The basilisk is a mysterious and rarely documented creature that is renowned for it's lethal stare. This abilty is over exaggerated and it cannot kill with simply a look this was influenced by the first basilsk sighting when a member of a group exploring the cliffs and canyons of Romania stumbled across the creature and simply died of fright. Basilsks have a build like a long-necked monitor but are actually more closely related to snakes than lizards but has adaptations of both.
The basilisks tail is long and heavy which is perfect for storing fat as well as for defense and as a constricting tool when feeding. They are ambush hunters lying in wait for prey to come close then striking with lightning speed, they kill prey with a venomous bite similiar to a komodo dragons when the prey dies they constrict it using their massive tail to crush the bones, making it easier to swallow and digest. They eat as much as they can to build up their fat storage for lean times.
A basilisk is found in many habitats but is more commonly found in the canyons and deserts of the middle-east. This leads many to believe that in ancient times some nations captured and exported them as guard animals or even as war mounts. A basilsk ranges in color from a deep copper to black but there have been other variants.
Basilsk are solitary creatures except during the mating season which is short afterwards females find a cave, lay their eggs then watch over them for about 3 months after they hatch she abandons them. Many don't survive their first year and even fewer survive to adulthood. They are constantly on the move and because of this they are very difficult to document, a single basilisk may traverse a continent in less than a year.