A giant octopus is a large beast found in waters across Exandria.
Description[]
Giant octopi are not verbally described in either the Monster Manual or in any Critical Role media, but one was illustrated in Call of the Netherdeep with red eyes and bristly-textured skin.[1] They are much larger than humanoids and can camouflage themselves in underwater environments.[2]
Abilities[]
The following is all taken from the Monster Manual (2014), p. 326.
- Skill expertise: Perception, Stealth
- Underwater Camouflage: Advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks while underwater.
- Water Breathing: Can only breathe underwater
- Hold Breath: Can hold its breath while out of water for up to an hour.
- Actions
- Tentacles: Reach 15 ft., deals bludgeoning damage and grapples and restrains on a hit; can only grapple one creature at a time in this way.
- Ink Cloud (recharges after a short rest): Heavily obscures a 20-foot radius of water around the octopus, which can then Dash as a bonus action. The ink cloud can be dispersed by a strong current.
History[]
Official art of a waverider, by Biagio D'Alessandro from Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting p. 127.[art 2]
The waveriders of the Water Ashari can transform into giant octopi,[3] and when they must use violence, they often prefer to do so with the aid of their giant octopus form's natural camouflage.[4]
While traversing tunnels beneath Wildemount to travel to Xhorhas, the Mighty Nein had trouble getting through a passage near a fire giant fortress. Caleb Widogast used Polymorph to transform one of the giants into a giant octopus to greatly reduce its danger to the party.[5]
In a full adventure, Frozen Sick, among the hostile bestial denizens in the frigid submerged areas of the Salsvault complex (on the island of Foren) is a giant octopus that claims the Drowned Library as its lair. It will attack anyone who enters the water and fight until gravely injured.[6]
Just off the coast of Jigow, where the Ifolon River empties into the Emerald Gulch Sea, is a system of caves called the Emerald Grotto. Within these caves is one long cavern, open to the sky through a slight crack, and at the bottom of a 30-foot-deep pit in this cavern is a giant octopus that will ambush anyone who enters it. The octopus is sitting over scattered pieces of silver and a pouch containing eight pellets of Dust of Dryness.[1]
In Cael Morrow, one might encounter a giant octopus wrangling with an ancient locked chest.[7]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 32.
- ↑ See D&D: Monster Manual (2014), 5th ed., p. 326.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 230.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 228.
- ↑ See "The Endless Burrows" (2x50) at 3:45:45.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 248. See also p. 245.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 124.
Art:
- ↑ Official art of a giant octopus in the Emerald Grotto, by Irina Nordsol from Call of the Netherdeep, p. 32. Used DM response with permission.
- ↑ Official art of a waverider, by Biagio D'Alessandro from Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting p. 127. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.