Rhaumbusun

This small reptile, a distant relative of the basilisk, walks on eight legs and has a ridge of spikes down its back. Males wear glittering purple scales, females mostly orange, and juveniles a dusty red that changes as they mature. Its eyes look like tiny, clear, faceted gems. Its curled legs give it a noisy scuttle audible 60 feet away. Rhaumbusuns talk among themselves in clicks and hisses, and an upset one swishes its foot-long tail back and forth.

Though a timid plant-eater, it defends itself with a magical gaze, paralyzing one creature per round within 20 yards. The target must meet its eyes, then save vs. paralyzation or be held for 3d4 turns. A mirror will not bounce the gaze back, but gaze reflection will, and the creature must then save vs. petrification or fall victim to its own power. It is immune to other rhaumbusuns' gazes but not to its own reflected one. Its gaze has no effect across into the Astral or Ethereal. Cornered or startled, it may bite for 1d3.

Rhaumbusuns usually pair for life, so a lone one probably has a mate hiding close by; any third one is their young (1d4 hp, bite 1-2, saves against its gaze at +2). Parents fight to the death for family and lair, gaining +1 to attack and damage if their young is attacked. Lairs are small, dark, dry caves used only for raising young, with a 60% chance of an egg or 40% of a youngster present. Paralyzed animals nearby often betray the location. Mating occurs in late spring; a lone egg hatches after 40 + 1d8 days, and the feeble young reach full size 20 days later. They collect shiny oddments, so their lairs sometimes hold coins, precious metal or cut gems. Speak with monsters, or knowing their simple tongue, lets humanoids talk with them.

By freezing threatening animals, the rhaumbusun accidentally feeds other predators, and small creatures often den nearby for its protection. Hides bring 1 gp per Hit Die. Intact, preserved eyes sell to wizards or alchemists for up to 200 gp apiece, for paralysis-related inks and potions. High-level wizards and priests sometimes keep them as pets or guards: a pair sells for 2,000 gp, an egg for 500 gp. A rhaumbusun separated from its mate wastes away in mourning, losing 1 hp a week for 1d4 weeks; survivors recover and eventually find new partners.