General Rules: Monsters - Liopleurodon

Liopleurodon (from Dragon Magazine #318)
Colossal Animal (Aquatic)

Hit Dice: 38d8+701 (872 hit points)
Initiative: +4
Speed: Swim 90 feet
Armor Class: 22 (-8 size, +20 natural); touch 2, flat-footed 22
BAB/Grapple: +28/+62
Attack: Bite +38 melee (4d8+27, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing, 19-20 x2)

Full Attack: Bite +38 melee (4d8+27, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing, 19-20 x2)

Space/Reach: 30 feet by 20 feet/20 feet (10 feet with bite)
Special Attacks: Frenzy, improved grab, swallow whole
Special Qualities: Hold breath, keen scent, low-light vision
Saves: Fortitude +33, Reflex +21, Will +15
Abilities: Str 46, Int 2, Wis 16, Dex 10, Con 34, Cha 13

Skills: Spot +44, Swim +26

Feats: Awesome Blow, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (Bite), Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (Bite), Power Attack, Toughness x7
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 15
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 39 - 114 Hit Dice (Colossal)

An aquatic reptile of incredible strength, the liopleuridon is among the largest carnivorous animals ever.

The liopleuridon is a solitary creature, gathering in pairs only during its mating season. Although they dwell in the oceans of the world, liopleuridons are air-breathers, and must surface regularly to breathe. They often lurk along shorelines in relatively shallow water, and aren't above swimming into lagoons or large rivers in search of food to feed their massive bodies.

A liopleuridon often measures up to 80 feet in length, but incredibly massive and ancient liopleuridons measuring over 200 feet long are rumored to exist in the world's uncharted oceans.

Combat
Liopleuridons often hunt near ocean shorelines and aren't afraid to surge out of the surf onto a beach to catch creatures that come too close to the edge of the sea. They attack with a powerful bite.

Frenzy (Ex): If a liopleuridon is reduced to less than half its normal maximum hit points, it flies into a terrible rage of frenzied activity. During a frenzy, the liopleuridon gains a +4 bonus to its Armor Class and attack rolls. Its swim speed gains a +30 foot bonus, and if it makes a full attack action, it gains an additional bite attack. The frenzy persists for 1 minute, after which the lioplueridon becomes fatigued. A liopleuridon cannot enter a frenzy while it is fatigued.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a liopleuridon must hit an opponent of up to one size smaller with its bite attack. it can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can try to swallow the foe on the following round.

Swallow Whole (Ex): A liopleuridon can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of up to two sizes smaller by making a successful grapple check. The swallowed creature takes 2d8+8 points of bludgeoning damage and 8 points of acid damage per round from the liopleuridon's gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 45 points of damage to the AC 20 gizzard. Once the creature exist, muscular action closes the hole,; another swallowed creature must cut its own way out.

A Colossal liopleuridon's gizzard can hold 2 Huge, 8 Large, 32 Medium, or 128 Small or smaller opponents.

Keen Scent (Ex): A liopleuridon can notice creatures by scent in a 180-foot radius, and can sense blood in the water at ranges of up to a mile.

Skills: A liopleuridon has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. it can always choose to 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.

Liopleuridons as Animal Companions
If raised from an egg, a liopleuridon can be trained using Handle Animal. A 24^th-level druid, 26^th-level outdoorsman, or 24^th-level ranger may take a liopleuridon as an animal companion if the character lives primarily in an aquatic environment.

Home     Three Worlds     Monsters