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Cleon Specials – SRD Redux Monsters and Related Creatures
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<blockquote data-quote="Cleon" data-source="post: 7961954" data-attributes="member: 57383"><p><span style="font-size: 22px"><strong><em>Architeuthis</em> (Giant Squid)</strong></span></p><p>Large Animal (Aquatic)</p><p><strong>Hit Dice:</strong> 6d8+12 (39 hp)</p><p><strong>Initiative:</strong> +3</p><p><strong>Speed:</strong> Swim 50 ft. (10 squares)</p><p><strong>Armor Class:</strong> 15 (–1 size, +3 Dex, +3 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 12</p><p><strong>Base Attack/Grapple:</strong> +4/+15* [<em>+1 per 2 arms</em>]</p><p><strong>Attack:</strong> Tentacles +7 melee (1d4+3)</p><p><strong>Full Attack:</strong> Tentacles +7 melee (1d4+3) and 8 arms +4 melee (1) and bite +4 melee (1d10+1)</p><p><strong>Space/Reach:</strong> 10 ft./5 ft. (20 ft. with tentacles, 10 ft. with arms)</p><p><strong>Special Attacks:</strong> Constrict [<em>1d6+3 plus 1/two extra limbs</em>], improved grab, tearing beak [<em>grapple or +6 melee, 1d10+3</em>]</p><p><strong>Special Qualities:</strong> Chameleon, damage reduction 5/slashing or piercing, ink cloud, jet, revolting taste, superior low-light vision</p><p><strong>Saves:</strong> Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +3</p><p><strong>Abilities:</strong> Str 16, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2</p><p><strong>Skills:</strong> Hide +3, Listen +7, Spot +12, Swim +11</p><p><strong>Feats:</strong> Blind-Fight, Endurance, Multiattackᴮ, Weapon Focus (tentacles)</p><p><strong>Environment:</strong> Cold aquatic</p><p><strong>Organization:</strong> Solitary</p><p><strong>Challenge Rating:</strong> 3</p><p><strong>Advancement:</strong> 7–9 HD (Large); 10–12 HD (Huge)</p><p><strong>Level Adjustment:</strong> —</p><p></p><p>Those sages who study cephalopods consider <em>Architeuthis</em> the true giant squid as opposed to the "monstrous" giant squid and similarly enormous cephalopods like the giant octopus, kraken or the colossal squid, <em>Mesonychoteuthis</em>. Cachalot whales, also known as sperm whales, frequently prey on these animals, and part-digested <em>Architeuthis</em> found in the whales' stomachs or regurgitations may be the main source of information on these animals available to an air-breathing scholar.</p><p></p><p>The giant squid live in the abyssal depths of the sea. They are actually a relatively abundant species but venture up from the deep so rarely most surface-dwelling races know very little about them. <em>Architeuthis</em> encountered in shallow water will generally be dead or dying (usually from the pressure change), but on the extraordinarily few occasions the giant squid is still healthy it often attacks whoever encounters it as if they were any other prey. Like most deep-water squid an <em>Architeuthis's</em> body is saturated with ammonia to help give it a neutral buoyancy in seawater, its flesh and blood reek of the chemical and are inedible to most humanoids.</p><p></p><p>Compared to many species of squid an <em>Architeuthis</em> has a rather limited colour-changing ability, it relies more on speed to avoid predators and pursue prey. A giant squid's enormous eyes can reach 10 inches in diameter and are well suited for spotting the glow of bioluminescent prey or the shadow of an approaching sperm whale in the near-lightless depths of the sea. The only natural animal known to have larger eyes is the colossal squid.</p><p></p><p><em>Architeuthis</em> spend much of their time waiting for prey to wander within reach but will also actively the hunt for food. If a giant squid stumbles upon another <em>Architeuthis</em> it will either try to eat or mate with the other squid depending on how hungry it is feeling. While most male cephalopods use a specialized tentacle for mating, an <em>Architeuthis</em> mates by stabbing his partner (usually in an arm) with a yard-long prehensile extendible penis that injects spermatophores into the other giant squid. Male <em>Architeuthis</em> will try to fertilize other males as well as females.* The spermatophore remains embedded in the other <em>Architeuthis</em> and, if it happens to be female, the sperm migrates through the giant squid's flesh to fertilize her eggs when she is ready to reproduce. Mother <em>Architeuthis</em> lay millions of eggs in a mass of gelatine-like mucus, each egg is smaller than a pinhead.</p><p></p><p>*Currently, it is unknown why male giant squid try to breed with both sexes – are they bisexual? Can't they tell if another <em>Architeuthis</em> is male or female? (although normal squid can tell using mating displays). Do they encounter other giant squid too rarely to pass up any change to mate? Must they mate and flee before their partner tries to devour them so can't risk staying long enough to determine the other <em>Architeuthis's</em> gender? Or do males just stab each other when they fight? (Although I'm not adding "penis" as a natural weapon!)</p><p></p><p>An adult <em>Architeuthis</em> measures 20 to 30 feet from tailfin to tentacle-tip and weighs around 500 pounds, its relatively small body is only 5 to 8 feet long. Extraordinarily huge specimens may grow to 40 feet or more from tailfin to tentacle-tip.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18px">Combat</span></strong></p><p>An <em>Architeuthis</em> giant squid seizes hold of prey with its tentacles, then secures them in its arms and bites with its beak. It focuses on one opponent and does not divide its attacks should it encounter multiple targets.</p><p></p><p>Giant squid are afraid of bright lights such as the <em>daylight</em> spell, misinterpreting them as bioluminescence from a much bigger animal. A wounded or fearful the <em>Architeuthis</em> jets away, maybe covering its escape with a cloud of ink.</p><p></p><p>If an <em>Architeuthis</em> already has a hold on an opponent in the water when it succeeds at a grapple check during a standard or full attack, it can automatically reduce the distance between it and its opponent by a distance of up to 20 feet, either by moving towards its opponent or pulling them closer with its limbs. The movement may affect the squid, the opponent or both. If this movement pulls an opponent into the Reach of its arm attacks or bite attack the giant squid is able to make attacks-of-opportunity with those natural weapons.</p><p></p><p>An opponent can attack a giant squid’s limbs with a sunder attempt as if they were weapons. An <em>Architeuthis’s</em> tentacles and arms have 5 hit points each. If a giant squid is currently grappling a target with the appendage that is being attacked, it usually uses another limb to make its attack of opportunity against the opponent making the sunder attempt. Severing one of a giant squid’s limbs deals 2 points of damage to the creature. A giant squid usually withdraws from combat if it loses four limbs. The creature regrows severed limbs in 1d10+10 days.</p><p></p><p><strong>Chameleon (Ex):</strong> An <em>Architeuthis</em> can change its colour, giving it a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks.</p><p></p><p><strong>Constrict (Ex):</strong> An <em>Architeuthis</em> automatically deals 1d6+3 points of constriction damage with a successful grapple check, the damage is increased by 1 for each two additional limbs the squid constricts the opponent with (i.e. an <em>Architeuthis</em> that constricts with its tentacles and all eight limbs inflicts 1d6+7 damage).</p><p></p><p>If the squid is close enough to bite an opponent it is constricting it can simultaneously uses its Tearing Beak special attack on them.</p><p></p><p>The constrict attack of a Huge <em>Architeuthis</em> does 1d8 base damage plus its Strength modifier, increased by 1 damage per additional limb the squid constricts with. A Huge <em>Architeuthis</em> normally has Strength 24 so inflicts 1d8+15 damage if it constricts with its tentacles and all eight limbs.</p><p></p><p><strong>Improved Grab (Ex):</strong> To use this ability, a giant squid must hit an opponent of any size with a tentacle or arm 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 can constrict.</p><p></p><p>*An <em>Architeuthis</em> has a +4 racial bonus to grapple checks with its tentacles, with an additional bonus of 1 per arm it is holding its opponent with. If it hits a target with multiple limbs as part of a full attack routine it only makes one grapple check to resolve the hold.</p><p></p><p><strong>Tearing Beak (Ex):</strong> An <em>Architeuthis</em> can bite an opponent it is grappling as a primary attack (bite +6 melee for 1d10+3 damage) or by succeeding at an opposed grapple check (for the same damage).</p><p></p><p><strong>Ink Cloud (Ex):</strong> An <em>Architeuthis</em> can emit a cloud of jet-black ink 20 feet high by 20 feet wide by 20 feet long once per minute as a free action. The cloud provides total concealment, which the squid normally uses to escape a losing fight. All vision within the cloud is obscured.</p><p></p><p><strong>Jet (Ex):</strong> An <em>Architeuthis</em> can jet backward once per round as a full-round action, at a speed of 250 feet. It must move in a straight line, but does not provoke attacks of opportunity while jetting.</p><p></p><p><strong>Revolting Taste (Ex):</strong> While the majority of aquatic creatures can stomach the ammonia-rich flesh of <em>Architeuthis</em> non-aquatics find them uneatable. A normal air-breathing creature hungry enough to ignore the foul reek and eat the flesh will immediately vomit it back up and be sickened for 1d3 rounds. There are some air-dwelling creatures able to eat <em>Architeuthis</em>, such as otyughs and seabirds that habitually hunt squid.</p><p></p><p><strong>Superior Low-Light Vision (Ex):</strong> An <em>Architeuthis</em> can see eight times as far as a human can in dim light.</p><p></p><p><strong>Skills:</strong> A giant squid’s huge eyes give it a +8 racial bonus to Spot checks and its chameleon ability gives it a +4 racial bonus to Hide checks.</p><p></p><p>A giant squid has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard and 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.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18px">Advanced <em>Architeuthis</em></span></strong></p><p>A Huge <em>Architeuthis</em> has a 30 foot Reach with its tentacles and a 15 foot Reach with its arms. Each of a Huge <em>Architeuthis's</em> limbs has 10 hit points and severing a limb deals 5 points of damage to the creature.</p><p></p><p>A Huge <em>Architeuthis</em> can emit an ink cloud 30 feet high by 30 feet wide by 30 feet long.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: green"><strong><span style="font-size: 18px">Design Notes</span></strong></span></p><p><span style="color: green">The above stats could also be used for the extinct squid <em>Tusoteuthis longa</em> that lived in the warm, shallow seas of the Cretaceous. These had a body about the same size as <em>Architeuthis</em> but shorter tentacles, giving it a total length around 20–35 feet.</span></p><p><span style="color: green"></span></p><p><span style="color: green"><span style="color: red"><strong>Skill Breakdown:</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="color: green"><span style="color: red"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><em>Architeuthis</em> Squid (9 SPs):</strong> Hide 0S+Dex3–4+4chameleon, Listen 6S+Wis1, Spot 3S+Wis1+8R, Swim 0S+Str3+8R</span></span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Cleon, post: 7961954, member: 57383"] [SIZE=6][B][I]Architeuthis[/I] (Giant Squid)[/B][/SIZE] Large Animal (Aquatic) [B]Hit Dice:[/B] 6d8+12 (39 hp) [B]Initiative:[/B] +3 [B]Speed:[/B] Swim 50 ft. (10 squares) [B]Armor Class:[/B] 15 (–1 size, +3 Dex, +3 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 12 [B]Base Attack/Grapple:[/B] +4/+15* [[I]+1 per 2 arms[/I]] [B]Attack:[/B] Tentacles +7 melee (1d4+3) [B]Full Attack:[/B] Tentacles +7 melee (1d4+3) and 8 arms +4 melee (1) and bite +4 melee (1d10+1) [B]Space/Reach:[/B] 10 ft./5 ft. (20 ft. with tentacles, 10 ft. with arms) [B]Special Attacks:[/B] Constrict [[I]1d6+3 plus 1/two extra limbs[/I]], improved grab, tearing beak [[I]grapple or +6 melee, 1d10+3[/I]] [B]Special Qualities:[/B] Chameleon, damage reduction 5/slashing or piercing, ink cloud, jet, revolting taste, superior low-light vision [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +3 [B]Abilities:[/B] Str 16, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2 [B]Skills:[/B] Hide +3, Listen +7, Spot +12, Swim +11 [B]Feats:[/B] Blind-Fight, Endurance, Multiattackᴮ, Weapon Focus (tentacles) [B]Environment:[/B] Cold aquatic [B]Organization:[/B] Solitary [B]Challenge Rating:[/B] 3 [B]Advancement:[/B] 7–9 HD (Large); 10–12 HD (Huge) [B]Level Adjustment:[/B] — Those sages who study cephalopods consider [I]Architeuthis[/I] the true giant squid as opposed to the "monstrous" giant squid and similarly enormous cephalopods like the giant octopus, kraken or the colossal squid, [I]Mesonychoteuthis[/I]. Cachalot whales, also known as sperm whales, frequently prey on these animals, and part-digested [I]Architeuthis[/I] found in the whales' stomachs or regurgitations may be the main source of information on these animals available to an air-breathing scholar. The giant squid live in the abyssal depths of the sea. They are actually a relatively abundant species but venture up from the deep so rarely most surface-dwelling races know very little about them. [I]Architeuthis[/I] encountered in shallow water will generally be dead or dying (usually from the pressure change), but on the extraordinarily few occasions the giant squid is still healthy it often attacks whoever encounters it as if they were any other prey. Like most deep-water squid an [I]Architeuthis's[/I] body is saturated with ammonia to help give it a neutral buoyancy in seawater, its flesh and blood reek of the chemical and are inedible to most humanoids. Compared to many species of squid an [I]Architeuthis[/I] has a rather limited colour-changing ability, it relies more on speed to avoid predators and pursue prey. A giant squid's enormous eyes can reach 10 inches in diameter and are well suited for spotting the glow of bioluminescent prey or the shadow of an approaching sperm whale in the near-lightless depths of the sea. The only natural animal known to have larger eyes is the colossal squid. [I]Architeuthis[/I] spend much of their time waiting for prey to wander within reach but will also actively the hunt for food. If a giant squid stumbles upon another [I]Architeuthis[/I] it will either try to eat or mate with the other squid depending on how hungry it is feeling. While most male cephalopods use a specialized tentacle for mating, an [I]Architeuthis[/I] mates by stabbing his partner (usually in an arm) with a yard-long prehensile extendible penis that injects spermatophores into the other giant squid. Male [I]Architeuthis[/I] will try to fertilize other males as well as females.* The spermatophore remains embedded in the other [I]Architeuthis[/I] and, if it happens to be female, the sperm migrates through the giant squid's flesh to fertilize her eggs when she is ready to reproduce. Mother [I]Architeuthis[/I] lay millions of eggs in a mass of gelatine-like mucus, each egg is smaller than a pinhead. *Currently, it is unknown why male giant squid try to breed with both sexes – are they bisexual? Can't they tell if another [I]Architeuthis[/I] is male or female? (although normal squid can tell using mating displays). Do they encounter other giant squid too rarely to pass up any change to mate? Must they mate and flee before their partner tries to devour them so can't risk staying long enough to determine the other [I]Architeuthis's[/I] gender? Or do males just stab each other when they fight? (Although I'm not adding "penis" as a natural weapon!) An adult [I]Architeuthis[/I] measures 20 to 30 feet from tailfin to tentacle-tip and weighs around 500 pounds, its relatively small body is only 5 to 8 feet long. Extraordinarily huge specimens may grow to 40 feet or more from tailfin to tentacle-tip. [B][SIZE=5]Combat[/SIZE][/B] An [I]Architeuthis[/I] giant squid seizes hold of prey with its tentacles, then secures them in its arms and bites with its beak. It focuses on one opponent and does not divide its attacks should it encounter multiple targets. Giant squid are afraid of bright lights such as the [I]daylight[/I] spell, misinterpreting them as bioluminescence from a much bigger animal. A wounded or fearful the [I]Architeuthis[/I] jets away, maybe covering its escape with a cloud of ink. If an [I]Architeuthis[/I] already has a hold on an opponent in the water when it succeeds at a grapple check during a standard or full attack, it can automatically reduce the distance between it and its opponent by a distance of up to 20 feet, either by moving towards its opponent or pulling them closer with its limbs. The movement may affect the squid, the opponent or both. If this movement pulls an opponent into the Reach of its arm attacks or bite attack the giant squid is able to make attacks-of-opportunity with those natural weapons. An opponent can attack a giant squid’s limbs with a sunder attempt as if they were weapons. An [I]Architeuthis’s[/I] tentacles and arms have 5 hit points each. If a giant squid is currently grappling a target with the appendage that is being attacked, it usually uses another limb to make its attack of opportunity against the opponent making the sunder attempt. Severing one of a giant squid’s limbs deals 2 points of damage to the creature. A giant squid usually withdraws from combat if it loses four limbs. The creature regrows severed limbs in 1d10+10 days. [B]Chameleon (Ex):[/B] An [I]Architeuthis[/I] can change its colour, giving it a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks. [B]Constrict (Ex):[/B] An [I]Architeuthis[/I] automatically deals 1d6+3 points of constriction damage with a successful grapple check, the damage is increased by 1 for each two additional limbs the squid constricts the opponent with (i.e. an [I]Architeuthis[/I] that constricts with its tentacles and all eight limbs inflicts 1d6+7 damage). If the squid is close enough to bite an opponent it is constricting it can simultaneously uses its Tearing Beak special attack on them. The constrict attack of a Huge [I]Architeuthis[/I] does 1d8 base damage plus its Strength modifier, increased by 1 damage per additional limb the squid constricts with. A Huge [I]Architeuthis[/I] normally has Strength 24 so inflicts 1d8+15 damage if it constricts with its tentacles and all eight limbs. [B]Improved Grab (Ex):[/B] To use this ability, a giant squid must hit an opponent of any size with a tentacle or arm 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 can constrict. *An [I]Architeuthis[/I] has a +4 racial bonus to grapple checks with its tentacles, with an additional bonus of 1 per arm it is holding its opponent with. If it hits a target with multiple limbs as part of a full attack routine it only makes one grapple check to resolve the hold. [B]Tearing Beak (Ex):[/B] An [I]Architeuthis[/I] can bite an opponent it is grappling as a primary attack (bite +6 melee for 1d10+3 damage) or by succeeding at an opposed grapple check (for the same damage). [B]Ink Cloud (Ex):[/B] An [I]Architeuthis[/I] can emit a cloud of jet-black ink 20 feet high by 20 feet wide by 20 feet long once per minute as a free action. The cloud provides total concealment, which the squid normally uses to escape a losing fight. All vision within the cloud is obscured. [B]Jet (Ex):[/B] An [I]Architeuthis[/I] can jet backward once per round as a full-round action, at a speed of 250 feet. It must move in a straight line, but does not provoke attacks of opportunity while jetting. [B]Revolting Taste (Ex):[/B] While the majority of aquatic creatures can stomach the ammonia-rich flesh of [I]Architeuthis[/I] non-aquatics find them uneatable. A normal air-breathing creature hungry enough to ignore the foul reek and eat the flesh will immediately vomit it back up and be sickened for 1d3 rounds. There are some air-dwelling creatures able to eat [I]Architeuthis[/I], such as otyughs and seabirds that habitually hunt squid. [B]Superior Low-Light Vision (Ex):[/B] An [I]Architeuthis[/I] can see eight times as far as a human can in dim light. [B]Skills:[/B] A giant squid’s huge eyes give it a +8 racial bonus to Spot checks and its chameleon ability gives it a +4 racial bonus to Hide checks. A giant squid has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard and 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. [B][SIZE=5]Advanced [I]Architeuthis[/I][/SIZE][/B] A Huge [I]Architeuthis[/I] has a 30 foot Reach with its tentacles and a 15 foot Reach with its arms. Each of a Huge [I]Architeuthis's[/I] limbs has 10 hit points and severing a limb deals 5 points of damage to the creature. A Huge [I]Architeuthis[/I] can emit an ink cloud 30 feet high by 30 feet wide by 30 feet long. [COLOR=green][B][SIZE=5]Design Notes[/SIZE][/B] The above stats could also be used for the extinct squid [I]Tusoteuthis longa[/I] that lived in the warm, shallow seas of the Cretaceous. These had a body about the same size as [I]Architeuthis[/I] but shorter tentacles, giving it a total length around 20–35 feet. [COLOR=red][B]Skill Breakdown:[/B] [SIZE=3][B][I]Architeuthis[/I] Squid (9 SPs):[/B] Hide 0S+Dex3–4+4chameleon, Listen 6S+Wis1, Spot 3S+Wis1+8R, Swim 0S+Str3+8R[/SIZE][/COLOR][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
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