Naga, Guardian

Large Aberration — CR 10

Monster Manual v.3.5 (MM), p. 1923.5
Hit Dice
11d8+44 (93 hp)
Initiative
+2
Speed
Land 40 ft
Armor Class
18, touch 11, flat-footed 16
Base Attack / Grapple
+8/+17
Attack
Bite +12 melee (2d6+7 plus poison) or spit +9 ranged touch (poison)
Full Attack
Bite +12 melee (2d6+7 plus poison) or spit +9 ranged touch (poison)
STR
21
DEX
14
CON
19
INT
16
WIS
19
CHA
18
Fort / Ref / Will
+7 / +7 / +11
Challenge Rating
10
Alignment
Usually Lawful-Good
Organization
Solitary or nest (2–4)
Treasure
Standard
Environment
Plains
Level Adjustment
Caster Level
9

Special Abilities

Feats

This beautiful creature looks like a snake with a human face and green-gold scales. A golden frill runs from the top of its head to the tip of its tail. The sweet scent of flowers accompanies the creature.

Description

Nagas are highly intelligent creatures with a variety of magical powers. They are natural masters of those around them, using subtle wards and clever traps to keep intruders from disturbing their peace.

All nagas have long, snakelike bodies covered with glistening scales, and more or less human faces. They range in length from 10 to 20 feet and weigh from 200 to 500 pounds. The eyes of a naga are bright and intelligent, burning with an almost hypnotic inner light.

Wise and good, guardian nagas often protect sacred places or maintain a lookout against evil deeds.

A guardian naga tends to raise its crest when it becomes angry.

Guardian nagas speak Celestial and Common.

Combat

Nagas favor spells over other forms of combat. Because they are almost always found in the lairs they guard and know well, they can arrange most encounters to suit their wishes.

Guardian nagas usually warn off intruders before attacking. If the warning is ignored, they may begin a spell assault or spit poison.

Poison (Ex): Injury or contact, Fortitude DC 19, initial and secondary damage 1d10 Con. The save DC is Constitution-based.

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.

Spells: Guardian nagas cast spells as 9th-level sorcerers, and can also cast spells from the cleric list and from the Good and Law domains. The cleric spells and domain spells are considered arcane spells for a guardian naga, meaning that the creature does not need a divine focus to cast them.

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