This installment of the My First Monster Manual blog series is the delightful young Basilisk named Fennel.
Environment: Dry regions with sparse vegetation. Lairs are underground or in caves. Will travel for food thus can be found in any warm area.
Monster Type: Neutral
Color: Young are emerald green. Mature are rusty brown. Ancient are dull black. Rare albino basilisks are yellow with red eyes.
Features: Length: 6-18 standard brick lengths (1SBL: 8 inches). Weighs from 150 to 450 pounds. Has a tough bumpy hide. Has a spine ridge that can be rigid or flexible.
Abilities: Petrifying Gaze. Grounding magic.
Recommended Equipment: Shaded Eye-ware.
Introduction:
An extremely dangerous monster with a magic gaze. Any creature that looks it in the eyes turns into stone, a process known as petrification. The basilisk is one of the harder monsters to study. They are found in caves near dry and aired regions and are protective of their territory and nests.
Investigation:
While studying at the Goblins’ Golden Library, Professor Humphrey Appleton shared a rumor that a nearby Thieves Guild once held a competition to steal a Basilisk egg, not an easy task. The intent was to raise one as a guardian for their stolen treasures. 13 thieves volunteered, 7 were petrified, 3 were bitten, and 2 were slashed by a tail swipe. Appleton tells us; one thief, a small pale goblin, who goes by the name Hazel Slyfingers, succeeded. Equipped with our protective eyewear we set off to the Thieves Guild post haste.
Observations:
After the great care it took to find the Thieves Guild, Appleton’s rumor proved true! Fennel, as the thieves called her, was a young healthy Basilisk. She had shiny emerald green skin, six legs, and a ridge of long spines down her back and tail. Wearing our protective eye wear, we approached very close. She measured 6 Standard Brick Lengths(SBL) from head to tail. Even through our protective eyewear her eyes shone an iridescent green. Staring at her eyes too long would make us feel sick. For being a truly fearsome monster, Fennel had a playful mirth to her. She enjoyed rolling in the mud and kept nudging us before bounding away enticing us to a game of chase.
Conclusion:
A lifetime could be spent studying Fennel. Observing her molt the shiny emerald green skin to the rusty brown of a mature Basilisk; and if she lives long enough in captivity, the dull black of a large and Ancient Basilisk. Alas we must continue our journey. Perhaps we will come back in some time and check in on Fennel.
Post Script:
The most curious thing has happened. As we made our first camp after leaving the Thieves Guild, we discovered both pairs of our protective eye wear had gone missing! We will need more should we return to see Fennel again. Plus we must be more protective of our equipment especially around thieves.
About:
The Basilisk is part of our “My First Monster Manual” blog series where we will feature each of the monsters we are considering for inclusion in our new children’s book. Click here to learn more info on My First Monster Manual.
Artist: Spencer Johnson – spencemonger.com
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