Monster Geographica - Marsh & Aquatic.pdf - The Secrets of the ...

9
Lightmaw
Large Magical Beast (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 8dl0+32 (76 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: Swim 70 ft. (14 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +5 natural),
touch 11, flat footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+16
Attack: Bite +11 melee (2d6+6 plus 1d4
Wisdom drain)
Full Attack: Bite +11 melee (2d6+6 plus 1d4
Wisdom drain)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Enchanting light, Wisdom
drain
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft.,
illumination, low-light vision, pressure
dependence, resistance to cold 20
This large, bulbous fish has a round body and
thick, pale, mottled white skin. It has three sets of
small fins on its sides. Its mouth takes up a full third
of its length and is filled with jagged teeth. From
within its maw, it generates a soft, luminescent glow.
Lightmaws are known throughout the deep
water regions as tempters and tricksters. They feed
on the minds of other beings, draining the willpower
from their prey as they consume its flesh. Although
they can eat non-sentient beings, they prefer to feast
on the minds of sentient creatures.
They are capable hunters and can slay
many creatures with little difficulty, but prefer to
acquire their meals through more creative means.
Lightmaws offer knowledge, secrets, or treasure
to those who will let them dine on others’ will.
Unfortunately, these predators never give a fair
deal if they can help it. They craft agreements
with exacting wordings then ignore the spirit of the
agreement and honor only its precise letter. From
such arrangements, they have earned a terrible
reputation as liars, cheats, and murderers, but the
needy or desperate still sometimes seek them out.
Lightmaws speak Elven and Aquan.
Combat
Despite their powerful jaws and thick hide,
lightmaws avoid direct confrontation. They consider
violence the means of the unintelligent to solve
problems, although they will not allow themselves
to be bested by someone who uses such a base
means of conflict resolution. Fleeing a fight is a sure
path to a poor reputation among other lightmaws.
When fighting, they use their confusion
light to disorient enemies before closing in to
bite. Biting a target precludes the use of the light,
164
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +7
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 14, Con 19, Int 14, Wis
16, Cha 16
Skills: Bluff +14, Diplomacy +7, Disguise +3
(+5 acting), Gather Information +5, Intimidate
+9, Knowledge (arcana) +4, Knowledge (local)
+8, Knowledge (nature) +9, Sense Motive
+8, Spot +9, Survival +3 (+5 in aboveground
natural environments), Swim +19
Feats: Improved Natural Attack (bite), Iron
Will, Persuasive
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary or school (2-6)
Challenge Rating: 9
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always lawful evil
Advancement: 9-16 HD (Large); 17-24 HD
(Huge)
Level Adjustment: +4
so a lightmaw makes sure its confusion light has
achieved maximum effect first If a lightmaw gets
the better of a fight, it allows its victim to surrender
if that opponent allows its willpower to be drained in
exchange for its life.
Enchanting Light (Su): At will, as a fullround
action that does not provoke an attack of
opportunity, a lightmaw can open its mouth and
project a 30-foot cone of supernatural light. The
lightmaw can choose one of the following spell
effects every time it uses this light: hypnotism (DC
14), daze monster (DC 15), confusion (DC 17),
or crushing despair (DC 17). The save DCs are
Charisma-based. All creatures caught in the cone
that fail their saves are subject to the spell effect
selected (caster level 8th). As a standard action, the
lightmaw can keep its mouth open and its targets
bathed in the confusion light.
Wisdom Drain (Su): Any creature bit by the
lightmaw must make a DC 17 Will save or take 1d4
points of Wisdom damage. If the target willingly lets
the lightmaw bite it, this is instead Wisdom drain.
The save DC is Wisdom-based.
Illumination (Ex): The lightmaw can project a
30-foot cone of light from its mouth as a free action.
Pressure Dependence (Ex): Lightmaws
are immune to the effects of pressure at the ocean
depths. They take 1d6 points of damage each round
they are at a depth of less than 1,000 feet, slowly
exploding due to pressure loss.
Skills: A lightmaw has a +8 racial bonus on
any Swim check to perform some special action or
avoid a hazard. It can always can choose to take 10
on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered.
It can use the run action while swimming, provided
it swims in a straight line.