This spell conjures a long snake made of smoke, with its base in the fire it was conjured from. The fire must cast light 40 feet away or have a base at least a foot in diameter.

It is 25 feet long, incorporeal, and has 2d8 hit points. For other stats not listed here, assume that the snake has the stats of a huge viper.

Once per round, as a free action, you can command the snake to strike any person it can reach, provided that the target has less than one-half cover. It lays coiled about its fire until commanded, at which point it strikes and retreats with incredible speed, disallowing attacks of opportunity. The snake, being made of smoke, has the ability to ignore armor as if they wasn't there. Magical bonuses from armor are not ignored, and force-based armor effects and ghost touch armors are never ignored. If the snake hits, it causes 1d4 points of fire damage from the searing heat and injects a weak viper poison into the target (no secondary damage).

The spell ends prematurely if the target fire runs out.

Material component: An obsidian stone, which must be cast into the target fire.