Monster Class: Couatl

Racial Traits:

• Medium Outsider (Native). A couatl increases to size Large as it advances in level.
• Darkvision 60 ft.
• Base land speed 20 ft. A couatl gains a fly speed as it advances in level.
• Automatic Languages: A couatl speaks Celestial, Common and Draconic.
• Favored Class: Sorcerer.

Class Skills: Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Tumble (Dex), Use Magic Device (Cha).

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Couatls are proficient with all simple and martial weapons but not with any armor or shields.

Feats: A couatl selects one feat at 1st level and additional ones at 4th, 10th, and 16th. After 16th level, it selects feats normally according to its character level. Also, a couatl gains Eschew Materials as a bonus feat at 1st level.

Natural Armor: A couatl has a +3 natural armor bonus at 1st level. This bonus increases by +1 every two levels thereafter until it reaches +9 at 13th level, as shown in the table.

Bite (Ex): A couatl has a bite attack as a natural weapon. It deals 1d2 points of base damage; this improves to 1d3 at 5th level when it achieves Large size.

Detect Alignment* (Sp): At 1st level, a couatl can use detect chaos, detect evil, detect good, and detect law as spell-like abilities once per day (caster level equal to its Hit Dice). They may each be used three times per day at 4th level and at will at 7th.

Change Shape (Su): A couatl can assume the form of any Small or Medium humanoid, or revert to its own form, as a standard action. This ability can be used the indicated number of times per day at the indicated duration. At 8th level, the couatl can remain in its chosen shape indefinitely.

Spells: A couatl can cast spells as a sorcerer of a level equal to its Hit Dice. It can choose its spells from the sorcerer list, the cleric list, and from the lists for the Air, Good, and Law domains. All these are considered arcane spells for the couatl.

Improved Grab (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, if a couatl hits an opponent at least two size categories larger than itself with its bite attack, it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. At 7th level, if it gets a hold it can constrict (see below).

Constrict (Ex): With a successful grapple check, a couatl deals 2d8 points of damage, plus 1½ its Strength modifier.

Psionics* (Sp): At 3rd level, a couatl can use detect thoughts and invisibility as spell-like abilities once per day (caster level equal to Hit Dice). They may each be used three times per day at 6th level and at will at 9th. The save DC is Charisma-based (12 + couatl's Cha modifier).

Fly (Ex): At 3rd level, a couatl can fly at a speed of 20 feet with average maneuverability. This improves to 30 feet (good) at 6th level, and 60 feet (good) at 11th.

Large Size (Ex): At 5th level, a couatl’s size category increases to Large.

Poison (Ex): At 5th level, those injured by a couatl’s bite must save a Fortitude save or suffer 2d4 strength damage initially and an additional 4d4 strength damage if it fails a second save 1 minute later. The save DC is Constitution-based (10 + ½ couatl's HD + couatl's Con modifier).

Plane Shift* (Sp): At 9th level, a couatl can use plane shift as a spell-like ability (caster level 9th) once per day. It may be used three times per day at 12th level and at will at 15th. The save DC is Charisma-based (15 + couatl's Cha modifier).

Telepathy (Su): At 9th level, a couatl can communicate telepathically with any creature within 90 feet that has an Intelligence score. The creature can respond to the couatl if it wishes - no common language is needed.

Ethereal Jaunt (Su): At 13th level, a couatl can use ethereal jaunt as a supernatural ability once per day (caster level equal to class level). At 16th level, this ability can be used at will.

* Optional: If you are using the Expanded Psionics Handbook, the couatl does not gain any of the spell-like abilities listed above (detect alignment, detect thoughts, invisibility, or plane shift). Instead, it gains psi-like abilities as detailed here: 1st Level: Detect psionics 3/day 3rd Level: Cloud mind, read thoughts 1/day 4th Level: Detect psionics at will 6th Level: Cloud mind, read thoughts 3/day 7th Level: Mental barrier, thought shield 1/day 9th Level: Aura sight 3/day, cloud mind, read thoughts at will 12th Level: Plane shift 1/day, mental barrier, thought shield 3/day 15th Level: Aura sight at will, plane shift 3/dayManifester level equals Hit Dice.