Serpens • Odyssey of the Dragonlords

Habitat: Underwater; Treasure: Any

The serpens is a monstrous terror of the oceans. It is an ancient predator whose sinuous, 150-foot form weaves through the waves with frightening speed. Even the mightiest cetaceans steer clear, and legends speak of merfolk settlements abandoned overnight when a serpens claimed the waters nearby.

Curse of the Titans#

The first serpens, it is said, were born from the severed arms of Kentimane, the Hundred-Handed, torn from his body in the wars that shaped the world. With lamp-glow eyes and a maw lined with backward-curving fangs, the serpens sees through murk and shadow. Its mouth secretes a digestive slime said to strip flesh from bone in seconds, and its strike can crack hulls and crush krakens alike.

The Suction of Charybdis#

Named for the devouring monster of the deep, the serpens’ infamous suction strike mimics the ancient myth: a great void opens, pulling life into death. This void is followed by the emergence of its inner jaws; a second mouth hidden in the throat, which lunges forward like a snake striking from a cave. These jaws grip and drag victims down into oblivion, shredding them into bloody paste before acid completes the feast.

Serpens

Gargantuan Dragon, Neutral Evil AC 19 Initiative HP 385 (22d20 + 154) Speed 20 ft., Swim 40 ft. MOD SAVE MOD Str 26 +8 +8 Dex 18 +4 Int 10 +0 +0 Wis 12 +1 Resistances Fire Senses Darkvision 120 ft.; Passive Perception 11 Languages Aquan, Draconic Challenge 19 (22,000 XP; PB +6) Traits Amphibious. The serpens can breathe air and water. Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the serpens fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. Ribbon Swim. When the serpens moves for the first time on its turn, any creature within 10 feet of it takes 10 (3d6) Bludgeoning damage. Actions Multiattack. The serpens makes two attacks, one with its Bite and one with its Tail. Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +14, reach 5 ft. Piercing damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it has the Grappled condition (escape DC 22), and it has the Restrained condition until the grapple ends. Tail. Melee Attack Roll: +14, reach 5 ft. Bludgeoning damage. Bonus Actions Throat Jaw. Strength Saving Throw: smaller creature Grappled by the serpens.

+16 (26) creature takes 30 (4d10 + 8) Piercing damage, is grabbed by the Throat Jaw and remains Grappled and Restrained. The creature has the Blinded condition, it has Total Cover against attacks and other effects outside the serpens, and it takes SAVE MOD SAVE 17 (5d6) Acid damage and 17 (5d6) Piercing damage at the +10 Con 24 +7 +13 start of each of the serpens’s turns. If the creature grappled +7 Cha 12 +1 +1 by the Throat Jaw breaks the Grapple, it can exit the serpens using 20 feet of movement. If the serpens dies, the creature no longer has the Restrained condition and can escape from the corpse using 20 feet of movement, exiting Prone. The serpens can only use Throat Jaw again after the current target is reduced to 0 Hit Points or the target breaks the Grapple. Reactions Snatch. Trigger: A creature moves within 5 feet of the Response: serpens. The serpens uses its Bite attack against that creature. Legendary Actions Legendary Action Uses: 3. lmmediately after another creature’s turn, the serpens can expend a use to take one of the following actions. The serpens regains all expended uses at the start of each of its turns. Ribbon Strike. The serpens moves up to its Speed and makes Hit: 30 (4d10 + 8) a Bite attack. The serpens can’t take this action again until the start of its next turn. Suction Feed. Strength Saving Throw: DC 22, each creature in a 30-foot Cone. Failure: The target is pulled up to 25 feet Hit: 26 (4d8 + 8) straight toward the serpens. Tail Strike. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 22, one creature within 30 feet of the serpens. Failure: 21 (6d6) Bludgeoning damage and the creature is moved 80 feet away from the serpens in a DC 22, one Large or Failure: The direction of the serpens’s choosing.

Full-page art, p.410 — Full-page art — p.410