Gem Serpents
The fire snake, youngling of the salamander, was brought here by auntie sephara the crystal hag. A deal was struck, and the subservient clan of salamanders was enslaved by the hag. Not great news for the salamanders; these slaves of the plane of fire were once again bound. The magical essence of the grove has caused their skin to bulge, and their bones to strengthen.
Unfinished Transformation
Gem snakes and gem serpents exterior doesn’t show much of their former self, but the transformation is not perfect. When their exterior is subjugated to fire damage, the core’s heat rises as its salamander heritage awakens briefly. As the snake matures, it learns to awaken its core on its own.
Hag Servants
Gem serpents do not like hags, their race has always been subjugated, but being stripped of their form to transform into grotesque snakelike beings. The magic of the agreement they mistakenly accepted free’d them from the Efreeti, but chained them to the will of the hag. The magic allows the hag to command them freely. They must comply with the hag’s demands or their heart will be pierced. If the Gem Serpent is resurrected, it is finally free from the hag’s grasp.
Unseen Threat
Gem Serpents maily use their burrowing to move around, and will often hide underneath areas the hag wants to protect. Using the vibrations in the earth, they keep their focus on detecting movement. When an area is protected by gem serpents, several holes can be found around the area.
Gem Snake
Medium elemental, neutral evil
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 52 (8d8 + 16)
Speed 20 ft., 40 ft burrow
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
| 16 (+3) | 11 (+0) | 15 (+2) | 6 (-2) | 12 (+1) | 8 (-1) |
Damage Resistances fire, bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities petrified, prone, stunned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 30 ft. passive Perception 11
Languages Ignan
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Fiery Core. When the Gem Snake takes fire damage, its next bite attack deals an additional 7 (2d6) fire damage.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The serpent makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its tail.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 10ft., one target. Hit 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
Gem Serpent
Medium elemental, neutral evil
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 128 (15d10 + 45)
Speed 20 ft., 40 ft burrow.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
| 21 (+5) | 11 (0) | 17 (+3) | 11 (-2) | 12 (+1) | 8 (-1) |
Damage Resistances fire, bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities petrified, prone, stunned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 30 ft. passive Perception 11
Languages Ignan
Challenge 8 (XP)
Fiery Core. When the Gem Serpent has taken fire damage, on its next turn, all of it’s attacks will deal an additional 7 (2d6) fire damage
Glide. The serpent can burrow through nonmagical, unworked crystal and earth. While doing so, the serpent doesn’t disturb the material it moves through.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The serpent makes three attacks: one with its bite, one with its claws and one with its tail. Alternatively, it uses overheat.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5ft.,one target. Hit 7 (1d8 + 5) piercing damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit 10 (2d4 + 5) bludgeoning damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10ft., one target. Hit 16 (2d10 + 5) bludgeoning damage.
Overheat (Recharge 5/6). The Gem Serpent channels heat from inside its body, and breathing fire in a 40 foot cone. Each creature in the cone must succeed on a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or take 27 (6d8) fire damage. The gem serpent takes (7) 2d6 fire damage when it uses this ability.