Chthonic Serpent (3.5e Martial Discipline)/All Maneuvers

Anaconda Crush

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	7
Prerequisite:	Two Chthonic Serpent maneuvers
Initiation Action:	1 standard action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature

The largest, heaviest snake there is, could squeeze a man's life from his lungs with scarcely an effort.

As Binding Constrictor, but deal constriction damage equal to your weapon's damage (or the sum of both if using two weapons to grapple) +6d6.

Binding Constrictor

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	1
Initiation Action:	1 standard action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature; see text
Saving Throw:	None

Channeling the great constrictor snakes of the jungle, you whip your weapon around your enemy such that it binds him, and you begin to crush him in the tightening vice of chain.

As part of this maneuver, you make a single melee attack against an opponent with one of the discipline's associated weapons. If this attack hits, you may immediately make a free Grapple check against him, and if you use Weapon Finesse with this attack, you may substitute your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier on this and all Grapple checks until the grapple is broken. You also gain a bonus on this check equal to half of your Initiator Level.

When a grapple is begun in this way, the weapon used for it may be used to attack your opponent without penalty even if it is not a light weapon for you. You may also make attacks with a weapon in another hand, and if so armed you may threaten squares around you and take attacks of opportunity, though you take a -4 penalty on all attacks against any opponent beside the one you have bound. Alternatively, if the weapon in your other hand is also one of the discipline's associated weapons and can reach your foe, you may wrap both around him, which adds +4 to your Grapple check.

You may also maintain the grapple without moving into your opponent's space. Doing so prevents your opponent from damaging you by grappling or from pinning you. However, it also allows him to use non-light weapons to attack you, though he still takes the -4 penalty and may not use more than one. You cannot pin him without entering his space as normal, nor can you take items from him or prevent him from speaking. You are not treated as grappled for the sake of casting spells or other actions that require concentration, though at least one hand is occupied with the task.

Blurred Bonds

Chthonic Serpent (Boost)
Level:	4
Prerequisite:	One Chthonic Serpent maneuver
Initiation Action:	1 swift action
Range:	Personal
Target:	You
Duration:	End of turn

Spinning weapons become hard to see, hard to predict. You know just how to use this to your advantage.

When you initiate this maneuver, all opponents you threaten are denied their Dexterity bonus to AC, and take a −4 penalty on disarm and trip checks against your first attack against them this turn.

Boa Strike

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	3
Prerequisite:	One Chthonic Serpent maneuver
Initiation Action:	1 standard action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature

As Binding Constrictor, but deal constriction damage equal to your weapon's damage (or the sum of both if using two weapons to grapple) + 2d6.

Bonds of Jörmungandr

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	9
Prerequisite:	Four Chthonic Serpent maneuvers
Initiation Action:	1 full-round action (see text)
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature

The Midgard Serpent, the very bones of the world itself, is the source of your strength. Who can help but be crushed under the very weight of the world?

When initiating this maneuver, make a melee touch attack to initiate a grapple. If you succeed on the grapple check, your opponent takes 4 Strength damage and 4 Constitution damage. You then may make another grapple check. If you succeed again, your opponent takes another 4 Strength damage and another 4 Constitution damage. You may then make a third grapple check. If your foe fails this check, your foe is crushed to death, dropping immediately to −10 HP (or lower, if necessary for death).

If your opponent succeeds on any grapple check, your grapple is broken and the maneuver is over. However, if they succeed on the first check, you will have used only a standard action, and may take your move action for the round. If they succeed on the second check, you may trade a swift action if you have one remaining for a move action if you like. If they succeed on the third check, then you have used a full-round action as normal.

Calamity Symphony

Chthonic Serpent (Stance)
Level:	8
Prerequisite:	Three Chthonic Serpent maneuvers
Initiation Action:	1 swift action
Range:	Personal
Target:	You
Duration:	Stance

Great, whirling coils of death surround you wherever you go, the sweet sound of their slicing the air providing a serenade of destruction.

While in this stance, your weapon adds 5 ft. to its reach, while maintaining the ability to strike adjacent squares. Further, any foe completely surrounded by squares you threaten (or with squares you threaten on three sides and you yourself on the fourth) is considered flanked for all attacks.

This ability does not function if they have a wall or similar on one or more sides, even if you would threaten those squares.

Careful Chains

Chthonic Serpent (Stance)
Level:	3
Prerequisite:	One Chthonic Serpent maneuver
Initiation Action:	1 swift action
Range:	Personal
Target:	You
Duration:	Stance

You know how best to use your weapons for binding, and know the forms and the moves to pull off elegant, effective binds.

While in this stance, you gain a bonus to Grapple checks based on ranks in Use Rope.

Use Rope Ranks	Grapple Bonus
4-8	+3
9-13	+5
14-18	+7
19+	+10

Choking Python

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	5
Prerequisite:	Two Chthonic Serpent maneuvers
Initiation Action:	1 standard action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature

The python's massive strength is a source of inspiration - and terror.

As Binding Constrictor, but deal constriction damage equal to your weapon's damage (or the sum of both if using two weapons to grapple) +4d6.

Cobra Lash

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	6
Prerequisite:	Two Chthonic Serpent maneuvers
Initiation Action:	1 standard action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature

The king of snakes stands tall, strikes long. And none caught in its mesmerizing gaze see it coming.

As Viper Lash, but may attack up to 10 ft. further than normal with the attack, and deals +1d4 Constitution damage.

Coils of Rapture

Chthonic Serpent (Stance)
Level:	1
Initiation Action:	1 swift action
Range:	Personal
Target:	You
Duration:	Stance

Your fighting style takes after monstrous serpents, and your weapon is like an extension of yourself - wrapping, constricting, and crushing your foes.

While in this stance, you may grapple targets up to four size categories larger than yourself. Further, if your target is larger than you, all size bonuses and penalties to grapple checks are halved.

Crack of the Whip

Chthonic Serpent (Stance)
Level:	1
Initiation Action:	1 swift action
Range:	Personal
Target:	You
Duration:	Stance

You know the true way of the whip: where lashes can leave lasting damage, how to handle armored opponents, how to move a whip quickly and strike suddenly, and most of all how to use a whip in every situation.

While in this stance, any Whip that you use may be used for attacks of opportunity and does not provoke attacks of opportunity itself. You may choose to deal either lethal or non-lethal damage with a whip, at no penalty. Finally, enemies are immune to your whip attacks only if the sum of their Armor and Natural Armor bonuses are greater than your Initiator Level.

Dance of Chains

Chthonic Serpent (Counter)
Level:	2
Initiation Action:	1 immediate action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature

Your twirling, whirling weaponry is always ready to ensnare an opponent.

At any point in which an opponent is about to attack you in melee, you may initiate this maneuver to gain a free grapple attempt that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If successful, that attack takes a -4 penalty and from then on normal grapple rules apply.

Death Adder Lash

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	4
Prerequisite:	One Chthonic Serpent maneuver
Initiation Action:	1 standard action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature

A sudden blur, a twinge of pain - and the snakebite kills.

As Viper Lash, but also deals 1 Constitution damage.

Death's Embrace

Chthonic Serpent (Boost)
Level:	6
Prerequisite:	Two Chthonic Serpent maneuvers
Initiation Action:	1 swift action
Range:	Personal
Target:	You
Duration:	End of turn
Saving Throw:	Reflex negates

Cold steel, wrapped around foes, showing them the way to the dark of the grave.

When you initiate this maneuver, each foe you successfully damage with a melee attack this turn must make a Reflex save against DC 16 + your Dexterity modifier, or have their eyes plucked out, blinding them. This status can only be reverted by using Restoration, Heal, Greater Restoration, Miracle, or Wish.

Destroy Evasion

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	8
Prerequisite:	Four Chthonic Serpent maneuvers
Initiation Action:	1 standard action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature
Duration:	Until end of encounter or until discharged
Saving Throw:	None

You strike your opponent, but the blow causes no injury... this time. You smile as your opponent stumbles helplessly, completely open to attack.

As part of this maneuver, make a single melee attack. If you connect, your attack does no damage, but the next time your target would be required to make a Reflex save during this encounter, that Reflex save automatically fails.

Flexible Strike

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	1
Initiation Action:	1 standard action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature

Your weapons of choice bend and curve, easily allowing you to wrap attacks around shields, ignoring them completely.

As a part of this maneuver, make a single melee attack. This attack ignores your opponent's Shield bonus to AC.

Frenzied Serpent Flail

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	3
Prerequisite:	One Chthonic Serpent maneuver
Initiation Action:	Standard action
Range:	See text
Area:	Cone shaped area; see text
Duration:	Instantaneous
Saving Throw:	Reflex half

It was as if he was using a thousand whips at once, impossible to dodge!

Using one of your discipline's associated weapons, you flail your weapon about in a cone effect that extends out as far as your weapon's normal reach +5 ft. All creatures in the area of effect take damage equal to the amount you would have dealt with your weapon times 1d4 for the number of attacks, DC 13 + ability modifier for attack Reflex save for half damage. These are still separate attacks, so damage reduction applies to each. At +6 BAB, it becomes 1d6 attacks, at +11, it becomes 1d8 attacks, and at +16 it becomes 2d6 attacks.

This is an area effect (such as for the purpose of affecting swarms) without an attack roll, therefore you cannot critical with it nor apply any effects which alter attack rolls such as Power Attack.

Ground Kisser

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	6
Prerequisite:	Three Chthonic Serpent maneuvers
Initiation Action:	1 swift action
Range:	Weapon's range
Target:	One grappled creature
Duration:	Instantaneous
Saving Throw:	Fortitude partial or Reflex negates; see text

I will lower you to the level where you belong... the level of dirt.

You can initiate this maneuver whenever you have a creature grappled by using another Chthonic Serpent maneuver, such as Binding Constrictor. As part of initiating this maneuver, make a grapple check with a bonus of +1 per two initiator levels. If you succeed, you violently slam your foe to the floor with a flick of your wrist to retract your weapon, dealing 6d6 damage plus an additional 1d6 damage per two initiator levels, knocking the opponent prone, and forcing the foe to succeed on a Fortitude save or be stunned for 1 round. If you lose the grapple check, you do essentially the same thing, but much more clumsily; as a result, you do half damage, the foe is not subject to stunning (and therefore does not need to make a Fortitude save), and the foe is entitled to a Reflex save to negate the maneuver outright.

Regardless of the result of the grapple check or saving throw, using this maneuver ends the grapple.

Inescapable Embrace

Chthonic Serpent (Stance) [See text]
Level:	9
Prerequisite:	Seven Chthonic Serpent maneuvers, Str 14, Dex 16; see text
Initiation Action:	1 swift action
Range:	Personal
Target:	You
Duration:	Stance
Saving Throw:	None

Your whip and your ropes are extensions of yourself. Once you latch on to someone, you never let go. There's no escape from your grasp. None at all. Those who you capture are your prisoners for eternity.

You gain a bonus to grapple checks equal to your ranks in Use Rope. In addition, you gain a bonus to Use Rope checks equal to your total bonus on grapple checks (which does allow you to effectively double the value of your ranks in Use Rope).

Special: If you have the Binding Growth feat, you may ignore one of the two ability score prerequisites. In addition, your Binding Growth is made much more effective by being in this stance. You may place a Binding Growth on another creature with a ranged touch attack (its range equal to the reach of your Chthonic Serpent weapon or 5 feet/3 initiator levels, whichever is higher); if you hit, your target must immediately succeed on a grapple check against you (taking a −10 penalty on her grapple check) or be helplessly wrapped up in your Binding Growth within 1d4 rounds (the target can continue making grapple checks to escape until the growth is complete, but each successive round imposes a further −5 penalty). The DC to place a Binding Growth on a foe you have pinned or lifted becomes the target's grapple modifier or Escape Artist modifier, whichever is lower (instead of 10 + the target's grapple modifier), and you may make a Use Rope check instead of a grapple check to place the Binding Growth without affecting the time it takes to apply it; all of this means that the Binding Growth can be placed much more easily if you decide to do it conventionally. A slashing weapon must do damage in excess of 10 + 2×your HD points of damage to break the bonds, and the bonds' AC increases to 15 + 2×your Constitution modifier. The DC to break the bonds with a Strength check becomes 25 + 2×your Constitution modifier, while the DC to break them with an Escape Artist check becomes 20 + 2×your HD + 2×your Constitution modifier. Even if the Binding Growth somehow gets broken, it continues to entangle the victim for 3d6 rounds, and you automatically succeed on any attempts to put the Binding Growth back on while the victim remains entangled. You may also partially (or completely) remove and replace your own Binding Growth on a creature you've already bound, which allows you to do pretty much anything you want with it. If you are not in this stance, Binding Growth operates as normal (see its feat description).

If you have the Chthonic Grip feat (but not the Improved Grapple feat), you may ignore one of the two ability score prerequisites. (This means that if you have both Binding Growth and Chthonic Grip, you don't need to meet either of the ability score prerequisites.) You may also, at your option, make all constriction damage you inflict nonlethal with no penalty, and you may use bonds of Jörmungandr (if you know it) to render a creature unconscious for 24 hours instead of outright killing it (again with no penalty).

Introduction to Dirt

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	2
Prerequisite:	One Chthonic Serpent maneuver
Initiation Action:	1 standard action
Range:	Weapon's range
Target:	One grappled creature
Duration:	Instantaneous
Saving Throw:	Fortitude partial or Reflex negates; see text

How's that dirt taste, fool?

You can initiate this maneuver whenever you have a creature grappled by using another Chthonic Serpent maneuver, such as Binding Constrictor. As part of initiating this maneuver, make a grapple check with a bonus of +1 per two initiator levels. If you succeed, you violently slam your foe to the floor with a flick of your wrist to retract your weapon, dealing 3d6 damage plus an additional 1d6 damage per two initiator levels, knocking the opponent prone, and forcing the foe to succeed on a Fortitude save or be dazed for 1 round. If you lose the grapple check, you do essentially the same thing, but much more clumsily; as a result, you do half damage, the foe is not subject to dazing (and therefore does not need to make a Fortitude save), and the foe is entitled to a Reflex save to negate the maneuver outright.

Regardless of the result of the grapple check or saving throw, using this maneuver ends the grapple.

If you are capable of learning 4th-level maneuvers and know at least two other Chthonic Serpent maneuvers, you can initiate this maneuver as a move action.

Author: Leziad (talk) Date Created: 11th April 2023 Status: Complete Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Prehensile Parrying Lash

Chthonic Serpent (Stance)
Level:	1
Initiation Action:	1 Swift Action
Range:	Personal
Target:	You
Duration:	Stance

While in this you can use flexible weapons you wield (such as a flail or a whip) as an effective 'hand' to manipulate, but not hold, objects out of their reach. It could be used to pull a lever, bring an unattended object of 5 lbs or less to your free hand, and similar simple tasks. You can also use your flexible weapons as a grappling hook with a range of your reach with the weapon + 5 ft., using your attack roll instead of a Use Rope. Attaching your flexible weapon is a move action, but detaching it is a free action.

If you wield a flexible weapon in one hand, and keep your other hand free, you may use your flexible weapon to parry incoming attacks, gaining a +2 shield bonus to AC. This bonus increases by +1 at 8th level and 16th level.

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Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Class Ability Components → Martial Disciplines → Chthonic Serpent

Rapture Rose

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	4
Prerequisite:	One Chthonic Serpent maneuver
Initiation Action:	1 standard action
Range:	Melee attack and ranged attack
Targets:	Two creatures

Death stalks all, and takes from us everything we have.

When initiating this strike, you attempt to disarm an opponent; this does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If successful, you may fling your opponents weapon at another foe. This attack is treated as a ranged attack that deals the weapon's damage. The weapon's range increment is 10 ft., and you may further only target units within a cone beginning at the original owner of the weapon and pointed at you.

Reap What Has Been Sown

Chthonic Serpent (Counter)
Level:	4
Prerequisite:	One Chthonic Serpent maneuver
Initiation Action:	1 immediate action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One attacking creature

Your weapons whip and twirl about you, providing an effective shield against attacks.

At any point in which a foe is entering a square adjacent to you, you may initiate this maneuver to begin a grapple against them.

Reap the Whirlwind

Chthonic Serpent (Boost)
Level:	7
Prerequisite:	Two Chthonic Serpent maneuvers
Initiation Action:	1 swift action
Range:	Personal
Target:	You
Duration:	End of turn

Striking high and low, your relentless blows provide a tempest of death for your foes.

After initiating this maneuver, you gain a free full attack against the next foe you successfully trip this turn.

Shutdown Squeeze

Chthonic Serpent, Organic Repast (Strike) [X-Discipline]
Level:	7
Prerequisite:	Three Chthonic Serpent maneuvers, three Organic Repast maneuvers
Initiation Action:	1 full-round action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature
Duration:	Instantaneous
Saving Throw:	Fortitude partial

You are getting sleepy… very sleepy… soon, you will belong to me.

This maneuver works similarly to bonds of Jörmungandr, except that instead of dealing Strength and Constitution damage and attempting to kill the target, it injects the target with a single dose of Shutdown Serum for each successful grapple check you make. Your target is entitled to Fortitude saves to resist the poison as normal (DC = 20 or 17 + your Constitution modifier, whichever is higher), though successful Fortitude saves do not end the maneuver. The maneuver ends as soon as the foe succeeds on a grapple check, receives a 15th dose of Shutdown Serum (and therefore crosses the "lethality" threshold and succumbs to permanent unconsciousness), or you have made a number of grapple checks equal to ¼ your initiator level, rounded down.

This maneuver always takes a full-round action, even if the foe breaks free (or succumbs) on the very first or second grapple check.

A xenotheric creature can spend bio-energy points to increase the save DC by 2 per spent bio-energy point. This save DC increase lasts for the entire duration of the maneuver, but no longer (so it doesn't influence secondary saves against the Shutdown Serum).

Thundersnap Lash

Chthonic Serpent (Boost) [Sonic]
Level:	1
Initiation Action:	Swift
Range:	Personal
Target:	Self
Duration:	1 round
Saving Throw:	None

CRACK! The sting of whip left your ears ringing...

All your attacks this round deal an additional 1d6 sonic damage. On a natural 19-20, your opponent is also deafened for 1 minute.

Viper Lash

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	2
Initiation Action:	1 standard action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature

Like a rattlesnake glaring down its prey, you coil up, readying yourself - until you suddenly lash out and strike your foe.

As a part of this maneuver, make a single melee attack. You may attack a target up to 5 feet beyond your weapon's usual reach. Your target is denied his Dexterity bonus to AC for this attack.

Way of Ourobouros

Chthonic Serpent (Stance)
Level:	5
Prerequisite:	Two Chthonic Serpent maneuvers
Initiation Action:	1 swift action
Range:	Personal
Target:	You
Duration:	Stance

The snake eating its own tail, a sign of infinity, or life and death, or the inherent duality in all things - you have learned to give and take in equal measure, and know how to handle multiple opponents.

While in this stance, you may grapple an opponent with any of the discipline's associated weapons without entering their space, as with Binding Constrictor. Further, if you use two such weapons, you may bind two opponents in this fashion at once, as long as both are within your reach. Finally, when using Binding Constrictor, Boa Strike, Choking Python, or Anaconda Crush, you may choose to instead initiate the maneuver as a full-round action, in which case it may be used simultaneously with each hand against two different opponents.

Whirling Scythe

Chthonic Serpent (Boost)
Level:	3
Prerequisite:	One Chthonic Serpent maneuver
Initiation Action:	1 swift action
Range:	Personal
Target:	You
Duration:	End of turn

Your weapons are always in motion, always ready to strike a foe who presents a weakness.

Until the end of the turn, on any successful Trip attempt you gain a free attack, which deals an extra 4d6 damage.

Whirlwind Lash

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	5
Prerequisite:	Two Chthonic Serpent maneuvers
Initiation Action:	1 full-round action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature

You yourself have become as a maelstrom, pulling all with your whirling weapons.

When you initiate this maneuver, you may make a single Disarm or Trip attempt that does not provoke attacks of opportunity against each opponent you threaten.

Wrap-Around Attack

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	3
Prerequisite:	One Chthonic Serpent maneuver
Initiation Action:	1 standard action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature

Your attacks are so flexible that they can not only avoid an opponents shield - your opponents attempts to use their shield actually hinder their ability to avoid your blows.

As a part of this maneuver, make a single melee attack. For this attack, your target's Shield bonus to AC becomes a Shield penalty to AC, reducing it by the same value it normally adds.

Wrath of Quetzalcoatl

Chthonic Serpent (Strike)
Level:	8
Prerequisite:	Three Chthonic Serpent maneuvers
Initiation Action:	1 standard action
Range:	Melee attack
Target:	One creature

Quetzalcoatl, great feathered serpent god, is great and benevolent. This does not prevent his wrath from being terrible indeed...

As Viper Lash, but may attack up to 15 ft. further than normal with the attack, and deals +1d8 Constitution damage.