Fiction:Helxen-Finn's Guide to Beasts and Monsters

Helxen-Finn's Guide to Beasts and Monsters, also known as Helxen-Finn's Bestiary, is a compendium authored by famed hunter Helxen-Finn retelling his encounters with a number of well-known creatures during his travels across. Written in 12 NA, it has since become well known across the world, serving as a survival guide for adventurers and travelers.

Basilisk



 * Encountered at: Ar-Klith
 * Danger level: ✲

''Ah, the wonders of home. Ar-Klith - the mountains of steel, smoke, zeppelins... and strange snake-chicken hybrids.''

''Vile little creatures, they are. Basilisks are snakes which we're quite sure weren't always a thing that slithered in the outskirts of the Sky Empire, but now they do, and that can't be quite ignored since they have a rather nasty venom in them. I've heard peasants they can kill a man just by looking at them, but I know from experience that's a bunch of poppycock spouted by cowardly commoners who can't tell the difference between a brick and a bar of soap.''

''Basilisks can be easily distinguished from other serpents by the comb on their heads. Combs like those of a chicken or rooster. Males have bigger combs than females. Its purpose isn't quite understood other than make us intellectuals believe they aren't a work of nature, but the product of some sick bastard mashing a snake and a chicken together. They grow up to three and a half meters long and live an average of ten years. They seem to possess the ability of controlling the other, slightly more boring types of snakes with some sort of hypnotic powers, obviously as a mean to gain control over the local population and become the apex predators themselves.''

''Dear me, I nearly forgot to speak of the venom itself. The basilisk's body possesses potent earth magic in it, and those inflicted by its venom are petrified in an average of thirty minutes, or at least that's how long it takes for a Bharloron to turn into stone - not like anyone's gonna miss them. Despite popular claim, the basilisk is unable to spit its venom like a desert cobra can, and we have the Earth-Prince to thank for that. Those with power over earth magic appear to resist the venom of the basilisk, but if you are bitten by one of these insidious creatures, your best bet is divine light healing. Curiously, the common weasel appears to be immune to the basilisk's venom, and in fact, the sight of the mammal sends the serpent into a terrified state.''

''While dangerous, the basilisk is not particularly deadly to a prepared hunter; it can safely be engaged from a distance, and despite all that geomancy running through their veins, they're as vulnerable to a bullet to the head as any other snake. I wouldn't recommend going to Ar-Klith without heavy boots, though, unless you're a Klaxxa like me, in which case just fly over them! The wonders of wings. Basilisk fangs are quite requested among alchemists; I've personally made quite the coin with them during my travels, for no armless, legless, cock-headed reptile stands a chance against the superior skill of Helxen-Finn and his shotgun!''