Couatl

The powerful and legendary Couatl is a large serpent with a pair of feathered wings; since it is a shape-changer, one rarely sees this form. They can speak Common, communicate freely with reptiles and avians, or may use telepathic communication with intelligent creatures. A couatl has keen senses, including paranormal, which gives it the equivalent of Darkvision with a 90 foot range. A couatl is a benevolent force of goodness, and is rarely aggressive unless first attacked.

When pressed into direct physical combat, a couatl will bite for 1d3 points of damage plus a deadly poison (save vs. Poison or die instantly). In addition, the couatl wraps about its foe, causing 2d4 points of damage from constriction each round. However, a couatl prefers to attack from the air, using spells or other powers.

A couatl casts spells as either a Magic-user (40%), Cleric (40%), or sometimes as both (20%), equivalent to their hit dice (9th level). In addition, any couatl can, at will, cast detect evil, detect invisibility, detect magic, ESP, and read languages. A couatl can also become invisible and insubstantial (ethereal). In this form, it moves at half speed in any direction, and can move through solid objects freely. A couatl can teleport twice per day.

A couatl can polymorph itself freely, and will not hesitate to change into another, more effective form in combat.