Cobra-back Inphidian

This hideously formed humanoid covered with bluish green scales stands roughly taller than a man. A large flap of skin forms a cobra-like hood that runs from the back of the head, halfway down the spine. Its eyes burn like crimson embers and its long forked tongue flickers. But the creature's most unnerving features are its hands which end in viper heads complete with sharp fangs that drip with venom.

Cobra-back Inphidian (CR 3)

Medium Monstrous Humanoid (Reptilian)
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Initiative: +3
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet; Perception +10

Speed: 30 feet
Space: 5 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15 (+3 Dex, +5 natural)
Hit Points: 37 (5d10+10)
Saving Throws: Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +5

Offense

Melee: 2 snake-hand bites +9 (1d4+3 plus poison)
Reach: 5 feet

Special Attacks: poison (DC 16), spit poison

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
16 (+3)	17 (+3)	15 (+2)	12 (+1)	13 (+1)	12 (+1)

Base Attack Bonus: +5
CMB +8
CMD 21

Feats: Alertness, Great Fortitude, Weapon Focus (snakehand bites)

Skills: Acrobatics +8, Craft (alchemy) +9, Perception +11, Sense Motive +8, Stealth +11

Languages: Aklo, Common, Inphidian

Special Abilities

Spit Poison (Ex)

Once every 1d4 rounds, a cobra-back can spit a line of inphidian poison from its mouth to a range of 20 feet. Bite-injury; save Fort DC 12 + 1/2 HD + Constitution modifier; frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect 1d4 Strength damage; cure 1 save. The save is Constitution-based and includes a +2 racial bonus.

Ecology

Environment: Warm Forests or Plains or Underground
Organization: solitary or troupe (1 cobra-back plus 3-5 common inphidians)
Treasure: standard


Cobra-backs are a race of inphidian bred for combat and they relish the savagery of such events. They bully others of their own kind, and can often be found leading common inphidians on hunting excursions. They primarily function as muscle in inphidian hunting or adventuring parties and serve in inphidian communities as guards and protectors. Cobrabacks are loyal and follow orders without question. When threatened or enraged, the hood of the cobra-back fans open just like that of a true cobra.

Cobra-backs are extremely aggressive and prone to attacking opponents on sight. Though they possess superb stealth skills, they prefer a straight-ahead fight rather than one that relies on trickery and guile. A cobra-back opens combat by spitting its poison at an opponent before moving into melee where it bites with its snake-hands. Of all the inphidians, the cobra-backs are the most likely to employ inphidian gauntlets (see the sidebar above for details). Those wearing inphidian gauntlets wield longswords or spears.

Cobra-Back Inphidian Characters +6 Strength, +6 Dexterity, +4 Constitution, +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma. Quick and deadly, cobra-backed inphidians make highly efficient warriors.

Racial Hit Dice: a cobra-back inphidian begins with five levels of monstrous humanoid, which provide 5d8 HD, a base attack bonus of +5, base save bonuses of Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +4.

Racial Skills: a cobra-back's monstrous humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 5 x (4 + Int modifier).

Racial Feats: a cobra-back's monstrous humanoid levels give it three feats AC: +5 natural AC bonus.

Special Attacks: poison, spit poison (see above)

Copyright Notice Author Scott Greene.