Naglovian Basilisk

See, at first I thought the damn beast was just a pile of leaves or some strange shrubbery, what with its green feathers and scales. How by the Imperators golden groin could I’ve known the fucker would uncoil itself to a gargantuan snake!?
How did I survive, you ask? Easy. I’ve got good legs, common sense, and the decency to put ‘em knees on my back and bolt the hell out when I stand face to face with literal Death!
-A winded courier who took a few ill fated steps in the murky swamps that make up Naglovia

The Beast of Naglovia

The Naglovian Basilisk is not named after its appearance or any actual resemblance to it. Rather this creature earned its name from a toxin gland within that shares similarities to the paralysis effect of the common basilisk's eyes.
This creature was first spotted in the swamplands of the Naglovia region, by Dyskhar settlers. The most common place to spot one of these creatures is within the Mire of Seven Hundred Statues, a name which directly derives from the obscene amount of lives lost to these predatory snakes.

Appearance

The body of the snakelike creature is believed to be around twelve to sixteen metres in length with a thickness of one and a half to two metres in diameter, although too few studies have been made for accuracy. This would still make the usual full grown basilisk surpass the size of most draconids, while carrying a weight between one to two tons.
Its head carries a crown of feathers that coat its large jaws like a beard, it's green colours often glimmering as sunrays reflect from the rows of jagged teeth in it's maw. Along it's body this monstrosity harbours plate-like scales, all coloured in shades of green and murky brown. When constricting itself, the creature garners an illusion of being far smaller than it actually is. Often resembling patches of wild shrubbery and bushes. A camouflage which both helps it protect itself from airborne predators and fool prey into its striking range.
The creature also has a robust spine and skull for skeletal structure. An oddity which can be found on autopsy, is somewhere between the centre of its body and the skull. Here a couple of extra bones have fused into the larger frame. Biology students have found that the creature must once have had wings, but evolved into more of a land and aquatic predator.

Hunting skills

The Naglovian Basilisk is a true apex predator of its habitats. A creature with incredible defensive capabilities and not a lot of threats to its name.
If one were ever to face one of these creatures, the wisest choice of action would be to turn around, protect any exposed skin and run like the gates of hells just opened wide. It might also be wise to zigzag among trees and for the love of whichever deity you praise, avoid the waters.
The scales and weight of this gigantic snake makes it oddly slow, all things considered. It can easily be escaped by sprinting on foot. Hence why it most often hunts with camouflage or stealth. Sometimes even wrapping its body around trees to act like vines, before dropping down to crush and constrict prey.
It’s a speedy devil in water though. Swiftly traversing the murky swamp with an ability to launch its upper body out and envelope the target between its sharp and crushing teeth.
Its most lethal ability, by far, has to be the poison glands within its eyes though. The basilisk name comes from this reptilian skill to fire toxic blood out of its own eyes. The toxin then enters the pores of skin or a creature's blood flow. The poison has a petrifying effect on organic tissue, where it’ll harden muscle and flesh to the point one becomes a living statue.
Unlike the common basilisk where survival rates are high and recovery is guaranteed, the Naglovian demon-snake’s poison has a permanent effect with a mortality rate above ninety percent. Even should one survive its poison spray attack - which can travel up to five metres; Skin that comes in contact with it might be forever hardened. Although a lot of its effects can be eased up through massage, flexibility training and on rare occasions patches of petrified tissue can be removed with surgery.

Habitat

While it’s safe to say that the Naglovian Basilisk derived the first part of its name from the swamps of Naglovia, it is also not endemic to the region but others of their ilk can be found in various other wetlands and even jungles. They also come in different, more radiant colours of feathers and scales depending on their location.
Their choice of habitat likely derives from a surplus of food in terms of carnivorous diets in their areas. Mainly because they’re either scarcely inhabited or in this creature's case, quite resistant to mortal machinations with exception to powerful magi and siege weaponry. The latter hardly effective in wet and muddy areas. Hence, they see the mortal races as much food as any other beast.
The shrubbery of said regions also offer protection to their eggs and newborn. As these creatures can spawn up to seven eggs every third year. These shells take a full pair of month’s to hatch. During this period and the three years it takes for their newborn to mature, the basilisks are even more aggressive than usual and can often be found close enough in pairs. Protecting their babies that are no more dangerous than the common harmless watersnake, until they develop their poison. These creatures can then live up to fifty years.

Writing by Tonarus
Art AI generated with Midjourney