Sea snakes, also known as sea serpents or water snakes, were an aquatic species of viper that sometimes grew so large as to be considered[1] a type of giant snake.[5][6]
Behavior[]
Sea snakes largely ignored other creatures, attacking only when they were hungry or disturbed.[6] Like any snake they feared fire and would retreat from open flames. They had a basic level of intelligence typical of animals.[3]
Abilities[]
These creatures had a poisonous bite.[1][6] When underwater a membrane on their snouts sealed their nostrils, allowing them to dive to great depths.[5]
Combat[]
Sea snakes were one of the few species of snake to both have a poisonous bite and attack by means of constriction.[5] Smaller varieties of them would simply inject their venom and then withdraw, waiting for it to take effect.[1] While the largest of sea snakes were capable of coiling about small vessels and gradually crushing them through constriction.[6]
Ecology[]
Like most snakes, these creatures lived solitary lives.[1][2][3] However, on rare occasions there were instances of them gathering in large masses of hundreds or even thousands, often 100 yards (91 meters) wide and 30 miles (48,000 meters) long. The reason for this was unknown. Some speculated that it may have been due to seasonal migrations, others that it might have been a mating ritual.[5]
Diet[]
Like nearly all species of snake, these creatures were a carnivorous species.[3]
Habitats[]
Giant sea snakes were found only in the seas and oceans of tropical regions.[3][6] Smaller varieties of this creature could be found in shallow waters.[1]
Around Faerûn, these creatures inhabited the Sea of Fallen Stars[7] and could be found near Waterdeep.[8] In the lands of Kara-Tur, they inhabited the tropical and subtropical oceans,[9] such as the Yellow Sea.[10] As well as the southern portion of the Fenghsintzu River in T'u Lung[11] and in the Ular River in Shou Lung's Kutuk Valley.[12]
Relationships[]
Some sea snakes acted as servants of the marid Kalbari al-Durrat al-Amwaj ibn Jari in her Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls.[13]
Some aquatic spirit shamans had sea snakes as animal companions.[14]
Usages[]
Bandoliers, belts, and harnesses made from the treated skin of sea snakes was common among all the sentient creatures of Serôs.[15] Their scales were also a required material component for the oars to snakes spell.[16]
The bodies of these creatures were edible and considered delicacies by certain races.[7] One establishment known to serve fried sea snake was the Fiery Flagon in Waterdeep.[8]
Notable Sea Snakes[]
- Shipwrecker, a sea snake that was owned by the sha'ir Khadiga.
Trivia[]
- Some of the pillars in The Singing Siren had sea serpent shapes carved into them.[17]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Stormwrack states that its sea serpent uses the same statistics as the viper listed in Monster Manual v.3.5, with some minor additions.
See Also[]
- Sewerm, another species of relatively large waterfairing snakes.
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
A Smuggler's Life for Me
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Richard Baker, Joseph D. Carriker, Jr., Jennifer Clarke Wilkes (August 2005). Stormwrack. Edited by John D. Rateliff, John Thompson. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 170. ISBN 0-7869-3689-4.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 280–281. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 320. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 88. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 321. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 89. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 41. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ed Greenwood (January 1993). Volo's Guide to Waterdeep. (TSR, Inc.), p. 56. ISBN 1-56076-335-3.
- ↑ Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 114. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume II). (TSR, Inc), p. 117. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume II). (TSR, Inc), p. 47. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ Curtis Smith, Rick Swan (May 1990). Ronin Challenge. Edited by Jon Pickens, Steve Winter. (TSR, Inc.), p. 56. ISBN 0-88038-749-1.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 32. ISBN 978-1560766476.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Joseph D. Carriker, Jr., Jennifer Clarke Wilkes (August 2005). Stormwrack. Edited by John D. Rateliff, John Thompson. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 52. ISBN 0-7869-3689-4.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 36. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
- ↑ Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), pp. 31–32. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ Scott Ciencin (June 2003). Tantras. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 16. ISBN 0-7869-3108-6.