Sheneya the Werecobra Original Stats
SHENEYA
BIOGRAPHY
Sheneya was born in the distant realm of Zakhara, a desert land of genies, sultans, and tropical oases. She is the fruit of an unholy union between a human woman and an elder serpent. Neither truly woman nor truly beast, Sheneya is a thoroughly evil creature who uses her unique talents for murder and assassination.
Appearance
Sheneya is an extraordinarily thin woman who stands some five and a half feet tall. Her skin is dark and tightly stretched over her bones. Her eyes gleam blackly and dart about constantly, as if ever wary.
Although Sheneya does not feel comfortable wearing clothes, she recognizes their importance in human society. She tends to favour whatever outfit helps her to blend in, paying no attention to color or style, and generally looking somewhat disheveled.
The most obvious evidence of Sheneya’s unique background is a complete lack of hair from head to toe. From a distance, it may seem that her head is shaven, but up close it is obvious that Sheneya actually has no hair. Her other distinctive trait is an extremely low body temperature, roughly half that of a normal human. Anyone who touches her bare skin notices that she feels cold to the touch, and characters using infravision can see the difference. This has led more than one doomed adventurer to assume that Sheneya is some sort of undead creature.
Sheneya
Maledictive Werecobra, Chaotic Evil
| Armor Class | 7, 5, or 3 | Str | 11 |
| Movement | 15 | Dex | 16 |
| Level/Hit Dice | 4+2 | Con | 12 |
| Hit Points | 25 | Int | 15 |
| THAC0 | 17 | Wis | 13 |
| Morale | Steady (10) | Cha | 16 |
| No. of Attacks | 1 | | |
| Damage/Attack | 1d3 (bite) | | |
| Special Attacks | Poison and enthralling | | |
Special
Defenses. | Hit only by ivory and
+1 or better magical weapons | | |
Magic
Resistance. | Immune to charm or
enchantment/charm spells | | |
Background
Sheneya’s parents, Jandi and Alleya, were entertainers who traveled the sands of Zakhara in search of adventure and gold. Theirs was a stormy relationship, and they were known to quarrel loudly with some regularity.
During their travels, the couple met a mysterious nomad who offered them magical secrets for charming snakes. He gave his name as Hister but would say nothing of his past. Hister was, in fact, an agent of the almost mythical Grand Snakemaster (See “Snakes” in the MONSTROUS MANUAL tome), who had taken the guise of a man. In exchange for his secrets, Hister asked that Alleya bear his child. He explained that he was growing old and wanted to leave the world some offspring.
The deal completed, the disguised serpent went on its way. Sheneya’s parents made good use of the powers they had gained, and their act became renown throughout the land. The couple’s fame and fortune—like the child in Alleya’s womb, Sheneya—grew with each each passing month.
When the time came for Alleya to deliver, however, trouble arose. As the entered labor, a terrible fever wracked her body. Minutes after Sheneya was born, Alleya died.
An examination of the body revealed that Alleya had been poisoned. Knowing that the couple was prone to loud arguments, the authorities grew suspicious. Investigating further, they learned that the child was not Jandi’s. This, they thought, was certainly motive enough for a man to attempt murder of both his wife and a bastard child. They eventually beheaded Jandi for Alleya’s death, although he protested his innocence to the last.
As no one else appeared to claim her, Sheneya was placed in the care of a man who professed to be her uncle. Thus it was that she was reunited with the sinister creature who had sired her. Hister explained to Sheneya that she was a unique creature, one who would do the bidding of the Grand Snakemaster in the world of men. In time, she would be rewarded for her loyalty and efforts with power over men and serpents alike.
Current Sketch
Sheneya believes she has a great destiny to fulfill, although exactly what it is she does not know. She is convinced, however, that one day both men and serpents will be hers to command. Most of her life is now spent researching ancient lore and learning secrets of mankind. She is especially interested in human stories involving serpents in general and the Grand Snakemaster in particular. When the day comes for that creature’s plans come about, Sheneya intends to be ready.
Personality
Sheneya is a cold and cunning woman, utterly emotionless and without compassion. She has no respect for life other than her own, and anyone who crosses her is likely to wind up poisoned in the night. Although the years have brought her a greater understanding of human society, she is still uncomfortable when dealing with people. Most notice there is something odd about her manner and speech.
Combat
Sheneya prefers to avoid violence except when her opponents are helpless. Although she usually accomplishes this by means of her enthralling dance, she has also been known to use sedatives and other measures to get the upper hand. Still, whatever the situation, Sheneya is a dangerous opponent.
Weapons not made of ivory or imbued with a magical enchantment of at least +1 cannot harm her.
Also, the very blood in her veins is so infused with deadly venom that it makes Sheneya immune to all poisons. Indeed, so lethal is her blood that it is treated as poison itself. In game terms, it is considered a type K poison (contact; 2d4 minutes; 5/0) if it comes into contact with exposed flesh, or a type I poison (ingested; 2d6 minutes; 30/15) if ingested. If Sheneya’s blood were injected directly into someone’s veins, it would be treated as a type E (injected; immediate; death/20) poison.
Sheneya has mastered a mesmerizing dance that affects all those within 60 feet who watch her gyrations. This attack, which she calls the “Dance of the Cobra,” requires onlookers to pass a saving throw vs. paralysis or be enthralled until 1d6 rounds after it ends. The dance’s sensual nature is such that a –2 penalty is applied to the saving throw.
Because her mind is neither human nor serpentine, Sheneya is immune to all spells from the sphere of Charm and the Enchantment/Charm school. The sole exception is the
snake charm spell, which requires her to make a saving throw vs. spell. Failure leaves her stunned for 1d4 rounds.
Human Aspect
When Sheneya is attacked in her human form, she generally plays the part of a helpless woman. She makes every effort to appear meek and timid, defending herself more with shrieks of fear and alarm than actual blows.
If this tactic fails to gain mercy, she either attacks with her magical
dagger +1 or transforms into one of her more dangerous aspects. As a rule, she chooses the latter only when she is unobserved or has no other choice.
In her human aspect, her Armor Class is 7. This changes when Sheneya assumes either of her other shapes.
Hybrid Aspect
When in the shape of a snake-woman, Sheneya can be very deadly indeed. Her skin is covered by a fine layer of glistening scales, giving her a natural Armor Class of 5.
When Sheneya attacks in her hybrid aspect, she does so with her deadly bite. While this attack inflicts only 1d4 points of damage, it allows her to inject a powerful venom into the veins of her enemies. They must pass a saving throw vs. death or be slain in 1d4+1 rounds by this poison unless appropriate healing measures are undertaken. A penalty is applied to this roll, equal to the number of points of damage the hit inflicted. Thus, someone bitten for 2 points makes the saving throw at a –2 penalty.
Anyone not slain by the poison still feels its effects. On the round immediately after being bitten, a wave of weakness and nausea sweeps over the victim, cutting his Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores in half. This change may indirectly affect attack and damage rolls. Armor Class adjustments, and even bonus hit points. The effects last for one day per point of damage inflicted by the bite. Those bitten more than once find that the duration is extended by the additional points of damage inflicted, though there is no further reduction in ability.
Giant Cobra Aspect
Sheneya’s third form is that of a giant cobra. In this guise, Sheneya attacks only with her bite. This inflicts 1d4 points of damage and injects a toxin identical to the one described above. Because of the great speed with which she strikes in this form, Sheneya receives a –2 bonus on her initiative. The scales that cover her in this form give her a natural Armor Class of 3.
Originally appeared in Children of the Night - Werebeasts (1998).
