FREQUENCY: Uncommon <(Tropical rainforests)>
FREQUENCY: Uncommon ([Temperate <> Forest]) <>
FREQUENCY: Rare ([Tropical Wilderness Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Dungeon Level III])
NO. APPEARING: 3-12
ARMOR CLASS: 5 or better
MOVE: 9" // 18"
HIT DICE: 3 to 4
% IN LAIR: [SB]
TREASURE TYPE: [SB]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 and 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: By weapon type and 1-3
SPECIAL ATTACKS: [SB]
SPECIAL DEFENSES: [SB]
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Low to very
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic (evil)
SIZE: M
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: III | 125 + 4

Ophidians, or snakemen, are typically encountered in tropical jungles.
Unlike nagas, ophidians have human-like arms and hands and can employ weapons, shields, and magic items of the sort that fighters can use.
Attack is first by weapon and then a fanged bite.
The latter requires a save vs. Poison or the victim will suffer a lycanthrope-like affliction.
The affliction begins in 2-5 days, lasts 8-16 days, and ends by turning the creature into an ophidian if it was human or humanoid or killing it otherwise.
The process can be prevented by a cure disease spell.

It is unusual for ophidians to be in a self-determined group.
They are usually servants of spirit nagas or similar creatures.
Ophidians appear to be short-tailed, thick-bodied snakes.
Arms protude about 2 feet below the neck.
These arms are human-like and end in 4-fingered hands.
Color ranges from gray-black to black and dark-brownish-green to pale blue-green.