Skulkrab Scythejaw
Large monstrosity, Chaotic Evil
Armor Class: 14 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 45 (6d10 + 12)
Speed: 30 ft. on land, 40 ft. swimming
Challenge Rating: 2 (450 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 12 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
Saving Throws: Strength +5, Constitution +4
Skills: Stealth +3, Perception +3 (with advantages in dim light)
Damage Vulnerabilities: None
Damage Resistances: Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from non-magical attacks
Damage Immunities: None
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned
Senses: Blindsight 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., Trinkling vision: Can perceive cause and effect in oceanic currents and tides within 120 ft.
Languages: Understands Aquan but cannot speak
Spellcasting
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Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Skulkrab Scythejaw makes two attacks: one with its **Pincer** and one with its **Tail Spike**. This action represents its dexterous nature, allowing it to effectively strike at multiple targets or capitalize on an opportunity to deal damage to a single opponent.
Pincer Attack: – **Melee Weapon Attack**: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
– **Hit**: 12 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage.
– **Effect**: The target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 14). While grappled, the target is restrained, and the Skulkrab can make additional Pincer attacks against it on subsequent turns without using a separate action.
### Description
With a swift and lethal motion, the Skulkrab snaps its massive pincers towards its prey, exhibiting the crushing power garnered from both land and sea. The crushing grip not only harms the target but also holds them in a position vulnerable to further attacks, embodying the creature’s predatory nature.
Tail Spike: – **Melee Weapon Attack**: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
– **Hit**: 10 (2d4 + 3) piercing damage.
– **Effect**: The target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until the end of the Skulkrab’s next turn. While poisoned, the target is incapacitated.
### Description
Flicking its formidable tail, the Skulkrab launches a sharp spike covered in a toxic venom at its foe. Upon impact, the barbed spike embeds itself into flesh, delivering agonizing pain that can incapacitate the victim, rendering them helpless against the impending predatory onslaught.
Ambush Predator: – **Special Ability**
– **Description**: While underwater or in dim light, the Skulkrab Scythejaw has advantage on attack rolls against surprised creatures. When the Skulkrab successfully catches a target off guard, it strikes with precision, maximizing its damage potential.
### Effect
This ability embodies the Skulkrab’s tactical mindset, allowing it to expertly utilize its environment to gain the upper hand. An ambush allows it to deal devastating damage before the adventurers even realize they are in danger.
Camouflage: – **Bonus Action**
– **Description**: The Skulkrab Scythejaw can attempt to hide within rocky environments or murky waters, granting it advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.
### Effect
Utilizing its natural adaptability, the Skulkrab aligns its coloration and texture with the surrounding environment to become nearly invisible. This action allows it to reposition for another ambush or evade counterattacks, showcasing its cunning instincts.
Frightening Presence: – **Special Ability (Recharge 5-6)**
– **Description**: The Skulkrab emits a terrifying display, utilizing its vivid colors and imposing size to instill fear in its enemies. Each creature of the Skulkrab’s choice within 30 feet that can see it must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
### Effect
This ability showcases the Skulkrab’s intimidating nature, feeding on the primal instincts of fear. A frightened creature must use its actions to flee from the Skulkrab, impeding their allies’ ability to retaliate.
Retreat: – **Special Ability**
– **Description**: If the Skulkrab Scythejaw is reduced to half of its hit points or fewer, it can use its action to attempt to retreat into the waters or darkness, utilizing its **Camouflage** ability for cover as it escapes.
### Effect
Through cunning and instinct, the Skulkrab can deliver a swift attack and then skillfully retreat if the tide of battle turns against it. Players will need to act quickly if they wish to prevent its escape back to safety.
Appearance
Skulkrab Scythejaw – Physical Description
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Size and Shape: The Skulkrab Scythejaw is a large creature, roughly the size of a bear, with a robust, segmented body measuring 5 feet long and 3 feet tall at the spine. Its overall shape is a menacing combination of bulky crab and sleek shark with a pronounced scorpion-like tail, giving it an intimidating presence both on land and in the water.
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Coloration: The creature’s exoskeleton boasts a dark teal color, reminiscent of the midnight sea, flecked with iridescent patterns that shift subtly, reflecting the hues of deep-sea life. The segments of its shell appear almost black in shadow, transitioning to a bright turquoise when caught in flashes of light. Its claws and the pointed tips of its tail spike are a contrasting shade of deep crimson, adding an element of danger to its appearance.
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Texture and Surface Features: The texture of the Skulkrab’s carapace is a blend of smooth and rugged, varying with each segmented plate; while most areas feel slick due to moisture, the edges are rough and jagged, giving it a natural armor-like quality. Bristly, hair-like appendages resembling dark green seaweed emerge from various joints, enhancing its camouflage against rocky seafloors and coastal surroundings.
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Facial Features: Its face is both unsettling and vividly expressive. A broad, wet maw filled with sharp, serrated teeth opens wide in a snarl, resembling a shark’s jaw but with the added menace of scorpion-like pincers flanking it. The Skulkrab’s many compound eyes, perched on elongated stalks, glisten with an unsettling sheen—transitioning from calm azure to menacing crimson as it senses potential prey. The eyes are multifaceted and constantly shifting position, providing an almost unnerving watchfulness.
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Limbs and Appendages: The Skulkrab has six limbs in total, each powerful and adept for different tasks. Its pair of oversized pincers is the most prominent, sharp-edged and deadly, designed for crushing and grappling. The remaining limbs are robust and agile, allowing it to move swiftly over rocky terrain. A long, whip-like tail extends from its back, tipped with a venomous spike that drips with toxic droplets; this appendage serves both as a weapon and balance aid while navigating its environment.
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Special Features: Bioluminescent spots dance across the creature’s shell, casting an eerie glow in low-light conditions, thereby confusing and luring in smaller fish and unwary adventurers. The glowing patterns pulse softly in rhythmic waves, creating a hypnotic effect that can distract foes or potential prey. Additionally, the Skulkrab has a faint, bioluminescent halo around its eyes, intensifying the fear it inspires.
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Posture and Movement: The Skulkrab Scythejaw maintains a low, hunched posture, resembling a predator ready to pounce. It exhibits a dual mode of movement, capable of swift swimming in water and adept climbing on land. The creature is surprisingly agile, moving swiftly and purposefully, whether skimming through ocean depths or scuttling over rocky surfaces. When it strikes, it exhibits a terrifying grace that belies its armored bulk.
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Additional Notable Traits: Along its back are jagged fins resembling those of a shark, enhancing both its intimidating silhouette and its swimming capabilities. The creature’s carapace features intricate markings—writhing lines and patterns that hint at the dark magic of its creation. A faint, sea-salt scent accompanies its presence, as if it carries the ocean’s depths within itself.
The Skulkrab Scythejaw is not just a predator of land and sea; it is a nightmarish culmination of nature twisted by dark magic—waiting in silence to unleash its terrifying prowess upon the unwary.
Tactical Information
Tactical Information for Skulkrab Scythejaw
Combat Behavior
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Ambushing Tactics: The Skulkrab Scythejaw thrives in environments where it can utilize its Camouflage ability effectively. Prior to combat, it will attempt to remain hidden among rocks or within murky waters, using its high Stealth ability. It will wait for unsuspecting adventurers to pass close by before launching a surprise attack, likely targeting those who appear more vulnerable or isolated from the group.
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Preferred Environment: This creature prefers rocky coastal areas and shallow waters. It will use terrain advantages, like underwater current or elevated rocky perches, to engage adventurers while maximizing its ambush potential. When on land, it will seek out obscured areas to hide before attacking.
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Target Selection: The Skulkrab will focus on targeting spellcasters or ranged fighters first, attempting to grapple them with its Pincer Attack to prevent them from effectively using their spells or ranged attacks. After grappling, it can continue to deal damage or use its Tail Spike to inject poison, rendering its target less effective in combat.
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Engagement Strategy: Upon engaging a target, the Skulkrab Scythejaw will quickly utilize its Multiattack feature to maximize damage output. It will seek to grapple opponents first with its Pincer and then follow up with its Tail Spike to poison and keep them incapacitated for follow-up attacks. If it has already grappled one target, it may use its Tail Spike against another nearby target to spread the effects of poison.
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Team Coordination: If encountered in a pack (2-4 Skulkrab Scythejaws), they will spread out (using terrain to hide) and coordinate their attacks against a single target to ensure swift incapacitation. They will utilize Pack Tactics to gain advantage on attack rolls when flanking or attacking a single foe. They thrive on outnumbering enemies, using distraction and division tactics to break apart adventurer formations.
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Hit and Run: After delivering a converging attack, the Skulkrab will instinctively retreat to the water or shadows to avoid retaliatory strikes, recovering its ambush position and ensuring its survival. If it is the only one left in combat and is severely wounded, it will prioritize escape using its speed and camouflage to evade further attacks.
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Retreat Behavior: If it finds itself cornered or heavily damaged, the Skulkrab Scythejaw will disengage immediately, swimming or scuttling away toward deeper waters or hidden caves, attempting to camouflage itself to avoid being targeted during its retreat.
Narrative Interactions
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Encounter Setup: As players approach a rocky area near the ocean, describe the unsettling calm of the sea, the quiet lapping of waves punctuated by the occasional shifting of stones beneath the water. The players might notice strange bioluminescent patterns glimmering just below the surface or hear soft repetitions of clicking sounds, indicating something sinister is near.
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Exaggerated Ambush: Once players negligently wander close, narrate the sudden tumult of water and shifting sands, leading to a surprise round where the Skulkrab emerges, pincers raised and dualistic eyes shifting to menacing shades of red, ready to capitalize on the unsuspecting.
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Retreating Scare: If the Skulkrab Scythejaw is forced to retreat, players may witness it darting back into the depths, its body momentarily breaking the surface and leaving only ripples behind. You might describe the glow from its bioluminescent spots fading into the cold depths, reinforcing the sense that something dangerous still lurks unseen in the shadows.
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Climactic Moments: When a player is grappled, describe the bone-crushing grip of the Skulkrab’s pincers, the sound of crackling exoskeleton, and the dreadful realization that the creature plans to inject its toxin. Reinforce the high stakes of being caught in its grasp—an impending sense of doom.
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Environmental Challenges: When engaged, emphasize environmental hazards such as rough terrain, slippery rocks, and unpredictable tides that can affect movement, heightening the tension of the encounter. Maybe the surf washes over has the potential to incapacitate melee fighters, making position and distance critical in their actions.
By employing these tactical insights and narrative elements, the Skulkrab Scythejaw can serve as an engaging threat, providing players with a memorable encounter that highlights both its unique abilities and the dangers presented by the enigmatic, cursed cove.
