Basilisk
- This article covers the creature. For the sport, see basilisk (sport).
Large land-based lizards that are nearly as long as crocodiles, basilisks are sometimes referred to as the "King of Serpents".1 They are most renowned for their petrifying gaze.12
Appearance
Basilisks are reptiles3 that generally measure around 13 feet in length, and most weigh around 300 pounds.2 Their eyes might hold a green glow, and their scales can adapt to the dominant colors of their habitat.14
Habitat and ecology
No one is quite sure of the basilisk's origins. Folk tales claim that, like the cockatrice, basilisks hatched from snake eggs incubated by roosters. There is little real support for this claim, and their interactions with their environment makes it seem like they might be natural creatures. Basilisks prefer to devour the nutrients from those they turn to stone. This process is slow and ineffective, which makes basilisks generally seem lazy and sluggish. They make hissing noises as they move, and a low gurgle when they become agitated.12
Basilisks seek caves, burrows, and other well-sheltered areas for lairs, and dwell in nearly any environment above water.14 Basilisks are normally solitary creatures, and typically form groups only to reproduce with a mate around clutches of eggs. However, some reportedly congregate in massive numbers periodically for unknown reasons.1 Legends suggest basilisk blood can transmute stones into other kinds of materials, although this might be the result of confusion around the restorative properties of coating a petrified creature with fresh basilisk blood.12
Abilities
A basilisk can slow, and permanently petrify, their prey with a mere look. For unknown reasons, only weasels and ferrets are inherently immune to a basilisk's petrifying gaze, and they often sneak into basilisk lairs to eat their eggs and newborn offspring.12
On Golarion
Basilisks roam the depths of the Meraz Desert in the nation of Qadira on the borders of the continent of Casmaron.5
References
For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 . “Monsters A-Z” in Bestiary, 38. Paizo Inc., 2019
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 . “Basilisk” in Monster Core, 39. Paizo Inc., 2024
- ↑ Prior to the publication of Monster Core, basilisks had eight legs. Artwork of a basilisk in Monster Core depicts a serpent-like creature with no legs.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The canon status of details about basilisks that appear only in sources prior to Monster Core is unclear.
- ↑ . “Adventuring in Qadira” in Qadira, Jewel of the East, 38. Paizo Inc., 2017
External links
- Basilisk (real-world mythical creature) on Wikipedia