Cobras in GURPS

Naja sp.

Cobras are a genus of snakes with a characteristic "hood" made by flattening their neck ribs. Normally, the hood is not deployed and they look like a fairly typical snake. If disturbed, they rear up and flare their hood to scare away their antagonist.

Cobras are found throughout Africa and tropical Asia. In terms of human fatalities, they are among the deadliest of all snakes. They are commonly trod upon by sandalled or barefoot peasants when tending their crops or when the snake enters poorly constructed houses looking for rodents. In rural areas, poor farmers often cannot get to a hospital in time or are unable to afford medical treatment.

Cobras often have necrotizing venom in addition to the typical elapid neurotoxic venom. Bites from these species of cobra often cause permanent crippling, or even loss of the bitten limb when all the flesh falls off. Use the normal rules for crippling. Cobras may also have cardiotoxins in their venom cocktails. Cardiotoxins cause irregular heartbeats and may cause death by stopping the heart.

Some cobras can "spit" their venom. In actuallity, the venom is squirted rather that spat: the fangs have forward facing openings, and when the snake pressurizes its venom glands through muscular contraction the venom is sprayed forward as if from a nozzle.

Cobras spit when threatened, not to acquire prey or when fighting for dominance. Spitting cobras usually aim for the face of their antagonists. Venom that gets in a mucous membrane or open wound causes immediate searing pain. If it gets in the eyes, it causes blindness in addition to pain. Occasionally, the venom causes permanent blindness if it enters the eye and is left untreated. In game terms, this is treated as a Jet with the Blood Agent modifier, which can affect the eyes and nose on any unprotected face hit (closed eyes when the cobra spits is a valid defense for the eyes - just be sure to wipe off the venom before opening your eyes so it does not run down into them and blind you).

Because they are so deadly, Cobras are common elements of myth and legend. In parts of India they are venerated, becoming minor fertility and weather gods associated with healing and the monsoon cycles. Legends of cobras diffusing through Rome and then to Europe became stories of a "king of the serpents," or basilisk, which moved around with its crowned head held off the ground, which was so deadly poisonous that even is breath could kill and you could die just by looking at it, and which could only be destroyed by a weasel (probably the mongoose, which is highly resistant to cobra venom and often preys on these serpents).

There are a great many species of cobra, with venom that can vary considerably in potency and effect from species to species, and even between populations within a species. The "default" cobra listed is a spectacled cobra, the "default" spitting cobra is a Javan spitting cobra. Other significant cobra species include:

Species Typical venom Size Range Habitat Notes
Potency Type Typical Maximum
Asian cobras
Spectacled cobra, N. naja potent neuro 10
cardio 10 500 g 1 kg Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka Plains, jungles, fields, villages. Second deadliest snake in terms of human killed per year. Light brown with "U", horseshoe, spectacle, or eyespot pattern on hood.
Chinese cobra, N. atra strong neuro 10
cardio 10
necro 3
algesic 3 500 g 1 kg Southern China and northern Indochina, Taiwan Plains, fields, shrubland, paddys, clearings in forests and jungle. Black snake with white horseshoe or circle on hood, white bands on throat
Monocled cobra, N. kaouthia potent neuro 10
cardio 2
necro 2
algesic 2 500 g 1 kg Eastern India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina, southern China, Nepal, Tibet Swamp, mangrove forest, grassland, shrubland, paddy fields, villages and cities. Brown with white circle on hood, white band at base of hood.
Caspian cobra, N. oxiana potent neuro 10
cardio 3
necro 3
algesic 3 500 g 1 kg Northeastern Iran to northwestern India, north through Pakistan and Afganistan to to Caspian sea Arid scrubland, broken rocky regions. Dark brown above, light brown with dark banded throat below.
Samar cobra, N. samarensis strong neuro 10
necro 6
algesic 6 200 g 500 g Southern Philippene islands Forest, plains, cropland. Yellow skin with black speckled scales; yellow head, back of hood, and upper throat; black belly; eyespots on back of hood.
Philippene spitting cobra, N. philippinensis extreme neuro 10 200 g 500 g Northern Philippene islands Grassland, forest, jungle, human settlements Olive brown.
Javan spitting cobra, N. sputatrix potent neuro 10
cardio 10
necro 6
algesic 6 500 g 1 kg Indonesian islands Forest, jungle, savanna, cropland. Yellow with brown spots, pale yellow belly with black band at base of hood.
Equatorial spitting cobra, N. sumatrana medium neuro 10
cardio 10
necro 6
algesic 6 200 g 500 g Indonesian islands, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippenes Forest, urban areas Uniform yellow or black color.
Thai spitting cobra, N. siamensis medium neuro 10
necro 10
algesic 10 200 g 500 g Burma, Thailand, Indochina Plains, woods, jungle Black with white bands around body, white with black spots and dorsal stripe, or uniform black with white belly markings.
African cobras
Banded water cobra, N. annulata intense neuro 10 1 kg 2.5 kg Camaroon, Guinea, Gabon, Congo Bushy or wooded banks of streams, rivers, and lakes Yellow with black bands
Congo water cobra, N. christyi extreme neuro 10 500 g 1.5 kg Congo rainforest Bushy or wooded banks of streams, rivers, and lakes Black skin speckled with pale yellow scales, pale yellow belly.
Ashe's spitting cobra, N. ashei medium neuro 10
cardio 5
necro 6
algesic 6 1 kg 2.5 kg Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia Dry lowlands Dusty brown color
Egyptian cobra, N. haje medium neuro 10
necro 6
algesic 6 1 kg 3 kg Africa, from Medeteranian to Angola, Zambia, and Tanzania. Steppe, scrub, savanna, and semi-desert Red-brown to yellow brown, sometimes darkening to near black, often with black band across lower part of hood.
Forest cobra, N. melanoleuca strong neuro 10 1 kg 4 kg Central Africa Forest Black, with yellow bands across belly and throat.
Mozambique spitting cobra, N. mossambica potent neuro 6
necro 10
algesic 10 200 g 500 g Tropical Africa Savanna Olive brown with black bands across belly and throat.
Black-necked spitting cobra, N. nigricollis mild neuro 10
cardio 5
necro 10
algesic 10 500 g 1 kg Sub-Saharan Africa south to Cape Savanna and semi-desert Black, with orange bands across belly and throat.
Cape cobra, N. nivea strong neuro 10
cardio 5 500 g 1 kg Africa's Cape region Savanna, scrub, and bushland Usually golden-yellow, sometimes with brown speckles. Occasionally dark brown to back. Has a tendancy to enter houses.
Nubian spitting cobra, N. nubiae mild neuro 10
necro 10
algesic 10 200 g 500 g Northeastern Africa Semi-desert and agricultural areas. Olive-brown to red-brown, often with black bands across belly and throat.
Red spitting cobra, N. pallida mild neuro 10
necro 7
algesic 7 200 g 500 g East Africa Dry savanna and semi-desert. Red-brown to bright red, black band around throat may fade or dissapear in some adults.

Back to Elapids

Species	Typical venom		Size		Range	Habitat	Notes
Species	Potency	Type	Typical	Maximum	Range	Habitat	Notes
Asian cobras
Spectacled cobra, N. naja	potent	neuro 10 cardio 10	500 g	1 kg	Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka	Plains, jungles, fields, villages.	Second deadliest snake in terms of human killed per year. Light brown with "U", horseshoe, spectacle, or eyespot pattern on hood.
Chinese cobra, N. atra	strong	neuro 10 cardio 10 necro 3 algesic 3	500 g	1 kg	Southern China and northern Indochina, Taiwan	Plains, fields, shrubland, paddys, clearings in forests and jungle.	Black snake with white horseshoe or circle on hood, white bands on throat
Monocled cobra, N. kaouthia	potent	neuro 10 cardio 2 necro 2 algesic 2	500 g	1 kg	Eastern India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina, southern China, Nepal, Tibet	Swamp, mangrove forest, grassland, shrubland, paddy fields, villages and cities.	Brown with white circle on hood, white band at base of hood.
Caspian cobra, N. oxiana	potent	neuro 10 cardio 3 necro 3 algesic 3	500 g	1 kg	Northeastern Iran to northwestern India, north through Pakistan and Afganistan to to Caspian sea	Arid scrubland, broken rocky regions.	Dark brown above, light brown with dark banded throat below.
Samar cobra, N. samarensis	strong	neuro 10 necro 6 algesic 6	200 g	500 g	Southern Philippene islands	Forest, plains, cropland.	Yellow skin with black speckled scales; yellow head, back of hood, and upper throat; black belly; eyespots on back of hood.
Philippene spitting cobra, N. philippinensis	extreme	neuro 10	200 g	500 g	Northern Philippene islands	Grassland, forest, jungle, human settlements	Olive brown.
Javan spitting cobra, N. sputatrix	potent	neuro 10 cardio 10 necro 6 algesic 6	500 g	1 kg	Indonesian islands	Forest, jungle, savanna, cropland.	Yellow with brown spots, pale yellow belly with black band at base of hood.
Equatorial spitting cobra, N. sumatrana	medium	neuro 10 cardio 10 necro 6 algesic 6	200 g	500 g	Indonesian islands, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippenes	Forest, urban areas	Uniform yellow or black color.
Thai spitting cobra, N. siamensis	medium	neuro 10 necro 10 algesic 10	200 g	500 g	Burma, Thailand, Indochina	Plains, woods, jungle	Black with white bands around body, white with black spots and dorsal stripe, or uniform black with white belly markings.
African cobras
Banded water cobra, N. annulata	intense	neuro 10	1 kg	2.5 kg	Camaroon, Guinea, Gabon, Congo	Bushy or wooded banks of streams, rivers, and lakes	Yellow with black bands
Congo water cobra, N. christyi	extreme	neuro 10	500 g	1.5 kg	Congo rainforest	Bushy or wooded banks of streams, rivers, and lakes	Black skin speckled with pale yellow scales, pale yellow belly.
Ashe's spitting cobra, N. ashei	medium	neuro 10 cardio 5 necro 6 algesic 6	1 kg	2.5 kg	Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia	Dry lowlands	Dusty brown color
Egyptian cobra, N. haje	medium	neuro 10 necro 6 algesic 6	1 kg	3 kg	Africa, from Medeteranian to Angola, Zambia, and Tanzania.	Steppe, scrub, savanna, and semi-desert	Red-brown to yellow brown, sometimes darkening to near black, often with black band across lower part of hood.
Forest cobra, N. melanoleuca	strong	neuro 10	1 kg	4 kg	Central Africa	Forest	Black, with yellow bands across belly and throat.
Mozambique spitting cobra, N. mossambica	potent	neuro 6 necro 10 algesic 10	200 g	500 g	Tropical Africa	Savanna	Olive brown with black bands across belly and throat.
Black-necked spitting cobra, N. nigricollis	mild	neuro 10 cardio 5 necro 10 algesic 10	500 g	1 kg	Sub-Saharan Africa south to Cape	Savanna and semi-desert	Black, with orange bands across belly and throat.
Cape cobra, N. nivea	strong	neuro 10 cardio 5	500 g	1 kg	Africa's Cape region	Savanna, scrub, and bushland	Usually golden-yellow, sometimes with brown speckles. Occasionally dark brown to back. Has a tendancy to enter houses.
Nubian spitting cobra, N. nubiae	mild	neuro 10 necro 10 algesic 10	200 g	500 g	Northeastern Africa	Semi-desert and agricultural areas.	Olive-brown to red-brown, often with black bands across belly and throat.
Red spitting cobra, N. pallida	mild	neuro 10 necro 7 algesic 7	200 g	500 g	East Africa	Dry savanna and semi-desert.	Red-brown to bright red, black band around throat may fade or dissapear in some adults.