The Staff of the Oaken Serpent

The Staff of the Oaken Serpent is a short, almost club-like staff covered in a mottled green and yellow leaf pattern. The stout end of the staff vaguely resembles a serpent’s head.


Constant Powers: Quarterstaff +3/+3

Invoked Powers: By touching the staff and speaking the appropriate command words, the wielder is able to cast the following divine spells from the staff at the cost of one charge (CL8 or wielder’s Druid level, whichever is higher) - Call Lightning, Entangle, Obscuring Mist, Summon Nature’s Ally V

Additionally, if thrown to the ground, the staff transforms into a giant constrictor snake that obeys all commands of the owner (in animal form, it retains the +3 enhancement bonus possessed by the staff form). The serpent returns to staff form whenever the wielder desires or whenever it moves farther than 100’ from its owner. If the snake form is slain, it reverts to staff form and cannot transform or be used to cast spells for three days.

Staff of the Oaken Serpent (animal form)
CR: - -     Medium Animal     HD: 3d8+6 (19 hp)
Init: +3     Spd: 20’, climb 20’, swim 20’     AC: 15 (+3 Dex, +2 natural): t: 13, ff: 12
Attacks: (BAB +2; Grap +5); +8 Bite: 13+7 plus Poison plus Improved Grab (1d10 Con/1d10 Con, Fort DC14) (20/x2) or +5 Constrict: 1d3+4/successful grapple
SA: Constrict; Improved Grab
SQ: Scent
Align: N     Saves: Fort +4 Ref +6 Will +2
Str: 17 (+3) Dex: 17 (+3) Con: 13 (+1) Int: 1 (-5) Wis: 12 (+1) Cha: 2 (-4)
Skills: Balance +11, Climb +14, Hide +10, Listen +7, Spot +7, Swim +11
Feats: Alertness; Toughness

• Constrict (Ex): On a successful grapple check, a constrictor snake deals 1d3+7 points of damage.
• Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the 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.
• Poison (Su): 1d10 Con/1d10 Con (Fort DC14 negates), uses 1 charge per strike
• Skills: +4 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, and Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on Balance, Climb and Swim checks. Snakes use either their Str or Dex modifier for Climb checks, whichever is higher.

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