Lesser Minion of the Serpent God

These lesser servants of the serpent god of evil pass as everyday humans or demihumans while they carry out their master's schemes. Most were once especially skilled followers of the god, though good beings can also be corrupted into minions through relics such as a corrupting pool of black starlight. Their true form is a giant snake.

As long as revealing itself could wreck its mission, a minion in human shape fights with a weapon, using any magic weapons or useful devices it can get, though never magical armor or shields. In serpent form it bites for 1-12. Each successful bite earns a second attack roll to wrap the victim in its coils. This does not crush, but it pins the limbs, and the victim cannot attack until it breaks free with a bend bars/lift gates roll; a failed roll keeps it trapped that round, though it may try again each later round. A pinned victim can be bitten automatically for maximum damage every round. Certain special minions have venomous bites that deal 4-24, or 2-12 on a successful save vs. poison; these are worth 1,400 XP.

They make saving throws as fighters of 10th level, resist magic 10% of the time, and never check morale.

They turn up wherever the serpent god or his rivals are worshiped, scheming against the temples of the lord of the dead and the falcon-headed sky god or worming their way into positions of power in local government. Lacking any society of their own, they blend into others and spread evil from within.

Minions arise either from deeply evil mortals or through magical creation, and they fit into the world only as saboteurs and impostors. They are omnivores but can go without food or drink forever, eating whatever their cover demands when spying. They never reproduce and care nothing for treasure. A minion killed while transformed vanishes in a puff of smoke, leaving its original humanoid body behind.