Serpent

The Serpent is a boss in Golden Sun: The Lost Age located in Gaia Rock on the island of Izumo.

Battle stats
The Serpent, which resembles a long, green, snake-like dragon, statistically has 3536 Hit Points which regenerate at varying amounts, 160 Psynergy Points, 249 Attack, 76 Defense, 135 Agility, and 46 Luck. In terms of resistance, it has a Venus resistance rating of 152, a Mercury and Mars resistance rating of 100 each, and a Jupiter resistance rating of 48, and in regards to its abilities it uses its available Venus-based attacks with a Venus power rating of 110. When felled, the Serpent yields 1995 EXP and 2898 coins and, while it isn't dropped in battle, the Cloud Brand can be picked up after Susa leaves the chamber.

What makes the Serpent unique among bosses is due partly to where it's battled: The Serpent's chamber is deep within Gaia Rock, where sunlight cannot reach...normally. By exploring Gaia Rock and solving its puzzles, anywhere from one to four beams of light can reach the Serpent, significantly weakening it. The Serpent can normally attack three times per turn, but if all four lights are lit it can only attack twice. Also, the amount of HP it recovers each turn depends on how many lights enter the chamber: If no more than one or two lights are lit, the Serpent is effectively invincible. However, most players will assume that all of the beams must be uncovered to kill the Serpent, since there is nothing to suggest doing otherwise.
 * 0 lights=2430 HP
 * 1 light=810 HP
 * 2 lights=270 HP
 * 3 lights=90 HP
 * 4 lights=30 HP

The rate at which the Serpent uses the following battle commands is dependent on whether or not all four of the lights are lit at the same time, so two use rates for each move are posted, the first being the use rate that would apply if 0, 1, 2, or 3 lights are lit, and the second being the use rate that would apply if all 4 of the lights are lit:


 * Toxic Breath: Used 53 out of 256 times or 1 out of 8 times, this monster skill has the monster generating a cloud of yellow and green gas, dealing a Venus-based attack with a power rating of 60 and range of 3 (the Adepts at either side of the specifically targeted Adept will only take 50% of the attack's force, instead of the normal 80%, however). The attack also has a chance of inflicting Poison on the affected targets.
 * Mighty Press: Used 47 out of 256 times or 1 out of 8 times, this is a Monster Skill where the monster leaps up and comes crashing down on a single Adept, letting loose a burst of purple energy on impact, dealing a Venus-based attack with a power rating of 50, with a chance of instantly downing the Adept.
 * Black Ice: Used 41 out of 256 times or 1 out of 8 times, this monster skill has the monster generating a barrage of black dust, dealing a Venus-based attack with a power rating of 80 and range of 3 (the Adepts at either side of the specifically targeted Adept will only take 50% of the attack's force, instead of the normal 80%, however).
 * Briar: Used 35 out of 256 times or 1 out of 8 times, this is a Psynergy spell that stabs the party with a series of large spiky vines, dealing a Venus-based attack with a power rating of 70 and a range of 3. It consumes 11 of the user’s PP.
 * Quake Sphere: Used 29 out of 256 times or 1 out of 8 times, this is a Psynergy spell that causes three rectangular sections of ground underneath the party jolt upward and retract into the ground quickly thrice in succession, bouncing each Adept three times, dealing a Venus-based attack with a power rating of 65 and a range of 7. It consumes 15 of its user's PP.
 * Attack: Used 28 out of 256 times or 2 out of 8 times, this is this monster's standard physical attack.
 * Cure Well: Used 23 out of 256 times or 1 out of 8 times, this is a Psynergy spell that restores roughly 150 HP to the user. It consumes 7 of its user’s PP.

Battle strategy
If you didn't weaken it with all the light beams, watch with horror as it recovers all its health after your inital summon rush. Oh dear. But thankfully, you did use all four light beams, so it only recovers 30HP a turn (this will only slow you down a bit when you're resorting to Psynergies and attacks).

So, the first turn goes Judgment, unleash Cannon, Thor, Boreas, and the next turn should go Ragnarok, Meteor, unleash Blitz, unleash Shade. You may be in a bit of a pickle by this point, especially since Toxic Breath can inflict Poison and a fair amount of damage, and the fact that the Serpent attacks twice in one turn.

Unless you need to do any drastic healing, the next turn should go: unleash Flower, Serpent Fume, Shine Plasma, Cure Poison (assuming there is somebody poisoned, otherwise use Diamond Dust or unleash an attack Djinni). If anyone is downed, use a Water of Life (these are best put on either Piers or Felix) or Jenna's Spark. Turn four should go unleash Steel, unleash Spark (if someone's down, otherwise Serpent Fume), Shine Plasma, unleash Chill. The Serpent shouldn't survive this.

Story
Little is known about the Serpent before the events of Golden Sun: The Lost Age, but an old legend in Izumo tells of how the Great Serpent of Mikage would sleep with its body crossing the river. Where its tail fell, the Cloud Brand was hidden.

The Serpent once slept peacefully within Gaia Rock (known to locals as Mt. Mikage) but, during a festival in the nearby village Izumo, the Serpent was aroused and went on a rampage. The exact cause of the Serpent's awakening is unclear; although the residents of Izumo believe their festival awoke him, it would not be unreasonable to assume that the true cause was the rain of Psynergy Stones following Mt. Aleph's eruption (the cause of many of the obstacles faced throughout the series). Since both Gaia Rock and the Serpent are aligned with the Venus element, it may also be possible that the lighting of Venus Lighthouse caused the Serpent to stir (this is also what caused Poseidon to awaken, and consequentially the tidal wave). Whatever the case may be, the Serpent quickly made its way to the village and consumed all the food the villagers prepared for the festival.

In order to satiate the Serpent's hunger the villagers decide to sacrifice one of their maidens to the Serpent. A lottery is held to determine who the sacrifice will be. Ironically, the sacrifice ends up being Kushinada, a close freind of Lady Uzume, the village's leader, and the fiance of Susa, Uzume's younger brother. Lady Uzume prophecies that a hero will come to vanquish the Serpent and orders barrels of Dragonsbane (Sake in the Japanese version) to be taken to the Serpent's lair. Not wishing to see Kushinada die, Susa takes it upon himself to destroy the Serpent, taking the Cloud Brand with him. Upon entering the Serpent's chamber Susa begins feeding it barrel after barrel of Dragonsbane, gradually weakening it.

During the course of The Lost Age Felix and his band of Adepts, as well as the scholar Kraden, finally arrive in Izumo. Initially they are only searching for unique types of Psynergy (in this case the Sand Psynergy), but upon hearing the plight of the townspeople they selflessly embark on their own quest to defeat the Serpent. After scaling the Elemental Rock of Earth Felix's party come across the Dancing Idol, a peculiar animate doll that acts as a skeleton key for Gaia Rock: when placed on special altars the Dancing Idol causes statues to move, either opening new paths or allowing light into the Serpent's lair. While Susa continues to feed the Serpent Dragonsbane the foreign heroes flood the chamber with light. Their combined efforts weaken the Serpent enough that it can be fought outright, although it is still strong enough to deflect Susa's initial attack.

Susa recovers from the Serpent's counterattack by the time Felix's team defeat the Serpent through conventional battle. After the Serpent has been pushed to its limit Susa again attacks the Serpent with the Cloud Brand, turning it to stone and causing its tail to melt into an odd liquid. Susa then thanks the Adepts for their help and returns to Izumo, but not before hiding the Cloud Brand at the end of the "river" of liquid, where the tip of the Serpent's tail would be (in reference to the old legend). Before Felix has a chance to follow him a tablet appears before the Serpent. Like with the other Elemental Rocks this tablet grants a Venus Adept, in this case Felix, a brand new Psynergy, Sand. With both their goals completed Felix's party leaves Gaia Rock, although if the player wishes they may try out their new Psynergy to reach the Cloud Brand. Whether or not Felix takes this legendary weapon Susa later tells him where it was hidden.

Cultural reference
The serpent bears a great resemblance to the Japanese Shinto serpent-dragon, Yamata no Orochi, which was defeated by the god Susano-o in order to free the princess Kushinada. The Cloud Brand found near its tail is the same as the legendary sword Kusanagi found in the Orochi's tail.

Trivia
Becasue of the reference to the Shinto legend, this episode of the game shares similarities in storyline with the recently Wii-ported PS2 title Okami.