Guardian Naga

Naga, Guardian

A contemplative humanoid face framed by a cobra-like hood adorns the body of this long, brightly colored serpent.

XP 9,600

LG Large aberration

Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +23

DEFENSE

AC 24, touch 15, flat-footed 18 (+6 Dex, +9 natural, -1 size)

hp 114 (12d8+60)

Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +12

OFFENSE

Spd 40 ft.

Melee bite +13 (2d6+7 plus poison)

Ranged spit +14 touch (poison)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

Spells Known (CL 9th)
4th (5/day)—divine power, greater invisibility
3rd (7/day)—cure serious wounds, dispel magic, lightning bolt (DC 17)
2nd (7/day)—detect thoughts (DC 16), lesser restoration, see invisibility, scorching ray
1st (7/day)—cure light wounds, divine favor, expeditious retreat, mage armor, magic missile
0 (6/day)—cure minor wounds, daze (DC 14), detect magic, light, mage hand, open/close, ray of frost, read magic

STATISTICS

Str 21, Dex 23, Con 20, Int 16, Wis 19, Cha 18

Base Atk +9; CMB +15; CMD 31 (can't be tripped)

Feats Alertness, Blind-Fight, Combat Casting, Combat Expertise, Eschew Materials^B, Improved Trip, Lightning Reflexes

Skills Bluff +16, Diplomacy +16, Knowledge (arcana) +18, Perception +23, Sense Motive +20, Spellcraft +18, Stealth +17

Languages Celestial, Common

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate plains

Organization solitary, pair, or nest (3-6)

Treasure standard

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Poison (Ex) Bite-injury or spit-contact; save Fort DC 19; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Spells A guardian naga casts spells as a 9th-level sorcerer, and can cast spells from the cleric list as well as those normally available to a sorcerer. Cleric spells are considered arcane spells for a guardian naga.

Spit (Ex) A guardian naga can spit its venom up to 30 feet as a standard action. This is a ranged touch attack with no range increment. Opponents hit by this attack must make successful saves (see above) to avoid the effect.

Although ferocious in shape, with radiant scales, cobralike hoods, and powerful serpentine bodies, guardian nagas serve as dutiful protectors of places of fundamental power and sanctity. Their scales often bear elaborate patterns similar to those of exotic jungle snakes. A typical guardian naga stretches 14 feet long and weighs approximately 350 pounds.

While many guardian nagas adhere to the exotic practices of ancient or forgotten faiths, others are merely drawn to sites of innate wonder-towering waterfalls, natural spires, mountaintop temples-minding them out of their own senses of duty and reverence. Often these nagas join a living faith, serving as protectors of sanctuaries or ancient treasures. A pair of nagas might take up residence near a site they deem worthy of protection, hatching a brood and raising their offspring there. When the young grow to adulthood, they have the choice of departing to seek their own homes or staying to protect their elder's charge. Sometimes, a guardian naga protecting a ruin or temple is but the current protector in a line of sentinels stretching back centuries. Such sentinels often take the same name as their forebears to appear as a single, exceptionally long-lived figure.