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<blockquote data-quote="Stormonu" data-source="post: 6070075" data-attributes="member: 52734">How much supernatural are you going for?You could make the basilisk non-magical; it this case, the mythical tales are simply exaggerations.The basilisk could be a cousin of the Komodo dragon.&nbsp; Komodos are ambush predators - generally lethargic of pace, but exceptionally fast when striking.&nbsp; Its &quot;Petrification&quot; could be the result of its bite (a nerve toxin that paralyzes victims and eventually kills if not countered) or an enhanced sort of &quot;bird terror&quot; that the presence of some serpents inflict on birds (the victim becoming so awestruck by fear it can't move) - either pheromone induced or some sort of quasi-supernatural hypnotic ability.Even if you don't go with the non-supernatural aspects, I think you could use the ambush aspects to change the encounter up and strike fear into the party; burrowed holes weaving through the tomb where it can make pop-up attacks (bite &amp; retreat) and retreat in the face of a counter-attack; coming into the view of a lone PC, petrifying them and then slinking out of sight before other PCs can locate it or realize what's going on; leaving trails or pools of venom in areas that can't be avoided (or regurgitating treasure encoated with venom to sicken/pick off greedy victims).PS:&nbsp; I think Spring Attack would work best with it's gaze; move up 20', active gaze at PC within 30', retreat 20'.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Stormonu, post: 6070075, member: 52734"] How much supernatural are you going for? You could make the basilisk non-magical; it this case, the mythical tales are simply exaggerations. The basilisk could be a cousin of the Komodo dragon. Komodos are ambush predators - generally lethargic of pace, but exceptionally fast when striking. Its "Petrification" could be the result of its bite (a nerve toxin that paralyzes victims and eventually kills if not countered) or an enhanced sort of "bird terror" that the presence of some serpents inflict on birds (the victim becoming so awestruck by fear it can't move) - either pheromone induced or some sort of quasi-supernatural hypnotic ability. Even if you don't go with the non-supernatural aspects, I think you could use the ambush aspects to change the encounter up and strike fear into the party; burrowed holes weaving through the tomb where it can make pop-up attacks (bite & retreat) and retreat in the face of a counter-attack; coming into the view of a lone PC, petrifying them and then slinking out of sight before other PCs can locate it or realize what's going on; leaving trails or pools of venom in areas that can't be avoided (or regurgitating treasure encoated with venom to sicken/pick off greedy victims). PS: I think Spring Attack would work best with it's gaze; move up 20', active gaze at PC within 30', retreat 20'. [/QUOTE]

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