Characteristics | |
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Type | Construct |
Publication history | |
Source books | Monster Manual (4th edition) |
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the iron cobra is a construct.
Contents |
The iron cobra first appeared in the first edition in the original Fiend Folio (1981).[1]
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.
The iron cobra is most common in settings with a sci-fi/steampunk fantastical theme, such as Eberron or Spelljammer. The iron cobra resembles a normal cobra, only made of metal. The metal is usually, as its 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.
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.
Iron cobras cannot speak. They are of whatever alignment their creator/master is of.
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