Iron cobra (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the iron cobra is a construct.
Publication history
The iron cobra first appeared in the first edition in the original Fiend Folio (1981), credited to Phillip Masters.[1]
The iron cobra also appears in The Compleat Alchemist by Bard Games (1982).
The iron cobra appears in the second edition in Dragon #164 (December 1990), including the normal iron cobra and the giant iron cobra.[2] The iron cobra appears in the Monstrous Compendium Fiend Folio Appendix (1992).[3]
The iron cobra appears in the third edition Fiend Folio (2003).[4]
The iron cobra appears in the fourth edition Monster Manual (2008), under the homunculus entry.
Description
The iron cobra resembles a normal cobra, only made of metal. The metal is usually, as the creature's name suggests, iron. The body is an interconnection of metal segments, while the fan is wing-like, and inscribed with runes. It has sharp fangs, and rubies for eyes.
Construction
The iron cobra is typically built and animated (they require more magic than machinery) by neutral or evil aligned mages in the above-mentioned settings to act as a sentry, interrogator, assassin, or servant. They are often placed in a dungeon or a laboratory or such to make the place seem more ominous/mystical and to torture, intimidate and simply stop those who come in. In some settings it is loaded with poison, while in other settings its bite merely causes sharp damage. It is also sometimes shown as being able to fire a deadly beam of energy from its jeweled eyes.
Personality
Iron cobras cannot speak. Each iron cobra has the same alignment as its creator.
References
- ^ Turnbull, Don, ed. Fiend Folio (TSR, 1981)
- ^ Jones, Spike Y. "The Mechanics of the Iron Cobra" Dragon #164 (TSR, 1990)
- ^ Williams, Skip, et al. Monstrous Compendium Fiend Folio Appendix (TSR, 1992)
- ^ Cagle, Eric, Jesse Decker, James Jacobs, Erik Mona, Matt Sernett, Chris Thomasson, and James Wyatt. Fiend Folio (Wizards of the Coast, 2003)
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