Basilisk
| Species | beast |
| No. Appearing | 1–2 |
| Behaviour | presocial |
| Range | steppe, subterranean |
| Size | 7 ft. long |
| Weight | 110 lbs. |
| Intelligence | 2 |
| Armour Class | 4 |
| Hit Dice | 6+1 |
| Action Points | 3 |
| Max. Stride | {{{stride}}} |
| THAC0 | 17 |
| Hp/Die | d6 |
| Attack Forms | bite |
| Damage | 1–10 |
| Special Attacks | petrification, surprise 4 in 6 |
Basilisks are reptilian beasts whose petrifying gaze can turn the unwary to stone in an instant, making them both feared and hunted for the alchemical properties of their remains. Possessing six legs, these creatures are spontaneously born from the egg of a serpent or toad—though the reason remains a mystery to most. A basilisk will never stray far from cover or stone, relying on its surroundings for concealment. If injured, it will instinctively seek out a hole or crevice in which to disappear and escape.
Advantages
The basilisk's chief threat is a gaze that transforms enemies into stone. Once meeting and being surprised, or failing initiative, all creatures must roll a saving throw against the basilisk's gaze, or be turned to stone. Otherwise, it is presumed the creature has had time to look away and a saving throw is not needed. That said, any attack on the beast with eyes open will, again, require the saving throw. This is true of every sighted attack that is attempted. A combatant may attempt to fight the beast with eyes closed, but if stunned, a saving throw must be made to see if the hapless defender has opened their eyes at a wrong moment! The only safe way to fight a basilisk is to retreat, tie a blindfold over one's eyes and fight the creature that way. This takes time, however, and the basilisk isn't always willing to wait.
Fighting the creature blind gives a penalty of -8 to hit. The basilisk knows to make little sound and it may conceal itself among stones or beneath undergrowth, so as to be less detectable as it attacks. It will move around to attack from the flank or the rear as well, if it can.
Myths
Though believed by many to be true, the glance of a basilisk cannot be redirected by a mirror, causing the basilisk to turn itself to stone. It is true, however, that the basilisk may be observed safely through a mirror. Characters with trick-shooting ability may fight the basilisk this way with relative safety.
See Bestiary
