Name: Crunch
Species: Basilisk
Gender: Male
Occupation: Familliar of Jessica

Biography: Jessica hatched Crunch from an egg, and as soon as the little lizard burst out of it's shell, it began to be taught the ways of the arcane. She taught Crunch to speak fluent Queen's English, and taught him how to read and write. Since basilisks have stubby little thumbs, that writing bit was a challange. Poor beastie kept on breaking the quill. Jessica taught him how to do minor shapeshifting spells, not that he needed them, as he was deadly enough already. But he supposed taking the form of a lion had it's uses...

Other: Crunch is an eastern Red-Spined Basilisk. Contrary to popular belief, Basilisks do not kill someone by looking at them, they merely petrify them for up to an hour. Red-Spined Basilisks are known for a different power, however. While they do not share the same petrifying eyes of their bretheren, they do have spines along their backs that are known to secrete a deadly venom. This venom is so strong that can kill a small herd of elephants and a good-sized crocodile. Crunch is the familliar of Jessica Ashwood, a witch who is very strong in the ways of shapeshifting. She and Crunch have such a strong bond that it is said Jessica has magically developed fangs that secrete basilisk venom. But that's just a myth...or is it?