Basilisk

A Basilisk is a multi-legged, cold-blooded serpentine creature famous for its venomous bite and petrifying gaze. Known to inhabit caves, ruins and tunnel systems across the world, they are an explorer’s nightmare, and regularly feature in cautionary tales regarding statues and carvings in unusual places around the world.

Description

Basilisks average 11-14ft in length, with half that length being the body and the rest its tail. They have eight stumpy legs that are vaguely crocodilian in appearance, and a snake-like head with a sharp-toothed beak. The top of their heads feature a crown-like crest of horns and skin, and their eyes are frog-like in appearance. Most Basilisks have a scaled hide in brown or grey colouration with glowing green eyes, though some have described the existence of albino Basilisks.

Variations

The Greater Basilisk is a Monstrosity-type creature formed when a Basilisk becomes infused with Elemental energies, usually those of Earth, Fire or Magma. Shadow Basilisks are likewise formed when they are infused with necrotic energies associated with Shadow and Darkness.

Behaviour and Abilities

While Basilisks are not necessarily considered malicious creatures, they are extremely bad-tempered and will quickly turn to fighting if irritated. Unfortunately, due to their territorial nature, this means that the presence of "intruders" will generally infuriate them, and they will fight to protect their domains almost instantly upon finding a trespasser. To do this, a Basilisk usually employs its petrifying gaze to turn its opponents to stone, ultimately using them as food. If its gaze is thwarted, it will employ its poisonous, beaked bite or will use its bulk to slam down on its foes. An angered Basilisk will generally make bellowing, spitting, hissing or roaring sounds like a crocodile. Young Basilisks have often been described as sounding more like a snake. However, a Basilisk will not pursue prey that chooses to flee; this is due to their slow metabolism making them sluggish.
When hunting, Basilisks prefer to lay in wait for their prey, as running around chasing it down will wear them out quickly. They are known to be patient hunters with a cunning streak, able to shrewdly lay traps by finding well-trodden areas and simply hiding in wait. They will then pounce on their prey, using their petrification and beak. 
Outside of protecting their territory, Basilisks are known to bask in the heat of the sun or another nearby heat source, such as a volcanic vent.
Due to their territorialness, they are generally solitary, tolerating the presence of other Basilisks only when it is time to mate.

Ecology

Habitat

Basilisks are adaptable creatures, able to can be found in any arid, temperate and tropical area, including subterranean biomes, but they are most common in rocky environments such as mountain cave systems or ruins. However, they are not overly fond of extremely low temperatures due to their cold-bloodedness, and if introduced into a colder climate, Basilisks will quickly die from hypothermia.

Diet and Feeding

Carnivorous with a very slow metabolism, Basilisks only require 160-180lbs of meat a month (the equivalent of an average deer or Human). They will consume mammals, birds, fish and other reptiles, and have been known to gorge in cases of abundant food. While they are capable of digesting metals, most Basilisks will regurgitate the melted metal components of the more heavily armoured Sapients it consumes, presumably because such large quantities of metal can be difficult for it to pass. Basilisks generally petrify their prey and then consume the stone, the parts returning to flesh in their stomachs, though are also capable of feeding on unpetrified meat.

Reproduction

When it comes time to mate, which for Basilisks is once every five years, they will generally wander around the edges of their territory in search of a partner. Once a potential mate has been found, each Basilisk will demonstrate its own prowess through vocalisations and a weaving of its body, often including lifting the front half of the body off the ground. If both Basilisks consent, then mating begins with both entwining their serpentine bodies around each other, otherwise, the rejecting Basilisk simply walks away.
Basilisks are hermaphroditic, and will mate several times each way to ensure that both creatures impregnate each other. This practice usually takes 2-3 days, after which the Basilisks "drive each other off" and will subsequently retreat to lay their eggs in their lairs. En route, Basilisks will hunt and gorge if possible, before laying their eggs, which are greenish and about the size of a grapefruit, five days later. Usually, three eggs maximum are laid, though there is a one in twelve chance that one of the eggs is infertile. The Basilisk will incubate its eggs for sixty to seventy days, during which time it will not feed, causing it to become highly aggravated and prone to bursts of violence. Basilisks hatchlings are generally nine to twelve inches long and are fully mobile, capable of using their petrifying gaze almost immediately. As soon as they hatch, the parent will drive off the young, leaving them to fend for themselves and forcing them out of its territory. This generally means that young are forced into the territory of another Basilisk, before being killed or driven off once more until they find a place they can settle on their own. Basilisks are fully grown within nine months and can begin reproducing themselves once they are five years old.

Taming, Harvesting and Taxidermy

Basilisks are sluggish and lumbering beasts due to their slow metabolism, but their fierce nature and magical abilities make them frightening guardians. While a Basilisk will not engage in a prolonged chase, they will stand firm in defence their territories and have shown a great ability for calculated attacks. This includes tactically retreating when placed in a near-death situation and even utilising natural hazards to improve its chances of winning. This has led to demand for Basilisk eggs, as the young can be trained to become guardian beasts, though such an endeavour is perilous and often fatal for the trainer/s.
Basilisks are also harvested for alchemical parts, particularly their saliva, gullet, eyes and shed scales. Saliva and gullet acid is used to make potions and oils that can reverse the effects of petrification, while eyes can be made into spell inks or used as ingredients for potions and magic items concerning petrification. Scales could be harvested and used as ingredients in potions pertaining to resistance or stoneskin, or could be treated and woven into a form of scale mail, though such a process was incredibly expensive.