Behir

Infobox D&D creature


caption=A behir battles adventurers on the cover of "The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth" (1982), by Erol Otus.
name=Behir
alignment=Neutral
type=Magical beast
subtype=
source=
first=
mythical=
based=
wizards_image_URL=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/MM35_gallery/MM35_PG25.jpg
OGL_stats_URL=http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/monstersBtoC.html#behir

In the "Dungeons & Dragons" fantasy role-playing game, the behir is a huge serpentine magical beast.

Physical Description

A behir usually is around forty feet long and weighs around four thousand pounds. The creatures have twelve short but powerful legs on which they can run with considerable speed, but in addition to this, these legs can fold close to its body, allowing them to also slither on the ground like a serpent. For offensive/defense, a Behir can breathe a line of powerful electricity, or it can swallow opponents whole. Behirs are a magnificent blue in color. This coloration, along with their ability to breathe electricity, hints at a relationship with Blue Dragons.

The behir is covered in hard scales and has a keel of spines running down its neck, as well as two on its head. These spines are used for grooming purposes, however, and not combat.

A variant of the Behir from the "Forgotten Realms" campaign setting is the Halruaan Behir. Coming from the country of Halruaa, it is much smaller and more magical than its cousin. They are kept as guardians and occasionally as pets.

Environment

Behirs commonly inhabit warm, hilly regions.

Alignment

A behir is often neutral in alignment.

ociety

Behirs are usually solitary, though they sometimes gather in mated pairs.

Behirs will not coexist with dragons, and will take great pains to drive a dragon out of their territory, moving only as a last resort. This is another thing to imply a relationship with them and dragons.

References

*Cagle, Eric. "The Ecology of the Behir." "Dragon" #333 (Paizo Publishing, 2005).
*Cook, David, et al. "Monstrous Compendium Volume One" (TSR, 1989).
*Gygax, Gary. "Monster Manual" (TSR, 1977).
*Jones, Tony. "The Ecology of the Behir." "Dragon" #156 (TSR, 1990).
*Stewart, Doug, ed. "Monstrous Manual" (TSR, 1994).
*Williams, Skip, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook. "Monster Manual" (Wizards of the Coast, 2000).