Monarch Snake

Forget lions and tigers. These serpents are the true Kings and Queens of the jungle.

  Also known in the literature as the Emperor Snake, or the Iridian Emperor, the Monarch Snake is a superlative species of Serpeform Reptile native to the dense jungles of Axthet.   Very little is actually known about the Monarch Snake. All collated information on the species comes from only thirteen known individuals. The Axthet jungle is a big place, and it is believed that there are more out there somewhere. None are known to reside in the lower jungles along The Dawn Coast, though a reported "sea monster" skeleton as recorded by an early expedition by the Indigo may have actually been the remains of a Monarch Snake.   Like the other native reptiles of the Morning Shores, the Monarch Snake bears no common ancestry with reptiles from the Old Lands, and the resemblance is the product of convergent evolution. The Monarch Snake has the four eyes common to Morning Shores reptiles, and like many other Serpeform reptiles the Monarch Snake's feathers are confined to a crest atop their head, and a narrow mane that runs down the length of their spine. Monarch Snakes possess an unusually large feathered crest towards the back of their skull, and exhibit an exceptionally fine quality of motor control over it, able to angle individual feathers independently of the rest.   No two individual Monarch Snakes are alike in appearance, identifiable as belonging to the same species only by their superlative size and expressive control over their crests. Every known specimen has a unique colouration. Solid bands of colour, lozenges, and chevrons are common features on their scaly hides. White, yellow, red, blue, green, and black are typical colours, the hues and shades of which closely resemble that of the traditional heraldic tinctures of Argent, Or, Gules, Azure, Verde, and Sable respectively.   Much about the Monarch Snake is still completely unknown. For wxampke, it is unknown what they prey upon, as they have never been observed feeding. It is unknown how frequently they reproduce, or for how long they live for, of anything ever dares to prey upon them.  

A majestic creature, quite unlike any Serpeform yet encountered. With its great size comes a fearlessness borne of not having any mortal threat, giving it a placid temperament even when hands are placed against its flank. It is also remarkably inquisitive for such a creature, the one we encountered inspected us stranger intruders to its familiar environment even as we inspected it. I am confident that there is a great intelligence behind those four eyes that we can not yet grasp the scope of.

— Mercer Hatherton, writing on the Axthet Expedition.

  Monarch Snakes, when encountered by expeditions into Axthet, are recorded as being "placid" and "inquisitive" towards the people and pack animals that they had never encountered before. They seem content to simply observe and tolerate being gently touched, though with their sheer size and associated muscle mass nobody has dared to push their luck by treating them roughly.