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| Photo: Manuae via Wikimedia |
Argonaut CR 11
XP 12,800
N Gargantuan
animal (aquatic)
Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception -1
DEFENSE
AC 27, touch 4, flat-footed 27 (-2 Dex,
-4 size, +23 natural)
hp 184 (16d8+112)
Fort +17, Ref +9, Will +6
Defensive Abilities retract
OFFENSE
Speed swim 40 ft., jet 210 ft.
Melee tentacles +18 (3d6+10 plus grab)
and bite +18 (2d8+10/19-20)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 20 ft.
Special Attacks constrict (tentacles, 3d6+10),
pilfering tentacles (2/round), rend ship
STATISTICS
Str 30, Dex 8, Con 25, Int 1, Wis 8, Cha 9
Base Atk +12; CMB +26 (+30 grapple); CMD
35 (can't be tripped)
Feats Bleeding Critical, Blind-fight, Endurance,
Improved Bull-rush, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Improved
Trip, Iron Will
Skills Stealth -2, Swim +21
SQ undersized tentacles
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Jet (Ex)
An argonaut can jet backward as a full-round action at a speed of 210 feet. It must move in a straight line, but does not provoke attacks of opportunity while jetting.
Pilfering Tentacles (Ex)
While its
individual tentacles cannot be used to make attacks, an argonaut can dart a few
of its small tentacles out to seize the weapons of those who attack it. Twice per round, as a free action, the argonaut
can make a combat maneuver against an item held by any creature within reach of
its tentacles. Success means the
argonaut has seized the item. This can
be done even while the argonaut is engaged in a grapple, for it has so many
tentacles that a few may be spared for this task.
Rend Ship (Ex)
As a full-round action, an argonaut can attempt to use its tentacles to grapple a ship of its size or smaller. It makes a CMB check opposed by the ship's captain's Profession (sailor) check, but the argonaut gets a cumulative +4 bonus on the check for each size category smaller than Gargantuan the ship is. If the argonaut grapples the ship, it holds the ship motionless; it cannot attack targets anywhere on or within the ship with its tentacles or its beak. Each round it maintains its hold on the ship, it automatically inflicts bite damage on the ship's hull.
Retract (Ex)
An argonaut can withdraw into its shell, covering the opening with a thick leathery hood, as a swift action, increasing its natural armor bonus by +6, but it cannot move or attack while retracted. It can return to normal as a free action.
Tenacious Grapple (Ex)
An argonaut does not gain the grappled condition if it grapples a foe with its tentacles.
Undersized Tentacles (Ex)
The argonaut
has underdeveloped tentacles compared to other cephalopods of its size, but
many more of them. It attacks with all
of its tentacles in concert, and thus cannot direct individual tentacle attacks
at different opponents. Because its
tentacles surround its mouth, if the argonaut has grappled an opponent with its
tentacles, it can only use its bite ability against that opponent.
ECOLOGY
Environment warm ocean
Organization solitary
Treasure none
The rare
argonaut is a gigantic nautilus the size of a small ship. Although sometimes referred to as a
"nautilus kraken," it in fact lacks the intelligence and magical
abilities of the kraken. Argonauts are
primitive animals, with bad eyesight and small tentacles compared to other
cephalopods. But once an argonaut latches
onto something, it is almost impossible to dislodge, grasping its prey
tenaciously with ridged tentacles and biting it with its powerful, sharp beak
and toothed tongue. Do not let their
beauty and seeming innocuousness fool you - an argonaut can be a deadly
opponent.
Rumours abound that far-flung and mysterious
aquatic races have mastered a spell that controls an argonaut, allowing them to
pilot it as a ship. It is said that they
convert the empty chambers of the argonaut's shell into a cabin, allowing them
to dive below the surface inside these mighty beasts - and attack ships without
warning. The inside of the argonaut's
shell is made of mother-of-pearl, so if nothing else these vessels would be
luxurious.
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As giant sea monsters go, the argonaut lacks the intelligence, magical abilities, and huge number of tentacle attacks that, say, a kraken has. Even so, its selection of attacks should let it deal a significant amount of damage to a single opponent, while inconveniencing other nearby enemies with its pilfering tentacles ability. The real way that the argonaut shines, however, is as a living ship. Imagine an aquatic race with a handful of argonauts, cracking open the hulls of merchant vessels to get at the valuable goods (and delicious crew) within. Yeah, get ready for some naval combat!
Even better - imagine a nautical campaign where the party has an exceptionally large argonaut as a ship. It would be like a cross between 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Firefly, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Farscape.
-your nautical d20 despot
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