Underwater Dangers: Sharks and Crustaceans
by Eliyah von Llaunas from Threshold Magazine issue 32The world is full of fantastic and incredible animals that dwell on land, air and sea. And it is the sea creatures that are the most beautiful and intriguing of all, as they are adapted to an environment very different from ours, with truly impressive survival systems. And that is why I, Hidrainus, faithful servant of Protius, have decided to document some of these creatures.
Sharks
Let’s start with the sharks. They are terrifying creatures from an ignorant point of view, but the reality is that they are not that aggressive and often swim without paying much attention to their surroundings. In fact, many shark species swim in their sleep, but due to the absence of eyelids it is impossible to distinguish a sleeping shark from an awake one.
Another important
thing about these animals is their ability to react and their
capacity to fight even against invisible opponents. It was only
thanks to the Caurentian magician Lorenzini that I discovered the
answer. It turns out that they possess an organ in their nose called,
after the illustrious magician (I never thought I would speak well of
a Glantrian), Lorenzini’s ampulla. This organ allows them to
detect electricity in the environment and, apparently, also
electricity from living things. In most species it reaches only up to
20', but there are more remarkable species with a longer range, which
we will mention later. It should be noted that this ability does not
allow the detection of undead or constructs of any kind, due to the
absence of electricity in them. On the other hand, an electric
discharge within its range will overload the ampullae, rendering them
useless for 2d6 rounds.The most dangerous thing about sharks is their
ability to go berserk and fight to the death. At the smell or,
rather, taste of blood, these creatures go berserk and become
aggressive and furious, fighting to the death and attacking even
others of their species and even larger enemies. This gives them a +2
to hit and a morale of 12, for as long as it lasts. However, there
are some sharks that are not prone to these attacks, as we will see
below. As a general rule, unless otherwise noted, a shark is prone to
these frenzy attacks.
Most adventurers (and Ierendi tourists,
from what I have been told) are familiar with some sharks, namely
bull sharks, mako sharks, white sharks and, to a lesser extent,
Vamora sharks. These, due to their popularity, I will keep them out
of my research and focus on lesser known sharks.
Hammerhead Shark
AC: 5
HD: 3–5*
Move (swimming): 120'
Attacks: headbutt/bite
Damage: 1d6+special/1d4+1
No. Appearing: 1–6
Save As: F1
Morale: 8 (12)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 45/125/300
The hammerhead
shark is an animal with many subspecies, although quite similar in
capabilities, so I will focus on the Sea of Dread variant. This
animal hunts small- to medium-sized fish, especially those hidden in
the sand. It is a hunter that relies heavily on its eyesight,
elongated and spread out due to the shape of its head, which makes
it, in addition to seeing prey moving to blind spots, difficult to
surprise (1 on a d12). In addition, it possesses specially developed
ampullae of Lorenzini, which allows it to detect living creatures at
a distance of up to 90' around.
In combat they usually fight by
striking with their head, unlike their cousins from the Alphatian
Sea. This blow with the hard bones of the head is capable of stunning
(ST vs Paralysis; 1 round) creatures up to the size of an orca, being
more of a defensive weapon to allow escape.
Lifestyle-wise, it
is a solitary hunter, but it is common to see a few in the same
place, not cooperating, but competing for food.
Tiger Shark
AC: 4
HD: 5
Move (swimming): 180'
Attacks: bite
Damage: 2d8
No. Appearing: 1–3 (1)
Save As: F2
Morale: 9 (12)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 125
The tiger shark (or striped shark, as it is called in underwater cultures) is so called because of the stripes on its side that resemble those of a tiger. It is a solitary predator of nocturnal habits, perfectly adapted for it. It has an infravision of 18m, although out of the water its eyes dry up and it loses it. It is not picky about food and devours whatever it finds, be it fish, turtles, seagulls, manta rays, and even other sharks, as well as unwary adventurers, being one of the most dangerous and avoided sharks on the coasts of Ierendi. As with other sharks, encountering more than one does not imply a great coordination in the hunt, but rather the abundance of food in the area and, therefore, the presence of more interested parties.
Blue Shark
AC: 3
HD: 3
Move (swimming): 180'
Attacks: bite
Damage: 1d6+1
No. Appearing: 1–6
Save As: F2
Morale: 8 (12)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 25
This 2.5m shark, present not only in the Sea of Dread but in many other seas, is a shallow-water animal. It is a solitary or group hunter, using its numbers to surround schools of fish. It is not particularly aggressive towards large creatures and its docility makes it the ideal target for shark-kin, especially in large numbers since, unlike other sharks, they usually hunt in shoals. It is a shark with very good reflexes and receives +1 to its initiative.
Sevengill Shark
AC: 4
HD: 3
Move (swimming): 150'
Attacks: bite
Damage: 2d4
No. Appearing: 3–5
Save As: F
Morale: 7 (12)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 25
The sevengill shark is an intermediate water predator, between 50 and 600m deep. It hunts in dark or turbid waters and is a school hunter. They surround the prey and attack when it is more distracted or weak, taking advantage of the opportunity. Due to their dark grayish color and the murkiness of the sea they often surprise their victims (1–4 on d6). They possess limited infravision (30') and developed ampullae of Lorenzini (60').
Basking Shark
AC: 4
HD: 9
Move (swimming): 90'
Attacks: bite/tail
Damage: 1d4/1d8
No. Appearing: 1–3
Save As: F5
Morale: 7
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 900
This is one of
the largest fish found in the Sea of Dread, not to mention monstrous
creatures, reaching 10m in length. They have huge mouths, but are not
predators, unlike their cousins. Instead, they feed on smaller
organisms by filtering them through their mouths. They swim with
their mouths open for this purpose. They are slow and have -1 at
individual initiative.
Because they are peaceful (they do not
go into frenzy) some schools of shark-kin tame them and mount
underwater ballistas on their backs, turning them into mobile
artillery pieces. Although they like to feed a few tens of meters
offshore, they are used to living in the open sea.
Whale Shark
AC: 4
HD: 12
Move (swimming): 80'
Attacks: bite/tail
Damage: 1d4+1/1d12
No. Appearing: 1
Save As: F6
Morale: 7
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 1,250
Larger than the
basking shark, the whale shark reaches 12m in length. It shares
feeding methods with basking sharks, but always stays in the open
sea, without approaching the coast. They defend themselves from
predators with violent tail slaps, which stun their victims for 1d3
as if they fail a ST vs Paralysis. They are also slow, with a -1 to
individual initiative.
As with peregrines, some shark-kin shoals
have tamed these marine giants and equip them with underwater
ballistas.
Cat Shark
AC: 5
HD: 2
Move (swimming): 150'
Attacks: bite
Damage: 1d6
No. Appearing: 1–2
Save As: F1
Morale: 6
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 20
Also called mustached shark by underwater cultures (understandable, since there are no cats underwater), this is a small shark of 80cm. It is a shallow-water shark that lives near the seabed. It is a territorial shark that has a den, where it sleeps at night, and which it does not hesitate to leave if it cannot defend it. Unlike other larger sharks, it does not go into a frenzy when it smells blood. It eats small prey from the seabed, such as crustaceans and small fish, and usually avoids confronting opponents larger than itself. There are rumors that in the Thanegioth Archipelago and surrounding waters there are specimens up to 4m in length, and that they are more aggressive, but I have no documented evidence.
Reef Shark or White-fined Shark
AC: 4
HD: 2
Move (swimming): 150'
Attacks: bite
Damage: 2d4
No. Appearing: 3–12
Save As: F1
Morale: 8
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 20
This small 1.5m shark lives in the reefs of the Sea of Dread, both in rocky formations and coral reefs. It is distinguished by the white tip that stands out on its dorsal fin. It swims at shallow depths (less than 50m) and is a nocturnal hunter. Unlike its black-tip cousins, this shark does not go into a frenzy and, in addition, they have a very efficient metabolism that allows them to survive up to 6 weeks without eating (NdC: I encourage any master to make use of this information).
Algae Shark
AC: 4
HD: 2
Move (swimming): 150'
Attacks: bite
Damage: 2d4
No. Appearing: 1–2
Save As: F1
Morale: 8 (12)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 20
Similar in size to the reef shark, this shark has a greenish color in order to camouflage itself among the algae that serve as both home and hunting grounds. Because the algae it inhabits often fills the waters with odor, this shark has highly developed its ampullae of Lorenzini, reaching up to 18m of range. It is an opportunistic hunter and will attack the prey that seems easier to devour (less armor, size, mobility...).
Gray Shark
AC: 4
HD: 4
Move (swimming): 150'
Attacks: bite
Damage: 2d6
No. Appearing: 2–12
Save As: F2
Morale: 8 (12)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 75
The gray shark is one of the most dangerous species swimming in the Sea of Dread. They reach sizes of up to 2.5m and are fierce hunters. Unlike other species, they hunt indiscriminately between day and night, and always in organized hunting groups. They attack in waves, so that every round 2 or 3 more arrive to the fray. They possess an infravision of 18m and impressive reflexes (I attribute them to Lorenzini’s ampullae, but it requires further study) that give them +1 to individual initiative. They are especially appreciated by the shark-kin due to their great efficiency in combat and their affinity to work in group.
Tailwhip Shark
AC: 3
HD: 5
Move (swimming): 240'
Attacks: bite/tail
Damage: 2d6/1d6+1 +special
No. Appearing: 1–4
Save As: F2
Morale: 8 (12)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 175
Cousin of the Alphatian Sea Thresher, this animal shares many physiognomic traits with its cousin: a 5m to 6m body, the tail being half this length; great speed and, unlike its Alphatian cousin, a special ability to maneuver with the tail and an impressive jumping ability. It is capable of jumping up to 3m out of the water, which allows it to bite seagulls or other low-flying creatures. In addition, victims hit by the tail must make a ST vs Par or be disarmed and stunned 1as (yes, like large dragons do). They inhabit depths between the surface and 200m, but shark-kins have meted me cases where they were seen even at 500m depth. It is a really terrible shark. Underwater cultures call it longtailed shark, since there aren’t whips underwater.
Sand Shark
AC: 4
HD: 5
Move (swimming): 150'
Attacks: bite
Damage: 2d6
No. Appearing: 1
Save As: F3
Morale: 8 (12)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 175
This large 4.2m-long predator is one of the largest of its family. It is a migratory shark, being in summer in the waters of the Western Sea of Dawn and in the Sea of Dread during the winter. It is a solitary hunter, but when migrating they usually gather in groups of up to 40 individuals. Outside of migrations is where it really becomes dangerous. This predator is an opportunist and buries itself in the sand to wait for its prey. When its ampullae of Lorenzini detect prey just above it, it comes out of hiding and attacks (1–4 on d6).
Black-fined Shark
AC: 5
HD: 1+1
Move (swimming): 150'
Attacks: bite
Damage: 1d6
No. Appearing: 2–16
Save As: F1
Morale: 6 (12)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 15
This small predator (1.5m), inhabitant of reefs and hunter of shallow waters (up to 50m), is a schooling animal. With their companions they close the passage to the victims and then attack from all directions. They are weak, but make up for it with numbers. They are a frequent companion for shark-kin shoals.
Eel Shark
AC: 3
HD: 4
Move (swimming): 180'
Attacks: bite
Damage: 2d6+1
No. Appearing: 2–8
Save As: F2
Morale: 8 (12)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 75
This terrible shark is a link to ancient times. It lives in deep waters (600 to 1,000m), near the Abyss, and measures between 1.5 and 2m. Unlike other sharks, it has hardly any dorsal fin and has a very elongated body, similar to a snake. Its teeth are more curved and tear harder than other species’. In addition, adapted to their environment, they have infravision of up to 18m and well-developed ampullae of Lorenzini (12m). Due to their habitat, it is rare to encounter shark-kins, but in my research I discovered that some groups of shark-kins living near the Abyss use them as guides when venturing into the depths. There are also rumors that there are specimens up to 12m deep in the abyss, but it is possible that they were mistaken for a sea dragon or a giant squid’s arm.
Crustaceans
The other group
of animals I investigated were crustaceans, which include all kinds
of crabs, lobsters and shrimps. My curiosity was born after my
encounter with a giant crab in the Tanegioth Archipelago. That almost
lethal encounter pushed me to research more about them to prevent
other adventurers from suffering the same consequences due to their
ignorance.
I will not stop to talk about the giant crab. Not, at
least, about the common species. The adventurers of the world have
already heard of it and a simple glance reveals all its
capabilities.
Crabs are the first point of my research. They are
the most armored of all crustaceans and therefore the slowest. But
they are also the ones that spend the most time out of the water.
Most species need water to breathe, since they use gills, however
they can come out of the water. This is because the gills are inside
the shell (which is not watertight and allows water to pass through)
and, out of the water, they keep the humidity inside. However, if
they spend too much time out of the water (1–8 hours, depending
on the species), they dry out and die. This applies even to the giant
specimens, which I discovered grow naturally, and not by the actions
of the infamous Gargantua (very little appreciated in our cult, since
he is dedicated to experimenting with marine animals and introducing
new harmful species, such as the fish that bears his infamous name).
Lobsters and
shrimps breathe in the same way, but differ from crabs in other
areas. First, they are somewhat softer than crabs, but are more
agile. In addition, lobsters tend to have claws differentiated into a
‘grasping’ and a ‘cutting’ claw, capturing
with the former and then dismembering the prey. Also, the eyes of
lobsters and shrimps are more developed, allowing them to see in
different directions and with great clarity, which makes them almost
impossible to be taken by surprise. However, they do not see
invisibly, although there are exceptions, as we will see below.
These
animals that have reached gigantism are dangerous for adventurers,
but not so much for the underwater inhabitants. This is because the
adventurer usually insists on wearing his heavy armor, which makes
him walk along the bottom, where the crustaceans dwell. On the other
hand, mermen, tritons and other sea inhabitants simply swim on top,
avoiding danger. Finally, it should not be forgotten that, in
addition to being hunters, many of them are scavengers and, unlike
sharks, they are not bloodthirsty. This makes it possible to distract
them with leftover food, dead fish or similar.
Giant Lobster
AC: 3
HD: 3+3*
Move: 90'
Attacks: grapple/cutter
Damage: 1d6/2d4 +special
No. Appearing: 1–2 (2–4)
Save As: F2
Morale: 9
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 75
The giant lobster is 1.20m long, claws aside. It has a large armored body and is unable to attack those behind it. However, it is capable of swimming backwards at high speed by bending its tail, and can move up to 50' in one round. To top it off, its attacks are deadly. If it hits with the ‘Grapple,’ a ST vs Par must be made to avoid becoming trapped. Those trapped fight at -2 and are always hit by the lobster. A Check vs Strength allows to break free, spending the whole round.
Giant Overpincer Crab
AC: 2
HD: 4+1
Move: 60'
Attacks: pincer/overpincer
Damage: 1d6/3d6
No. Appearing: 1–4
Save As: F2
Morale: 8
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 125
This species stands out for the large size of one of its pincers, comparable to the size of its own body. It is a hyper-developed arm that they use as their main defensive weapon. The small arm is used to lie in the sand and wait for victims (surprise 1–3). If for some reason they lose the large claw, the smaller one will hyper-develop to match the lost one and a normal claw will emerge from the stump in a few days. Females have normal-sized pincers and cause only 1d6.
Giant Cutter Lobster
AC: 3
HD: 3
Move: 90'
Attacks: cutter/cutter
Damage: 1d10/1d10 +special
No. Appearing: 1–2 (2–4)
Save As: F2
Morale: 9
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 35
Cousin of the giant lobster, it is similar to it in many ways, however it is more feisty. It doesn’t grasp, but hits harder. It’s better to avoid it.
Giant Sonic Shrimp
AC: 3
HD: 6*
Move: 90'
Attacks: cutter/cutter or special
Damage: 2d8/2d8 or special
No. Appearing: 1–2 (2–4)
Save As: F3
Morale: 10
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 500
The giant sonic shrimp is a fascinating creature. At almost 2m long and with 60cm pincers, this animal is truly terrifying. However, its greatest weapon lies in the fact that it is able to close its pincers with such speed that it causes a snapping sound that damages and stuns its prey. In a 9mx5m cone in front of it everyone must make a ST vs wands or suffer 4d4 sonic damage and be stunned 1d4 round. A successful ST halves the damage and avoids the stun. It lives inside reefs to avoid being attacked from behind.
Giant Shellbreaker Shrimp
AC: 3
HD: 7**
Move: 90'
Attacks: ‘punch’/‘punch’
Damage: 2d12/2d12 +special
No. Appearing: 1 (1–2)
Save As: F4
Morale: 11
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 1,250
This fascinating animal is as fearsome as beautiful. With a length of 1.5m and a varied coloration with shades of hypnotic greens and blues, this shrimp is a heavyweight of the seas. It has 2 eyes that see more than normal, and are able to detect invisible while ignoring illusions. In addition, it can perform speed bursts, where it doubles its speed for up to 3 rounds (movement only; it does not hit faster). However, the greatest danger lies in its ‘fists.’ Each hit is reduced by 1 point per AC difference between the racial base and that granted by the armor worn (if a human cleric, 9, wears chain mail, 5, then reduce 4 points) but in return the armor is broken beyond repair. If it is magical, the wearer is entitled to a ST vs Death using the armor’s magic bonus to prevent breakage. This process is repeated with each hit until the armor is broken. Sea giants stay away from these creatures because of their great power. Defeating one alone is a symbol of strength among them.
Giant Running Shrimp
AC: 5
HD: 3
Move: 120'
Attacks: pincer/pincer
Damage: 1d6/1d6
No. Appearing: 1 (1–2)
Save As: F2
Morale: 6
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 35
This shrimp lives in the most remote areas of the reefs, where it can hide if necessary or run along the seabed. It is weaker in shell than other shrimps of its species, but this has allowed it to run faster than others. It is not particularly harmful but can be annoying to chase.
Giant Sea Scorpion
AC: 3
HD: 5*
Move (swimming): 90'
Attacks: pincer/pincer/sting
Damage: 1d10/1d10/1d6
No. Appearing: 1–2 (2)
Save As: F2
Morale: 10
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 300
After
my research, I discovered that this animal in the vicinity of
Thanegioth was not really a scorpion, despite the resemblance, but a
type of crustacean. During my confinement in Twaelar (a subject I
don’t
like to talk about) I learned a lot about these creatures. They lack
venom and use their tail mainly for swimming, unlike other
crustaceans. They grab onto their prey with their pincers and then
start repeatedly jabbing the stinger into their victim until it dies.
If they hit with one claw, they have +4 to hit with all other
attacks. If they hit with both pincers, they are hooked and hit
automatically. They must hit both grapples in the same round to be
hooked. They do not release except in mortal danger or when
neutralized.
Spider Crab
AC: 2
HD: 4*
Move: 90'
Attacks: pincer/pincer
Damage: 1d8+1/1d8+1 +special
No. Appearing: 1–2 (2–8)
Save As: F2
Morale: 9
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 125
The spider crab (or long-legged crab, for those tritons who have never seen a spider in their life) is a fascinating crustacean, with a large size without relying on the magic and experiments of the wizard Gargantua. It can reach a height of up to 1.5m with its legs and has a ‘pincerspan’ of 3m. Its long legs allow it to move efficiently along the seabed, avoiding obstacles and stalking prey swimming underneath. Their long claws also have an anticoagulant venom. If they hit, the victim must make a ST vs. Poison or lose 1hp/round until first aid is administered or a heal light wounds is successfully cast. Further wounds do not accumulate bleeding damage. Finally, it possesses camouflage abilities. It covers its shell with algae, anemones, mollusks, and other parts of the sea bottom to camouflage itself and prevent larger predators from spotting it from above. This animal is more frequent in the waters of Ochalea, but I know of documented cases of specimens living around Royster, near the sea trench, and of colonies in the waters of Thanegioth, in the middle of Twaelar.
Giant Spider
Crab
AC:
0
HD: 8*
Move: 120'
Attacks: pincer/pincer
Damage: 2d8/2d8
No. Appearing: 1–2
Save As: F4
Morale: 10
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 1,200
Similar
to its smaller sibling, this crab is larger, reaching 3m in height
and 6m in ‘pincerspan.’
It lives in deeper waters, such as the Abyss (I have not explored it
personally, but I trust the marine giants of the terraces), the
Royster Trench, and some other minor trenches. It looks like a
mutation of the original race, adapted to survive in more
inhospitable places. Their carapace is harder, their pincers stronger
and their venom more potent, so they make the ST vs Poison
with -2. Sea giants are used to scare small children with them in
their stories.
Giant Lancer Shrimp
AC: 3
HD: 5-7*
Move: 90'
Attacks: ‘spear’/‘spear’
Damage: 2d10/2d10
No. Appearing: 1 (1–2)
Save As: F2–3
Morale: 10
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 300/500/850
This shrimp, which is very similar to the shellbreaker, shares habitat with its cousin. However, it is inferior to it in many respects. Although it retains the ability to temporarily increase its speed, it strikes with less force and is not able to break the armor of its prey. Therefore, it learned to be a silent predator. Using its whitish color to blend in with the sand, it buries itself, leaving only its eyes showing. When the prey passes by, it jumps with both arms in an attempt to skewer it, surprising on 1–4 on d6 and causing double damage due to the great speed with which it jumps in order to skewer its prey. Like its cousin, it is immune to illusions and sees invisible things.
Gripper Lobster
AC: 3
HD: 3*
Move: 90'
Attacks: grapple/grapple
Damage: 1d8/1d8 +special
No. Appearing: 1 (1–2)
Save As: F2
Morale: 9
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 50
This lobster, the size of a reef shark, evolved in order to best capture its prey. Its two claws are designed to capture and immobilize its victims. That way, it can squeeze them to death. Anyone hit by a pincer must roll vs. Par or be trapped. Those trapped take automatic damage each round from the grapple that traps them and have -4 to hit per grapple. A check vs Strength allows freeing oneself from a pincer by spending the entire round, but if one has 2 pincers there is a penalty of 4. This animal tends to trap a target with the 2 pincers and once it is dead move on to the next victim.