Monster Monday: Skimmers (Part 2) - Flying Jellyfish

Today's Monster Monday is part two of our exclusive exposé of flying electric jellyfish and how cool they are. Last week we talked about the man-sized skimmer and the smaller, bloodsucking crimson skimmer. This week we're going bigger:

Cloud jelly and birdcatcher skimmer

The birdcatcher skimmer is almost transparent, floating through the sky on ocean-bourne winds and snaring seabirds in its shocking tentacles. The cloud jelly is the largest of the skimmers, looking somewhat like a small cloud trailing rain. It may not be a storm cloud, but its tentacles pack an electric punch.

The following text in gold is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2018 Jonah Bomgaars.

Despite its size, this flying jellyfish’s body is so translucent that it is almost invisible against the sea air.

Skimmer, Birdcatcher              CR 3

XP 800

N Large magical beast

Init +3; Senses blindsense 60 ft.; Perception +4

DEFENSE

AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 9 (+3 Dex, -1 size)

hp 30 (4d10+8)

Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2

Immune mind-affecting effects, paralysis, sleep

Defensive Abilities transparent

OFFENSE

Speed fly 40 ft. (clumsy), jet 160 ft.

Melee 4 tentacles +6 (1d4 electricity plus paralysis and grab)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 15 ft.

Special Attacks paralysis (DC 14, 1d4+1 rounds)

STATISTICS

Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 1

Base Atk +4; CMB +8 (+12 grapple); CMD 19

Feats Agile Maneuvers, Weapon Finesse

Skills Fly -4, Perception +4

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Electricity (Ex)

A skimmer’s tentacle attacks deal 1d4 points of electricity damage, and creatures hit must make a DC 14 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds. Any creature grabbed by the skimmer is subject to the skimmer’s tentacle attack each round. Creatures immune to electricity are immune to the paralysis effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Transparent (Ex)

A birdcatcher skimmer’s body is transparent, rendering it difficult to discern from its surroundings. A DC 16 Perception check is required to notice the birdcatcher skimmer. Any creature that fails to notice the skimmer and walks or flies into it is automatically hit by one of the skimmer’s tentacle attacks. Creatures attacking the birdcatcher skimmer must make a DC 16 Perception check each round or the skimmer gains 20% concealment against their attack.

ECOLOGY

Environment any ocean or coastal

Organization solitary, pack (2-5), or bloom (6-12)

Treasure none

The birdcatcher is unusual among skimmers both because its transparent body makes it almost invisible and because it often hunts at higher altitudes where its tentacles do not skim the surface of the water. The birdcatcher skimmer, as its name suggests, feeds primarily on birds. It usually only skims the water when it is weighed down by a recent meal, taking the opportunity to supplement its diet with the fish which are attracted to the bird carcass.

What at first appears to be a low-hanging cloud is actually a giant flying jellyfish with long, deadly tentacles

Skimmer, Cloud Jelly  CR 5

XP 1,600

N Huge magical beast

Init +6; Senses blindsense 60 ft.; Perception +6

DEFENSE

AC 13, touch 10, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, -2 size, +3 natural)

hp 59 (7d10+21)

Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +3

Immune mind-affecting effects, paralysis, sleep

OFFENSE

Speed fly 40 ft. (clumsy), jet 160 ft.

Melee 4 tentacles +8 (1d8 electricity plus paralysis and grab)

Space 15 ft.; Reach 20 ft.

Special Attacks electric net (DC 16), paralysis (DC 16, 1d4+1 rounds)

STATISTICS

Str 15, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 1

Base Atk +7; CMB +11 (+15 grapple); CMD 23

Feats Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Fly), Weapon Focus (tentacle)

Skills Fly -2, Perception +6

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Electricity (Ex)

A skimmer’s tentacle attacks deal 1d8 points of electricity damage, and creatures hit must make a DC 16 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds. Any creature grabbed by the skimmer is subject to the skimmer’s tentacle attack each round. Creatures immune to electricity are immune to the paralysis effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Electric Net (Ex)

Aside from the skimmers four larger tentacles, it trails a net of thinner tentacles that do not move independently but which still carry an electric charge. This mass of tendrils fills the area beneath the skimmer’s body approximately equal to a 15-foot diameter, 25-foot high cylinder. Any creatures beginning their turn in this area automatically take 1d8 points of electricity damage. Creatures passing through this area (or creatures that the area passes through as the cloud jelly moves) can make a DC 16 Reflex save to avoid this damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.

ECOLOGY

Environment any ocean or coastal

Organization solitary, pair, or bloom (3-6)

Treasure none

The cloud jelly is a giant skimmer named because its semi-translucent, grey-white body of trembling air sacs vaguely resembles a cloud. Cloud jellies float over the ocean, trailing long electric tentacles over the surface of the water and stunning and grabbing any prey it may find there, from fish to seals to sailors. 

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Plot Hooks and Encounter Ideas

• An unusual concentration of cloud jellies is denuding the village's fishing grounds.
• As the party's wizard tests out his new fly spell, he is snatched by a passing birdcatcher skimmer.
• An alchemist requires the buoyant gasses from an intact birdcatcher skimmer's sacs to perform an arcane experiment, and she is willing to pay a handsome reward to whoever can deliver one to her.

-your cloudy d20 despot