AKIAV

     Fully grown akiav appear as sooty black pythons in both length and girth, and their eyes have a frosty, glazed appearance. This is by design: without any body parts that shine or glisten under a light source, the akiav is superbly camouflaged for its environment.

Combat: Akiav are cunning and tenacious fighters, and are capable of many attack modes. Their most common attack is a strike with their poisonous fangs twice per round for 1-6 points of damage on a hit. They may strike twice per round and their heads may be up to 12 feet from their target. If an opponent fails their save vs. poison, the victim will suffer some adverse effect per the following table below.

     Because of a flaw in the creation process of the first akiav, the effectiveness of the poison varies from one creature to the next. A d8 is rolled to determine the poison class for each individual:

     The various poison classes are defined on Table 51 in the DMG.

     Three times per day, an akiav may also breathe a stream of acid 40’ in length against a single target, inflicting 3-24 points of damage upon a hit (halved if a save vs. breath weapon is successful). Once per week, an akiav may weave from side to side, and if a save vs. spell is unsuccessful, the akiav may place a suggestion in the victim's mind (as the spell). Since akiav cannot speak, any instructions to a victim of suggestion is telepathic and therefore silent.

     Lastly, akiav are able to constrict an opponent for 2-12 points of damage per round if a successful attack roll is made. Attempts to break free can only be made by humanoids of 16 Strength or higher, and only on a successful open doors roll (at a -3 penalty). Anyone attempting to strike an akiav to free a constricted comrade has a 20% chance of striking the victim instead. Note that an akiav will also try to poison a constriction victim and slay it quickly (if its poison class allows), since it knows that this attack form leaves it vulnerable. Fang attacks on a constricted opponent are on a +2 to hit.

     Akiav can only be struck by silver or magical weapons, and make all saving throws as if they were 12 HD monsters. If underground, akiav have a -2 bonus on their surprise rolls and are themselves surprised only on a roll of 2 or less.

     As creatures of the night and the dark recesses of the underworld, akiav are highly intolerant of sunlight. Even a brief period of exposure to the sun (or any spell the DM rules mimics its effect) paralyzes these creatures if the relevant saving throw is failed, and inflicts 3-18 points of damage per round of exposure. New saving throws are rolled every round after the initial failure; two successful saves in a row allows the akiav to escape.

Habitat/Society: Akiav lair only in underground settings of solid stone, where they can keep a watchful eye on their masters' treasures. The area surrounding their lair (which is often the very chambers they are guarding) is sure to be riddled with their tunnels, through which the akiav track and ultimately ambush intruders. Creatures of keen intelligence and no small cunning, akiav are never without a battle plan to deal with unwanted outsiders. Unlike most normal species of snakes, akiav are social animals that appreciate the value of teamwork.

     Though akiav are able to mate and fertilize eggs without assistance, they will not develop and hatch without a magical infusion that only their masters can provide. When the master is in need of new recruits, the eggs are coated with this solution and placed inside a specially constructed brazier for incubation. Hatching will occur in 8d4 hours, and the fertilized eggs themselves can remain viable for up to two years.

     Once born, akiav can mature in as little as three months, depending on the available food supply. They are quite content to forage through sewers and other dank places for rats and other vermin; indeed, just about any small animal will make a meal—even domesticated ones. Their high Constitution scores (average of 14) help protect them from most diseases. Akiav are very cautious hunters; an accidental discovery will alert their master's unsuspecting neighbors that there is Evil in their midst.

     Akiav are well suited to life underground, and are remarkable burrowers; for up to one hour per day, their bodies secrete an extremely powerful corrosive expressly for the purpose. This substance enables them to burrow at their normal move rate through topsoil and packed earth, 12 through soft rock (sandstone, limestone, etc.) and 9 through hard rock (basalt, granite, etc). Such activity is extremely taxing to the akiav, and the creature must rest for 1d6+6 hours thereafter. It is not uncommon for trapped and outnumbered akiav to use this ability to flee a stronger opponent. If forced to fight in this condition, all attacks are at a -3 to hit.

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