Fish; Giant Strugeon
by Jamie BatyEX, RC 177
Huge Animal (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 10d8+20 (65 hp)
Initiative: +1 (+1 Dex)
Speed: swim 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armour Class: 19 (-2 size, +1 Dex, +10 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 18
Base Attack/Grapple: +7/+25
Attack: Bite +15 melee (2d10 +10)
Full Attack: Bite +15 melee (2d10 +10)
Space/Reach: 15 ft. /10 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, paralysis, swallow whole
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent, tremorsense
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +4
Abilities: Str 31, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7
Skills: Listen +9, Spot +9, Swim +19
Feats: Alertness, Die Hard, Endurance, Power Attack
Environment: Any aquatic
Organisation: Solitary, Pair, or School (5-20)
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 11-20 HD (Huge); 21-30 HD (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: -
This is a very dangerous fish- almost 30ft long and covered in armour-like scales. They are reputed for having bad temperament. The giant sturgeon can be found in both freshwater and saltwater.
Combat
A fierce predator, the giant sturgeon will attack anything it considers food. It loves to swallow its prey whole.
Improved Grab (Ex): If a giant sturgeon hits with its bite attack, it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If the grapple succeeds, the sturgeon may hold the victim and inflict bite damage automatically each round. After the hold is established, it may attempt to swallow the creature in any following round.
Paralysis (Ex): Any creature swallowed whole by the giant sturgeon must make a Fortitude save vs DC17 (Con based) or be paralysed for 3d10 rounds.
Swallow Whole (Ex): A giant sturgeon can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of up to two sizes smaller by making a successful grapple check. The swallowed creature takes 1d6+10 points of bludgeoning damage and 1d6 points of acid damage per round from the sturgeon's gizzard. In addition the acid may paralyse the swallowed creature. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 25 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 15). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out.
A huge giant sturgeon's gizzard can hold 2 medium, 8 small, 32 tiny, 128 diminutive or 512 fine or smaller opponents.
Scent (Ex): This special quality allows a giant sturgeon to detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell.
Tremorsense (Ex): A giant sturgeon is sensitive to vibrations in the water and can automatically pinpoint the location of anything that is moving through the water within 120ft.
Skills: A giant sturgeon gains a +8 racial bonus to any swim check. It may always 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.