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Psyche Serpent

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A spiral pattern adorns the hood of this cobralike serpent. Its gaze betrays a keen intellect.

Psyche Serpent CR 2

XP 600
N Tiny magical beast
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +7

DEFENSE

AC 17, touch 15, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +2 natural, +2 size)
hp 19 (3d10+3)
Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +2

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +8 (1d3–2 plus poison)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Psychic Magic (CL 6th; concentration +8)

5 PE—charm person (1 PE, DC 13), detect thoughts (2 PE, DC 13), invisibility (2 PE, self only)

STATISTICS

Str 6, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 14
Base Atk +3; CMB +4; CMD 12
Feats Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Weapon Finesse
Skills Diplomacy +12, Perception +7, Sense Motive +4; Racial Modifiers +4 Diplomacy
Languages Common
SQ hypnotic hood, painless bite

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Hypnotic Hood (Su)

A psyche serpent can use the hypnotism occult skill unlock to implant suggestions as a full-round action (instead of taking 1 minute) an unlimited number of times per day. While it hypnotizes its targets, it sways from side to side with the spiral pattern of its hood fully displayed. A successfully hypnotized victim can recall this spiral pattern but otherwise has no memory of the act of hypnotism unless the psyche serpent wishes it to.

Painless Bite (Ex)

A psyche serpent's venom has a powerful numbing effect, causing its bites to inflict no pain and allowing it to inject its poison without alerting its victims or awakening them from sleep. Even if the victim succeeded at its saving throw, it remains unaware it attempted a save against a psyche serpent's venom.

Poison (Ex)

Bite—injury; save Fort DC 14; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Wisdom, and a creature that takes Wisdom damage from this poison is considered a willing creature for the purposes of the psyche serpent's hypnotism occult skill unlock until the Wisdom damage is healed; cure 2 consecutive saves. The DC includes a +2 racial bonus.

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ECOLOGY

Environment any temperate or warm
Organization solitary
Treasure standard

The unique spiral pattern on psyche serpent's hoods mark them as something more than ordinary cobras.

They are clever creatures with enough wit and magic to be dangerous. Though psyche serpents are solitary, they can not resist the lure of large cities, especially those rife with politics and scheming, which irresistibly call to them. Psyche serpents are cunning, patient, and manipulative, and enjoy seeing subtle, long-awaited plans come to fruition. They prefer to stay out of sight, waiting for the right moment to emerge and hypnotize the perfect subject. By drawing out secrets and forcing victims to act against their own will, psyche serpents enact their plots without ever being discovered as the true masterminds. Though their venom makes them dangerous, they are not hardy creatures and prefer to avoid physical combat.

Some psyche serpents take on more official roles, acting as advisors and counselors to great leaders.

Psyche serpents are fiercely competitive, especially with others of their kind, and rarely work together. They often take opposite sides of political conflicts simply for the sake of decent competition, finding almost as much pleasure in being outsmarted as they do from thwarting their rivals.

A worthy rival is the greatest gift a psyche serpent can ever find, and they find the idea of eliminating their nemeses completely alien.

Improved Familiar

Psyche serpents sometimes form strong bonds with those few individuals whom they see as mental equals, partnering with them as constantly competitive but loyal familiars. A spellcaster with an alignment within one step of true neutral who has the Improved Familiar feat and an arcane caster level of 7th or higher can select a psyche serpent as a familiar.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Occult Bestiary © 2015, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Josh Colon, John Compton, Paris Crenshaw, Adam Daigle, Eleanor Ferron, James Jacobs, Joe Homes, Mikko Kallio, Mike Kimmel, Ron Lundeen, Kate Marshall, Kalervo Oikarinen, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, and F. Wesley Schneider.