A Dire Tide [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Dire Tide [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Raptorial
01-16-07, 10:06 PM Well, since there have been threads created recently for constructs and elementals I thought it would be a good idea for a thread to create new and varied dire animals. I've recently created a dire catfish (walking variety) and a dire candiru for another thread that I could put up here. Feel free to create or suggest new dire creatures to populate the feral areas of D&D.
TheCrawlingSpleen
01-16-07, 11:43 PM A Dire Candiru?

Definately falls under the category of Things that Make You Go :yuck:
bhu
01-17-07, 01:32 AM Ummm.....Dire Whales?
Raptorial
01-17-07, 02:31 PM A Dire Candiru?

Definately falls under the category of Things that Make You Go :yuck:
It's not bad. A dire whale? Hm, sounds interesting. Here were those dire fish I was talking about.
Dire Catfish (Grand Riverlord)
Huge Animal
Hit Dice: 7d8+63 (94 hp)
Initiative: +2 (+2 Dex)
Speed: 10 ft. (2 squares), swim 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +8 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+26
Attack: Tail +16 melee (2d8 +13)
Full Attack: Tail +16 melee (2d8 +13) and bite +11 melee (2d6 +6)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab (bite), mighty inhale, swallow whole
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, DR 5 (slashing and piercing damage)
Saves: Fort +14, Ref +7, Will +5
Abilities: Str 37, Dex 14, Con 29, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 12
Skills: Hide -6, Intimidate +4, Listen +1, Move Silently +7, Spot +1, Survival +3, Swim +13
Feats: Die Hard, Endurance, Iron Will
Environment: Warm rivers
Organization: Solitary or spawning gathering (2-5)
Challenge Rating: 9
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 8-14 HD (Huge); 15-21 HD (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: -

A mighty leviathan of the rivers bursts through the dam set to catch river fish for the next feast. Its hide is covered in grievous wounds caused by past battles with his own kind and men.

Dire catfish are often called grand riverlords by those that have dealt with the beasts and lived to tell the tale. A massive version of the walking catfish, this monster has jagged razor fins and bony protrusions from its otherwise smooth skin. Dire catfish use their hooked whiskers to grab prey and finangle them into their waiting maws.

Combat
Dire catfish usually lie in wait at the bottom of a riverbed. When a potential prey item gets too close it will either attempt to grapple with its whiskers or inhale the being. If not hunting but being attacked, the dire catfish will lash out with its strong tail.
Mighty Inhale (Ex): A dire catfish has the ability to suck prey into its mouth. As an attack action, a dire catfish may attempt to suck in a target size medium or smaller within 10 feet in front of the mouth. A target may attempt to make a Reflex save (DC 20, plus 2 for every size below medium) to avoid being immediately sucked in and affected by the swallow whole special attack. This special attack only works in the water.
Skills: A dire catfish gains a +8 bonus to Hide checks when sitting still on a muddy riverbed.

Alternating: If you want the dire catfish to reflect another species other than a walking catfish, simply remove the land speed and change the environment to temperate rivers for something like a wels or blue catfish.

Dire Candiru
Small Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8+8 (17 hp)
Initiative: +6 (+6 Dex)
Speed: burrow 5 ft. (1 square), swim 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 20 (+1 size, +6 Dex, +3 natural), touch 17, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/-2
Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d4 +1)
Full Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d4 +1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab
Special Qualities: Low-light vision
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +11, Will -1
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 22, Con 18, Int 2, Wis 9, Cha 11
Skills: Hide +10, Listen -1, Spot +2, Swim +3
Feats: Lightning Reflexes
Environment: Warm rivers
Organization: Solitary or pack (4-7)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 3-4 HD (Small); 5-6 HD (Medium)
Level Adjustment: -

Almost unseeable by your eyes, several thin fish around the size of a halfling swim behind the riverlord. Every once and a while one of them pops in and out of the giant beast's gills.

Dire candiru are clear and almost invisible catfish that feed upon the blood of the larger dire catfish. They swim among the giant's gills and nip into the areas rich in blood. Humans may also be on the menu if they smell tasty enough.

Combat
Dire candiru will latch onto a target and then burrow into the creature's flesh if possible. They usually simply take the blood they need to satisfy their hunger and then dart back into the murky waters.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Raptorial 01-16-07, 10:06 PM	Well, since there have been threads created recently for constructs and elementals I thought it would be a good idea for a thread to create new and varied dire animals. I've recently created a dire catfish (walking variety) and a dire candiru for another thread that I could put up here. Feel free to create or suggest new dire creatures to populate the feral areas of D&D.
TheCrawlingSpleen 01-16-07, 11:43 PM	A Dire Candiru? Definately falls under the category of Things that Make You Go :yuck:
bhu 01-17-07, 01:32 AM	Ummm.....Dire Whales?
Raptorial 01-17-07, 02:31 PM	A Dire Candiru? Definately falls under the category of Things that Make You Go :yuck: It's not bad. A dire whale? Hm, sounds interesting. Here were those dire fish I was talking about. Dire Catfish (Grand Riverlord) Huge Animal Hit Dice: 7d8+63 (94 hp) Initiative: +2 (+2 Dex) Speed: 10 ft. (2 squares), swim 30 ft. (6 squares) Armor Class: 18 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +8 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 16 Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+26 Attack: Tail +16 melee (2d8 +13) Full Attack: Tail +16 melee (2d8 +13) and bite +11 melee (2d6 +6) Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft. Special Attacks: Improved grab (bite), mighty inhale, swallow whole Special Qualities: Low-light vision, DR 5 (slashing and piercing damage) Saves: Fort +14, Ref +7, Will +5 Abilities: Str 37, Dex 14, Con 29, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 12 Skills: Hide -6, Intimidate +4, Listen +1, Move Silently +7, Spot +1, Survival +3, Swim +13 Feats: Die Hard, Endurance, Iron Will Environment: Warm rivers Organization: Solitary or spawning gathering (2-5) Challenge Rating: 9 Treasure: None Alignment: Always neutral Advancement: 8-14 HD (Huge); 15-21 HD (Gargantuan) Level Adjustment: - A mighty leviathan of the rivers bursts through the dam set to catch river fish for the next feast. Its hide is covered in grievous wounds caused by past battles with his own kind and men. Dire catfish are often called grand riverlords by those that have dealt with the beasts and lived to tell the tale. A massive version of the walking catfish, this monster has jagged razor fins and bony protrusions from its otherwise smooth skin. Dire catfish use their hooked whiskers to grab prey and finangle them into their waiting maws. Combat Dire catfish usually lie in wait at the bottom of a riverbed. When a potential prey item gets too close it will either attempt to grapple with its whiskers or inhale the being. If not hunting but being attacked, the dire catfish will lash out with its strong tail. Mighty Inhale (Ex): A dire catfish has the ability to suck prey into its mouth. As an attack action, a dire catfish may attempt to suck in a target size medium or smaller within 10 feet in front of the mouth. A target may attempt to make a Reflex save (DC 20, plus 2 for every size below medium) to avoid being immediately sucked in and affected by the swallow whole special attack. This special attack only works in the water. Skills: A dire catfish gains a +8 bonus to Hide checks when sitting still on a muddy riverbed. Alternating: If you want the dire catfish to reflect another species other than a walking catfish, simply remove the land speed and change the environment to temperate rivers for something like a wels or blue catfish. Dire Candiru Small Animal Hit Dice: 2d8+8 (17 hp) Initiative: +6 (+6 Dex) Speed: burrow 5 ft. (1 square), swim 50 ft. (10 squares) Armor Class: 20 (+1 size, +6 Dex, +3 natural), touch 17, flat-footed 14 Base Attack/Grapple: +1/-2 Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d4 +1) Full Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d4 +1) Space/Reach: 5 ft./0 ft. Special Attacks: Improved grab Special Qualities: Low-light vision Saves: Fort +7, Ref +11, Will -1 Abilities: Str 12, Dex 22, Con 18, Int 2, Wis 9, Cha 11 Skills: Hide +10, Listen -1, Spot +2, Swim +3 Feats: Lightning Reflexes Environment: Warm rivers Organization: Solitary or pack (4-7) Challenge Rating: 2 Treasure: None Alignment: Always neutral Advancement: 3-4 HD (Small); 5-6 HD (Medium) Level Adjustment: - Almost unseeable by your eyes, several thin fish around the size of a halfling swim behind the riverlord. Every once and a while one of them pops in and out of the giant beast's gills. Dire candiru are clear and almost invisible catfish that feed upon the blood of the larger dire catfish. They swim among the giant's gills and nip into the areas rich in blood. Humans may also be on the menu if they smell tasty enough. Combat Dire candiru will latch onto a target and then burrow into the creature's flesh if possible. They usually simply take the blood they need to satisfy their hunger and then dart back into the murky waters.