A hideous creature that resembles a woman with countless snakes for hair. Its accursed gaze can turn a man to stone, while its claws and voice are just as deadly in their own ways. Occasionally called a “Marid” for some reason, but it’s not terribly clear what one of those would even be. – Imban
Stheno (CR 9)
XP 6,400
LE Medium monstrous humanoid (reptilian)
Init: +8; Senses all-around vision, darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +19
DEFENSE
AC 23, touch 15, flat-footed 18 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +8 natural)
hp 115 [165] (11d10+55)
Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +9
Immune paralyzed, petrified, poison
Weakness earth
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 claws +16 (1d4+2 plus paralysis/19-20), 5 snake bites +10 (1d4+1)
Special Attacks Bad Breath, paralysis (1d4+1 rounds, Fort DC 19), Petrifying Gaze, Screech Voice
STATISTICS
Str 14, Dex 19, Con 21, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 18
Base Atk +11; CMB +13; CMD 27
Feats Dodge, Improved Critical (Claw), Improved Initiative, Mobility, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Claw)
Skills Acrobatics +15, Climb +16, Intimidate +18, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +14, Perception +19, Stealth +18, Survival +15; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception
Languages Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Terran
SPECIAL ABILITIES
All-Around Vision (Ex)
A stheno’s snake-hair allows her to see in all directions. Sthenos gain a +4 racial bonus to Perception checks and cannot be flanked.
Bad Breath (Ex)
Once every 1d4+1 rounds, a stheno can emit a 15’ cone of paralytic gas as a full-round action. All creatures caught within the cone are paralyzed for 1d4 rounds, unless they make a DC 20 Fortitude save.
Petrifying Gaze (Su)
1/day, a stheno turns its victims to stone permanently within a 30-ft.-cone radius. Everyone within the effect must make a DC 19 Fortitude save to negate the Petrify status effect. This is a gaze attack. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Screech Voice (Su)
3/day as a standard action, a stheno can let out an ear-piercing screech, damaging one enemy within 30 feet and driving them mad. That enemy takes 9d6 non-elemental damage and is Confused for 1 round, a DC 19 Will save halving the damage and negating the status effect.
ECOLOGY
Environment dungeons, volcanic regions
Organization small group (1-3)
Treasure standard