Cobras were a type of venomous snake recognizable by their expandable hoods.[2]
Description[]
Cobras were 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 meters) long, with scales ranging from the green and brown to pinkish tan and even completely black. Their hoods were associated with the species, and most subspecies had decorative formations on their hood scales.[2]
Subspecies[]
The subspecies called the Black Cormyrian cobra was found in interior Faerûn and was more used to the colder climate than other kinds of cobras.[5]
Combat[]
About four in ten cobras were able to spit their venom against foes, while the rest had to use their bites to deliver their dangerous toxin. Those able to spit would do so to blind their target, as the toxin, if it entered the eyes, quickly began destroying the eye tissue, blinding them within a minute unless rinsed quickly with water or other liquid.[2]
The true danger of cobras was from their bites, however, as the venom would begin paralyzing the unlucky recipient in a matter of seconds. Their muscles would lock up and even speech became very difficult. Within two to six minutes this was accompanied by violent vomiting, followed by death by asphyxiation.[2]
Ecology[]
Usually only hunting at night, cobras would feed on small rodents, reptiles, and insects.[2]
Habitats[]
Cobras were endemic to the Chultan Peninsula,[6] and were found in Zakhara, sometimes used as guardians by those living there.[4]
While arboreal cobras were found in the dense jungles hunting and attacking from the trees, the spitting variety were never arboreal, instead inhabiting the tall grasses of plains and light jungles where foliage was less dense.[2]
History[]
Cobras were sometimes used by snake charmers to dance along to a tune. Usually these cobras would have had their fangs removed to prevent them from biting their handlers.[2]
A coiled cobra was the symbol of the god Set of the Mulhorandi pantheon.[7]
In the ancient Shoon Imperium, all coins from the copper cardey to the platinum nirdey bore the imperial seal of two scimitars bound together at the handles by a rearing cobra, its hood fully expanded as if ready to bite or spit.[8]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
- Giant cobra
- King cobra
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
An Opportunity for Profit • Conspiracy • Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad • Star of Cursrah • The Council of Blades • Red Magic
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
References[]
- ↑ Rodney Thompson, Logan Bonner, Matthew Sernett (November 2010). Monster Vault. Edited by Greg Bilsland et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 300. ISBN 978-0-7869-5631-9.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 Kevin Melka (January 1997). “The Dragon's Bestiary: Venomous!”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #237 (TSR, Inc.), p. 45.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), pp. 320–321. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman, Philip Meyers, Peter Rice, William John Wheeler (May 1987). Desert of Desolation. (TSR, Inc.), p. 70. ISBN 978-0880383974.
- ↑ BioWare (September 2006). Designed by Ben Wynniatt-Husey. Neverwinter Nights: Wyvern Crown of Cormyr. Atari.
- ↑ James Lowder, Jean Rabe (1993). The Jungles of Chult. (TSR, Inc), p. 8. ISBN 1-5607-6605-0.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 299. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 70. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.