An amphisbaena (pronounced: /æmfɪsˈbeɪnɑː/ æm-fis-BAY-na[7] 
listen) resembled a pit viper with, instead of one head, two of them at each end of its body.[4]
Description[]
An amphisbaena's skin molted just like other snakes, and little horns above each eye helped it to shed its skin. The skin of an amphisbaena had the same variations as found in normal vipers.[4]
Amphisbaenae slithered sideways just like other snakes. It could step up its pace of movement by grabbing its own head with the other and rolling like a hoop.[4]
Combat[]
In combat, amphisbaenae could use both heads to snap at opponents simultaneously. This enabled the monster to attack and defend at the same time.[4]
Upon impending death, an amphisbaena would attempt to bite its own head with the other so as to turn itself into stone.[4]
History[]
Sages documented the hatching of a clutch of amphisbaenae in the town of Chariton in Battledale in the late 14th century DR. The townspeople were proven ignorant to the danger when the unattended amphisbaenae grew to immense proportions and slaughtered most of the town's inhabitants. Since that time, the town of Chariton was a ghost town. It was said that the amphisbaenae left the town after they had depleted it as a source of food and moved on to the forests near the Pool of Yeven, the Deeping Stream, and Lake Sember.[4]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
- Amphisbaena the World Serpent was also a name under which the dark serpentine god Sseth was known in the lands of Lapaliiya and Tashalar.[8]
Appearances[]
Novels & Short Stories
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Further Reading[]
- Johnathan M. Richards (March 1995). “The Ecology of the Amphisbaena”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #215 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 32–38.
References[]
- ↑ Tim Beach (October 1995). “The Serpent Hills”. In Julia Martin ed. Elminster's Ecologies Appendix II (TSR, Inc), p. 7. ISBN 0786901713.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mike Mearls, Kate Welch (May 2019). Ghosts of Saltmarsh. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 230. ISBN 978-0-7869-6686-8.
- ↑ Harold Johnson, Jeff R. Leason, Stephen Radney-MacFarland (December 2012). “The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan”. In Kim Mohan, Miranda Horner eds. Dungeon #209 (Wizards of the Coast) (209)., p. 67.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader (July 2004). Serpent Kingdoms. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 62–63. ISBN 0-7869-3277-5.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 320. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 88. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 25.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 84. ISBN 978-0786906574.