Monsterpedia
Tomb Cobra
Monster Level - II
Soul Type - Composite
Intelligence - Guardian Beast
Strength - Almost human
Magic - None
Rarity - Uncommon
Tomb Cobras are very large venomous snakes that hide among corpses and gravesites. Their bone white bodies and the black skull on their hood make them very recognizable, but they still blend in well among skeletons and marble.
These large snakes act like an ambush predator, though no one's ever seen them eat anything. They linger in small areas, waiting for a human to pass by before striking. They also show more intelligence than a normal beast, accurately determining where attacks come from and targeting the most vulnerable members of a party.
While a tomb cobra has enough constriction strength to match an unmodified human, they are still a snake, with all the issues not having limbs brings. Much more dangerous is their bite. Tomb Cobra venom is a very fast acting neurotoxin, and they never 'dry' bite. Paralysis in the affected area starts in about two minutes, with death usually taking less than ten.
Merge
Common Name : Serpentfolk (common to all snake merges)
Benefits : Venomous bite, darkvision, strength boost.
Weaknesses : Speech impediment, agoraphobia
Most people who get tomb serpent merges do so by accident. They're one of the few creatures with souls found in undead dungeons, so people trying to use undead to train before getting a soul merge will encounter and occasionally kill them.
It's not the worst merge around. People who merge with tomb serpents most immediately notice they get pale skin, black and white hair, snake eyes, and a serpent's tongue alongside their new sharp canines. A light dusting of white scales is also common. As far as benefits, they get a small boost to strength, especially their grip. They also get the ability to see in dark spaces. However the most obvious benefit is the ability to inject venom into things they bite.
The downsides can be somewhat annoying however. In addition to the serpentfolk 'hiss' that many snake merges suffer from, they also gain a mild agoraphobia. While it's not crippling, being uncomfortable whenever you're outside isn't fun.