majority of serpentfolk today are degenerates who have devolved to the point of primeval savagery and have lost much of their magical legacy—more civilized serpentfolk generally regard these degenerates with shame and disdain.

Serpentfolk are 6 feet tall and weigh 120 pounds. Degenerates are only 5 feet tall but weigh 200 pounds. All serpentfolk are quite long-lived, and generally live to the age of 500.

Advanced Serpentfolk

When a serpentfolk gains class levels, several of its abilities increase as well, as detailed below.

• Spell Resistance equals total Hit Dice + 10.
• Poison bite save DC equals 10 + Con modifier + 1/2 total Hit Dice.
• When it is 4th level in any class combination, it gains two spell-like abilities usable once per day each: dominate person and major image. When it reaches 9th level in any combination, it gains two more usable once per day each: mass suggestion and teleport.
• A serpentfolk's racial ability score modifiers are as follows: Str –2, Dex +10, Con +6, Int +8, Wis +4, Cha +6.

Degenerate Serpentfolk

Degenerate serpentfolk possess the same statistics as normal serpentfolk, save for the following adjustments.

• They have no spell-like abilities.
• They lose the +4 racial bonus on Use Magic Device checks, but gain a +4 racial bonus on Perception checks.
• Their natural armor bonus increases from +3 to +7.
• They have the following ability score modifiers: Str +10, Dex +2, Con +8, Int –6 (minimum 3), Wis +2, Cha –4. A typical degenerate serpentfolk's ability scores are Str 20, Dex 13, Con 19, Int 4, Wis 13, Cha 6.