Merrow

Merrow
Depiction of a merrow, by Rudy Siswanto and Conceptopolis from D&D: Monster Manual, 5th ed., p. 219.
Biological Information
Type	Monstrosity
Alignment	Chaotic evil
Vision	Darkvision 60 ft.
Movement	10 ft., swim 40 ft.
Abilities	Amphibious Spellcasting (shallowpriest) Lightning Bolt (shallowpriest)
Physical Characteristics
Size	Large
Sociocultural Information
Planes	Material Plane (Exandria)
Locations	Pools of Wittebak Labenda Swamp Menagerie Coast
Environment	Coastal, Underwater
Language	Abyssal, Aquan

Merrow are a carnivorous, monstrous variation of merfolk.

History

Merrow are monstrosities with demonic origins; it's not yet established whether Exandrian mythology is quite the same as in the 5th-Edition Monster Manual, in which merrow were created when a group of merfolk were pulled into the Abyss by the Demogorgon and warped over generations into hulking, evil monstrosities, but Exandrian merrow have been described as "strange, twisted-looking merfolk".

Some of the merrow off the Menagerie Coast and in the watery tunnels beneath Wildemount have learned to harness elemental magic, sometimes in the service of some deity of the Elemental Plane of Water, and some of these shallowpriests become leaders of merrow clans, urging them to raids on coastal communities or to build sea-floor shrines and temples to prepare the way for portals to their god's realm.

Pools of Wittebak

Mysteriously, there are merrow deep in the Pools of Wittebak, where the gnomes had their Engine Core.

Campaign Two Arc 1: Come Together

In "Stalker in the Swamp" (2x21), the Mighty Nein defeated four merrow guards underneath the Gentleman's safe house in the Labenda Swamp, with the aid of Calianna Mordsson. In "Lost Treasures" (2x22), they encountered more of the creatures deeper in their lair and defeated a handful of them.

"The Diver's Grave" (2x44)

Fan art of Fjord fighting the merrow, by Omegasama art.

The Mighty Nein defeated two merrow and a shallowpriest near the wreckage of the Tide's Breath whilst exploring the Diver's Grave.

Abilities

Merrow

• Amphibious: The merrow can breathe air and water.
• Attacks:
  • Multiattack: The merrow can make two attack, one with its claw and one with its bite.
  • Claw: The merrow can make a claw attack.
  • Bite: The merrow can make a bite attack.
  • Trident: The merrow can attack with its trident and can pull a creature 20 feet toward itself.

Merrow Shallowpriest

Depiction of a merrow shallowpriest from Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 294.

Most of the following is taken from Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, but one additional spell was demonstrated onstream.

• Amphibious: The merrow can breathe air and water.
• Spellcasting: The shallowpriest is a 6th level spellcaster (save DC 13) and can cast the following spells:
  • Cantrips (at will): Druidcraft, 'Minor Illusion, Shocking Grasp
  • 1st level (4 slots): Cure Wounds, Fog Cloud, Thunderwave
  • 2nd level (3 slots): Hold Person, Mirror Image, Misty Step
  • 3rd level (3 slots): Dispel Magic, Lightning Bolt, Sleet Storm
    • Call Lightning

References

Art: