Monday, August 20, 2018

Monster Monday: Sea Bear - The Orca-Hunting Ursid

Today's Monster Monday is the sea bear, a massive grizzly bear adapted to an aquatic lifestyle, which uses its bulk, strength, and cunning to hunt salmon, seals, and even the mighty orca. The sight of their distinctive three-dorsal-finned back rearing out of the water is a sign to whales and fishermen alike to scatter, as the mighty sea bear is on the hunt.


This creature is based on the chaan xúujaay from the mythology of the Haida people of Haida Gwaii off the coast of British Colombia. The sea grizzly bear appears as a motif in Haida artwork, combining elements of bear and orca (see this hat and its description at the Seattle Art Museum).

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


This gigantic creature has clawed flippers, three dorsal fins, and a broad, bearlike head
Sea Bear     CR 8
XP 4,800
N Huge magical beast
Init +6; Senses low-light vision, darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +15
DEFENSE
AC 20, touch 10, flat-footed 18 (+2 Dex, +10 natural, -2 size)
hp 105 (10d10+50)
Fort +12, Ref +9, Will +7
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., swim 80 ft.
Melee 2 claws +16 (1d8+8 plus grab), bite +16 (2d6+12)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks bloodied rage, capsize
STATISTICS
Str 27, Dex 14, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6
Base Atk +10; CMB +20; CMD 32 (36 vs trip)
Feats Die Hard, Endurance, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Acrobatics +6, Perception +15, Stealth +5, Swim +29; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +4 Stealth, +8 Swim
SQ hold breath
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Bloodied Rage (Ex)
When a sea bear falls below half its total HP (usually 52), on its next turn it can fly into a rage as a free action. It gains +2 Constitution and +2 Strength, but takes a -2 penalty to its AC. The rage lasts as long as the battle or 1 minute (whichever is shorter), after which it is fatigued for 1 hour. It cannot end its rage voluntarily.
Capsize (Ex)
A sea bear can attempt to capsize a boat or ship by ramming it as a charge attack and making a CMD check. The DC of this check is 25, or the result of the captain’s Profession (sailor) check, whichever is higher. For each size category the ship is larger than the sea bear’s size, the sea bear takes a cumulative -10 penalty on this CMB check
Hold Breath (Ex)
A sea bear can hold its breath for a number of minutes equal to 6 times its Constitution score before it risks drowning.
Powerful Bite (Ex)
A sea bear adds 1-½ times its Strength score to its bite attack damage.
ECOLOGY
Environment cold oceans
Organization solitary
Treasure none

Resembling a cross between a grizzly bear, a sea lion, and an orca, this massive aquatic predator feeds on large sea-going animals, especially orcas. It swims with surprising speed, its three dorsal fins cutting through the water menacingly as it approaches its prey. It hunts with its broad bear-like mouth and its long, clawed flippers. When orcas and other large prey are scarce, it will tip over fishing boats and eat the catch and the fishermen together. Sea bears hunt at sea but sleep in seaside caves or on seamounts. They mate and rear their young on shore. Adult sea bears are typically 25 feet long and weigh 12,000 pounds.

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Plot Hooks and Encounter Ideas

  • Local fishermen want someone to kill or drive off an aggressive sea bear that has taken up residence on a nearby seamount and is threatening their fishing.
  • A young noble wants to raise a sea bear cub as his pet, and will pay good money to anyone who will capture one for him. A rocky bar to the north is a known sea bear rookery, but getting out with a live cub without alerting a horde of angry adults will be tricky to say the least.
  • A sea bear who came too close to the village has become tangled in nets and ropes, and is lashing out at any who approach him. Can the adventurers untangle the creature and safely lead it away from town?
-your chaan sgáanuwaay d20 despot

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