Dream serpents, or qulashtaq to the drow, are large, magical creatures native to the jungles and warm forests of Xen'drik, named for the hallucinatory effects of their venom.[1]
Description[]
A dream serpent is a green ophidian that can reach up to fifteen feet in length. Glistening, silvery scales form a pattern running down its back. Its silver eyes are said to shine more brightly, and are capable of sedating any who meet its magical gaze.[1]
Tactics[]
Within the jungle, dream serpents are ambush predators, lying in wait in high trees where they can descend upon sleeping prey. They send sentries to sleep with their magical gaze, after which they can surprise the whole group. From there, they seize their choice of helpless creature before slithering away into the jungle with them.[1]
They are smart enough to avoid more powerful creatures alone, though they will defend themselves ferociously. They fight together when defending their nesting grounds, with one dream serpent defending each nest no matter the cost while the rest try to repel intruders.[1]
Behavior[]
Most of the time, dream serpents prefer a solitary existence. With their relatively high intelligence, individual serpents sometimes even take on kindly or malevolent bents. However, they will gather to incubate and hatch their eggs within communal nesting grounds of up to nine mated pairs.[1]
Society[]
Of all the continent's exotic life, the dream serpents are the most highly sought after. The drow and yuan-ti of Xen'drik both revere them, the latter seeing them as aspects of the Devourer.[1]
To the drow, these creatures are an essential part of their lives and culture. They make sure to use every part of the body, turning the fangs into weapons and the skin into armor, eating its flesh, and even the bones and eyes in religious ceremonies. What venom isn't diluted for these practices is used as a deadly poison.[1]
A dream serpent's shimmering scales, pearly fangs, and hallucinogenic venom are desired by explorers and hunters across Xen'drik. The hide and carved fangs are exported to Khorvaire.[1]
Boats leaving for Khorvaire often carry the dried leather and carved fangs of these mysterious jungle predators. Both drow and yuan-ti revile such careless hunters, seeing them as wastefully slaughtering such noble creatures.[1]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Keith Baker, Jason Bulmahn, & Amber Scott (2006). Secrets of Xen'drik. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 76–77. ISBN 0-7869-3916-8.