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

16
Kalavij
Gargantuan Aberration (Aquatic, Psionic)
Hit Dice: 20d8+144 (234 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 25 ft. (5 squares), swim 75 ft. (15
squares)
Armor Class: 20 (-4 size, +2 Dex, +12
natural), touch 8, flat-footed 18
Base Attack/Grapple: +15/+43
Attack: Tentacle +24 melee (2d8+12)
Full Attack: 10 tentacles +24 melee (2d8+12)
Space/Reach: 20 ft./15 ft. (100 ft. with
tentacles)
Special Attacks: Ghost ship, improved grab,
psi-like abilities, sonic blast
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft.
A kalavij is a black-scaled fish-shaped monster
with ten 100 foot-long tentacles. It lives on the ocean
floor near the coastline, rarely deeper than 100 feet.
A kalavij never surfaces, but it uses psionic abilities
to create illusions to draw its prey near.
Not only is the kalavij massive (some say
hundreds of thousand pounds), it is also ancient,
rumored to live hundreds of years. Being long-lived,
the kalavij has a vast memory, including which ships
are more effective at attracting curious prey.
Combat
The kalavij uses a psionically-created illusion
to convince its victims that they have found an
abandoned ship. This ploy enables it to snare both
greedy looters looking for treasure and those wishing
to offer assistance to survivors. Once it has its victims
within its grasp, it pulls them to the ocean floor to
devour them. A kalavij has difficulty maneuvering
its tentacles close to its body, so it attempts to hold
struggling captives at a distance until they drown.
When fighting foes within 50 feet of its body, the
kalavij takes a -2 penalty on all melee attacks.
Ghost Ship (Sp): Once per day, a kalavij can
use psionics to disguise its tentacles as an abandoned
vessel. This ability functions like the mirage arcana
spell, except as follows. The illusion disguises the
tentacles completely and is remarkably detailed,
even to the appearance of crates, bundles of rope,
and cargo on the decks. Anyone who sees this ghost
ship must succeed on a DC 23 Will save or succumb
to an uncontrollable urge to board it. The rationale
for such a boarding varies with the character, but it
may be as simple as greed or as altruistic as a desire
to search for survivors and render aid. A character
that interacts with the ship in any way also receives
a DC 23 Will save to realize it is unreal. Once the
“ship” is boarded, the kalavij will try to seize the
hapless victims and drag them down to the ocean
194
Saves: Fort +13, Ref +8, Will +12
Abilities: Str 35, Dex 14, Con 24, Int 8, Wis
11, Cha 17
Skills: Diplomacy +5, Sense Motive +12, Spot
+12, Swim +20
Feats: Improved Grapple, Improved Initiative,
Power Attack, Psionic Body, Psionic Fist,
Quicken Power, Weapon Focus (tentacle)
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 16
Treasure: Triple standard
Alignment: Often chaotic neutral
Advancement: 21-40 HD (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: —
floor, where it devours them at its leisure. This is
a psionic, mind-affecting effect. The save DCs are
Charisma-based.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a
kalavij must hit with its tentacle attack. It can then
attempt to start a grapple as a free action without
provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins
the grapple check, it establishes a hold and deals
automatic tentacle damage each round.
Psi-Like Abilities: At will—detect psionics,
ego whip (2d4, DC 16*), empty mind (+5 Will
saves*), know direction & location, painful strike;
3/day—concussion blast (three targets*), inflict pain
(three targets, DC 17*); 1/day—aura alteration,
id insinuation (three targets, DC 17*), intellect
fortress, psionic suggestion (three targets, DC 15*),
psychic crush (DC 14**), thought shield (power
resistance 17, 5 rounds). Manifester level 7th. The
save DCs are Charisma-based.
*Includes augmentation for the kalavij’s
manifester level. **Includes the inherent +4 save
adjustment described in the power.
Sonic Blast (Su): Twice per day, a kalavij use
can use a sonic blast to stun its prey. This effect is
a 50-foot-radius burst centered on the kalavij. Any
creature within this area must succeed on a DC 27
Reflex save or be stunned for 1d6 rounds. A kalavij
typically saves this attack for use against any threat
that moves close to its body. It uses the time that
its victim is stunned to back away and resume its
tentacle attacks. This is a sonic, mind-affecting
effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Skills: A kalavij has a +8 racial bonus on any
Swim check to perform some special action or avoid
a hazard. It can always 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.