Boa Constrictor

Detail	Boa Constrictor	Titanboa
Species	reptile
No. Appearing	2-8	2-5
Behaviour	solitary
Range	jungle, savanna
Size	15 ft. long	32 ft. or more
Weight	60 to 100 lb.	580 lb.
Intelligence	2
Armour Class	5	6
Hit Dice	2	6+1
Action Points	5
Max. Stride	3
THAC0	19	17
Hp/Die	d6	d4+d6
Attack Form	1: fangs
Damage	1-6	3-12
Special Attack	constriction

Boa constrictors are large, non-venomous serpents that rely on sheer strength to subdue their prey. Growing anywhere from 8 to 14 feet in length and weighing over 100 pounds, these powerful predators are covered in dark brown or reddish markings that allow them to blend seamlessly into dense foliage, jungle undergrowth or rocky terrain. They are primarily nocturnal, hunting at night with keen senses attuned to vibrations and heat.

They're often found in warm, tropical environments such as rainforests, swamps and riverbanks, where their stealth and patience make them effective ambush predators. Some jungle-dwelling cultures regard them with reverence, seeing them as symbols of patience, endurance or the relentless cycle of life and death. Druids and rangers sometimes keep trained boas as hunting companions, while more sinister individuals have been known to use them as living weapons, releasing them into enemy strongholds or dungeons to sow terror. The species thrives in captivity; giant boa constrictors are frequently housed in stone enclosures, where they are provided with a steady diet of victims or smaller livestock like sheep and goats.

Advantages

In combat, boa constrictors rely on their grapple ability. When successfully stunning an opponent, they use their coils to incapacitate a target rather than dealing outright damage. The character suffers one constriction before having the possibility of escaping, during which time the boa's muscular coils exert immense pressure with each breath its prey exhales, causing 2-8 damage automatically each round.

Thereafter, to free oneself requires a strength of at least 15, which grants a 1 in 6 chance of freeing oneself. This chance increases by 1 per point of strength above 16, so that the chance is 1 in 4 with an 18 non-percentile strength. Characters with a strength between 10 and 19 have a 5 in 6 chance of wresting themselves free, while a greater strength allows this to be done automatically. The attempt can be made in any round that the character is not stunned.

Titanboa

This enormous serpent dwarfs even the largest of modern constrictors. They are apex predators, lurking near riverbanks, ancient ruins or deep jungle interiors. Their ambush tactics are similar to that of smaller boas, striking with its jaws to stun and constrict their prey, causing 3-18 damage each round if they succeed in getting hold. Those with an 18/50 or better strength have a 1 in 6 chance of breaking free; those with a 19 strength need a 2 in 6; this increases by 1 per point above 19.

Despite their size, titanboas are surprisingly silent hunters, capable of moving through undergrowth or water with eerie stealth. Some have been known to stalk prey for hours, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. They are particularly feared by explorers and dungeon delvers, as a titanboa’s lair often doubles as a natural deathtrap — dense, humid and filled with the remains of past victims. Many believe these serpents are ancient remnants of a forgotten age, their presence a reminder that the wild places of the world still hold creatures beyond mortal reckoning.

See also,
Amphibians & Reptiles (sage study)
Bestiary