Back in the day, White Dwarf magazine was the British answer to the Dragon, and its regular “Fiend Factory” column was a source of many monsters for early D&D games. In fact, the first edition Fiend Folio (1981) was largely a collection of monsters submitted to WD. This 3e conversion is part of an ongoing project to resurrect some interesting WD monsters that, for one reason or another, fell by the wayside.

The death snake was a uncredited submission that Don Turnbull included in “Monsters Mild and Malign” from White Dwarf 4 (Dec 1977/Jan 1978). Many of the monsters from this installment had been drawn from the publications Dungeoneer or Alarums and Excursions, so it is possible that the death snake may have appeared even earlier than WD 4. In any case, many thanks to fellow EnWorlder Echohawk for providing me with the details on this monster.

This foul serpentine creature, perhaps ten feet long, appears to be a large black snake with a strangely expressive face that appears to be twisted up as if in mourning.

Death Snake CR 4

Death Snake

Always NE Large undead

Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., scent; Listen +2, Spot +2

AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 13
(+4 natural, -1 size, +1 Dex)

hp 29 (4 HD)

Immune undead traits

Resist turn resistance +2

Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +5

Spd 20 ft. (4 squares), climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.

Melee bite +5 (1d8+6 plus energy drain)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Base Atk +2; Grp +10

Atk Options constrict, improved grab

Special Actions lamentation (DC 14)

Abilities Str 19, Con –, Dex 13, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 15

Feats Improved Initiative, Toughness

Skills Balance +1, Climb +12, Hide +2, Listen +2, Spot +2, Swim +12

Environment any

Organization solitary

Treasure none

Advancement 5–12 HD (Huge)

Constrict (Ex) On a successful grapple check, a death snake deals 1d6+6 points of damage plus energy drain.

Energy Drain (Su) Living creatures hit by a death snake’s bite or constrict attacks gain one negative level. The DC is 14 for the Fortitude save to remove a negative level. The save DC is Charisma-based. For each negative level bestowed, the death snake gains 5 temporary hit points.

Improved Grab (Ex) To use this ability, a death snake must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict.

Lamentation (Su) A death snake can fill an opponent with a sense of overwhelming grief just by looking onto his or her eyes. This is similar to a gaze attack, except that the death snake must use a standard action, and those merely looking at it are not affected. Anyone the death snake targets must succeed on a DC 14 Will save or take a -3 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks, and skill checks for 1d4+1 rounds. The save DC is Charisma-based. The ability has a range of 30 feet.

The origins of this dread creature are shrouded in mystery. It appears to be a giant snake in mourning, and is often found in dreary lands near graveyards or ruins.

Strategy and Tactics

The death snake will generally begin any encounter by using its lamentation ability on the nearest creature within range, and then moving into melee with the unfortunate victim.