A cobra head rests on a humanoid torso that splits into dozens of snakes. One arm is a snake tail, while the other is two snake heads.
Syricta CR 12
XP 19,200
CE Large aberration
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., scent; Perception +22
Defense
AC 29, touch 11, flat-footed 27 (+2 Dex, +18 natural, -1 size)
hp 178 (17d8+102)
Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +12
Immune mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison; SR 23
Weaknesses serpentfolk pawn
Offense
Speed 40 ft.
Melee 3 bites +22 (2d6+10/19-20 plus poison), tentacle +20 (1d6+5 plus grab)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks constrict (1d6+10), poison, poison cloud, snake overRun
Statistics
Str 31, Dex 14, Con 22, Int 7, Wis 14, Cha 17
Base Atk +12; CMB +23 (+27 overrun); CMD 35 (37 vs. overrun, can't be tripped)
Feats Greater Overrun, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Overrun, Intimidating Prowess, Lightning Reflexes, Multiattack, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bite), Weapon Focus (tentacle)
Skills Intimidate +31, Perception +22, Survival +7
Languages Aklo, Draconic, Undercommon
Ecology
Environment any land
Organization solitary, pair, knot (3-5)
Treasure standard
Special Abilities
Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 24; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Strength; cure 2 consecutive saves.
Poison Cloud (Ex) Once per day as a swift action, a syricta can exhale a poisonous cloud from its nostrils in a 20-foot radius centered on it. Any creature within the cloud or entering it must immediately succeed at a DC 24 Fortitude save or be affected by the syricta's poison. The cloud dissipates at the beginning of the syricta's next turn.
Serpentfolk Pawn (Ex) A syricta's immunity to mind-affecting effects doesn't apply against serpentfolk or any effects originating from a serpentfolk (for example, a mind fog cast by a serpentfolk would bypass the syricta's immunity to mind-affecting effects).
Snake Overrun (Ex) The numerous snake heads and tails of a syricta's lower torso deal 6d6 points of bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage to creatures when it succeeds on an overrun combat maneuver against them. Creatures that take damage from a syricta's snake overrun are also subjected to the syricta's poison.
Serpentfolk breed syrictas by performing a ritual to infuse a deformed serpentfolk egg with the vital essence from a clutch of snake eggs. The resulting amalgamation is a nightmarish cross between a serpentfolk and a mass of writhing ophidian tails and heads.
Numerous snakes make up these abominations' lower halves, granting them a slithering form of locomotion. Each syricta also has a thick, muscled snake tail forming one of its arms, allowing it to wrap around prey and squeeze the life from them, while its other arm splits at the elbow into two venomous snake heads, granting the syricta a total of three deadly bites. Despite being much smaller than its main head, the arm heads are possessed of unexpected strength for their size, making them equally deadly. These heads are also adept at manipulating objects, allowing the syricta to perform any action that would require a hand —such as holding a weapon —at the expense of those bite attacks.
These hideous monstrosities serve the serpentfolk as bodyguards and enforcers, their primitive minds conditioned to obey their serpentfolk masters. They fight to the death if so commanded, though when they lack commands from a serpentfolk, they act as brutish bullies and cowards, viciously and sadistically harming those weaker than themselves but fleeing from foes that prove stronger.
Syricta societies are harsh, ruled absolutely by the strongest individuals, and rarely last long due to syrictas' inability to reproduce. Most syrictas instead spend their lives serving their serpentfolk creators, rarely forming relationships with other syrictas.
Syrictas are entirely carnivorous. A typical adult syricta stands around 9 feet tall and weighs 550 pounds.
