The taelon serpent is a species of serpent native to Taelon, an island off the coast of Porali. Due to its territorial instincts and excrutiating venom, the taelon serpent has remained the dominant predator on the island.
Biology
Size
A taelon serpent hatchling is roughly 5 to 9 inches in length, with the largest recorded hatchling measuring 14.2 inches. The size of a fully grown taelon serpent depends upon the serpent's biological sex. Male taelon serpents can reach sizes of 11 to 14 feet, while female taelon serpents grow to 17 to 21 feet in length.
Diet
Taelon serpents are carnivorous, relying on the many types of rodents and smaller mammals living on the island of Taelon. During periods of significant food shortages, taelon serpents have also shown capacity to consume other species of serpents, including other taelons. In these cases, male taelon serpents often show little regard for their continued survival, often losing their own lives hunting much larger prey before their venom has a chance to take effect.
Habitat
The taelon serpent lives in the dense forests on the island of Taelon. The island remains largely untouched despite repeated attempts to colonize the other nearby islands, due in large part to the presence of the taelon serpent. The taelon serpent can also be found in heavily forested regions of northern Odish and southern Drezomira, the result of various mercenary guilds attempting to domesticate the serpent for the purpose of harvesting its powerful venom.
Venom
The venom of the taelon serpent is extremely unpleasant. A creature who is injected with the venom must receive an antivenom before the venom is able to reach their brain, a potentially very tight window of time depending on where the venom was injected. When the venom reaches the creature's brain, it paralyzes the creature's body, at which point the taelon serpent begins consuming its prey. Research into the effects of the taelon serpent's venom indicates that brain function does remain after the creature has been paralyzed, suggesting that the victim is likely still conscious, stuck in their own minds without any external signals until they die.
