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

16
Stinging Grappler
Huge Magical Beast (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 14d10+56 (133 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: Swim 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class: 20 (+2 Dex, +10 natural, -2
size), touch 10, flat-footed 18
Base Attack/Grapple: +14/+31
Attack: Stinger tentacle +21 melee (ld8+9/
l9-20 plus poison)
Full Attack: 8 stinger tentacles +21 melee
(1d8+9/19-20 plus poison) and bite +19
melee (2d6+4)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Stingers, poison ink
Special Qualities: Aboleth controlled,
camouflage, poisonous flesh, pressure
resistance, spell resistance 22, spell-like
abilities
Saves: Fort +13, Ref +11, Will +8
Abilities: Str 28, Dex 15, Con 18, Int 6, Wis
14, Cha 8
Skills: Hide +9, Spot +8, Swim +24
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Improved Critical
(stinger tentacles), Improved Initiative, Iron
Will, Multiattack
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 16
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: 15-20 HD (Gargantuan);
21-42 HD (colossal)
Level Adjustment: –
Common to sargasso regions, the stinging
grappler is thought to be a mutated cousin of the
octopus. This creature has 16 tentacles (twice as
many as the octopus) plus bony armor plating and
stingers, making it substantially different from its
cephalopod relative. The top of the grappler is
usually dark grey or black, while the bottom is
light gray. This enables it to camouflage itself if
seen from above or below.
A group of aboleth sorcerers seeking
domination of the seas desired a powerful servant
through which they could fight various aquatic
races. Thus they created the stinging grappler, a
creature that attacks sentient sea dwellers on sight.
meat is universally regarded as vile. Even ocean
scavengers leave their bodies to rot instead of
consuming them.
A grappler’s body is valued for its poisonous
content. Six doses of grappler poison can be
extracted from an average specimen. Its stingers
are often used as daggers by those who hunt them
and are carried by orcam as trophies. Its boney
plates are sometimes used in bone plate armor
(page 12) that lends itself to masterwork quality
because of the lightness and toughness of the
material. One stinging grappler produces enough
plates to construct a single suit of bone armor.
Combat
When these solitary creatures are encountered in A stinging grappler ambushes its victims,
groups, this is often a sign of an aboleth operating relying on its natural coloration for camouflage.
in the region. Because of this relationship, most It attacks large groups of creatures smaller than
races hunt down stinging grapplers when they are itself, but avoids those that are the same size as
encountered. Aquatic elves and orcam (page 11) itself or larger. This creature generally charges into
are the most fervent in their efforts to slay any of the middle of combat, engaging as many enemies
these creatures that wander into their territory. at once as possible as it makes use of its long reach
The stinging grappler is a voracious meat and attacks of opportunity. The grappler always
eater, preferring the flesh of whales, dolphins, and fights to the death, not stopping until all threats
other mammals. It is a picky and wasteful predator, have been eliminated. Once combat is over it
consuming only a few bites from a single victim immediately begins feeding, taking bites from all
before leaving it behind in preference to fresh prey. the slain creatures.
They have a voracious appetite.; large populations If in the service of an aboleth, the grappler is
of grapplers can strip an ecosystem of certain only concerned with the protection of its master,
resources without contributing anything in return. readily giving up its own life if necessary. It places
This fact has earned this creature the hatred of all itself between the master and other creatures,
sea druids. Although the creature has numerous attempting to block attackers from reaching the
enemies, it has no actual predators because its aboleth. If the aboleth is disabled, the stinging
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