Schlangenkönig

Gargantuan monstrosity, Lawful Neutral

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)

Hit Points 201 (13d20 + 65)

Speed 50 ft., climb 50 ft., swim 50 ft.

STR 24 (+7) · DEX 14 (+2) · CON 20 (+5) · INT 14 (+2) · WIS 16 (+3) · CHA 18 (+4)

Skills Intimidation +8, Perception +7, Persuasion +8

Gear Crown of the Schlangenkönig (contains a lootable, glowing Ruby of the Sun)

Senses Blindsight 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17

Languages Common, Draconic, Sylvan

Challenge 12 (8,400 XP)

Traits

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the Schlangenkönig fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Ruby Radiance. While wearing its crown, the ruby sheds bright light in a 60-foot radius and dim light for an additional 60 feet. The king can suppress or resume this light at will.

Actions

Multiattack. The Schlangenkönig makes three attacks: one with its Bite and two with its Tail. It can replace one attack with a use of Spellcasting or Swallow.

Bite. Melee Attack: +11 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 23 (3d10 + 7) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) poison damage, and if the target is a Large or smaller creature, it is Grappled (escape DC 17). Until this grapple ends, the target is Restrained, and the Schlangenkönig can't bite another target.

Tail. Melee Attack: +11 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage, and the target is automatically knocked Prone.

Swallow. Melee Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., against a Large or smaller target the King is grappling. Hit: The target is swallowed, and the grapple ends. The swallowed target is Blinded and Restrained, has total cover against attacks and other effects outside the King, and takes 21 (6d6) acid damage at the start of each of the King's turns. The King can have only one creature swallowed at a time. If the King takes 30 damage or more on a single turn from the swallowed creature, the King must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or regurgitate the creature, which falls Prone in a space within 10 feet of the King. If the King dies, a swallowed creature is no longer Restrained by it and can escape from the corpse using 15 feet of movement, exiting Prone.

Spellcasting. The Schlangenkönig casts one of the following spells, requiring no material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (Spell Save DC 16):

At Will: Animal Friendship (PHB, p. 239; snakes only), Speak with Animals (PHB, p. 318)

3/Day each: Command (PHB, p. 251), Suggestion (PHB, p. 321)

1/Day: Mass Suggestion (PHB, p. 296)

Bonus Actions

Crushing Coils. The Schlangenkönig tightens its grip on a creature it is grappling. The creature takes 18 (2d10 + 7) bludgeoning damage.

Lore

milked the mares and bathed in boiling milk.

In a small village there once lived a very poor woman and her son. She earned their living by spinning thread, and the boy would carry her work to market and sell it. One day he made a single copper coin and was happily walking home when he saw some cruel boys tormenting a tiny snake. He felt sorry for the little creature and asked, “Will you give her to me for this coin?” They agreed.

The boy took the snake home. “Look, Mother, what I bought with the money I earned!” But his mother shook her head. “Foolish boy! How could you spend your last coin on a poisonous snake?” “Don’t worry, Mama,” he said, “one day she’ll repay us.”

From Grimm Legends Bestiary 5E, p. 66 · Fern Flower Press