Rhaumbusun

Rhaumbusum were distant cousins of the basilisk.

Description
Rhaumbusums were small eight-legged creatures with sparkling scales and eyes that looked like glittering gems. A single row of spikes was found running along it's back.

Behavior
Rhaumbusums were demure and gentle creatures.

Biology
Rhaumbusums mated for life with a single member of the opposite sex. Separating a mated pair, or if one of them died, was very traumatizing for both creatures. Every spring the female laid an egg that hatched a single newborn rhaumbusum in under fifty days. A juvenile rhaumbusum grew rapidly, reaching maturity in just twenty days.

Rhaumbusums communicated with each other with a very basic language of clicking and hisses. A speak with monsters spell allowed a humanoid to communicate with a rhaumbusum.

Abilities
Making eye contact, up to away, with a rhaumbusum caused instant temporary paralysis. Rhaumbusums were immune to this effect from others of their species but were vulnerable by its own reflection or a gaze reflection spell.

Combat
Their paralyzing gaze was a rhaumbusums main form of defence. They were also know to bite an opponent. Normally timid creatures, they fiercely defend their family and lair.

Habitats
A rhaumbusum's lair was found in small caves that were both dark and dry. They used this lair to raise their young and to store their treasure, which was any shiny object that attracted their attention. Some were known to inhabit the land of Maztica.

Relationships
The scales of a rhaumbusum were used by artisans to decorate small objects. The intact eyes were used as a component in magical inks and paralyzation potions, and were highly sought after by alchemists and wizards. An intact rhaumbusum eye was worth 200 gp.

Rhaumbusums were sometimes used as guards by clerics and wizards. A mated pair was worth up to 2,000 gp and a single egg up to 500 gp.