Thorn Kraken

You think I don't know what they say about me? Aye, I know. But I also know what I saw. I was in the crows nest that night. We were days from land, crossing the ocean on the Chimera. Our sister ship, the Drake, followed a ways behind. The air was cold that night, colder than usual, though the winds weren't bad. But the sea had a temper and something annoyed it. There was no storm, not yet at least, yet the waves kept breaking and the going was rough.
You might wonder why I was up there in such weather. All I can say is it had been calmer when I first went up and I hoped it would calm down again soon. In the meantime I looked to the stars, the horizon, and the Drake.
At first I did not know what I was looking at. Half of the Drake's bow was swallowed in blackness. But I soon realized that blackness had a form. A wizard of some sort threw a bolt of fire and briefly lit up the creature. I saw it lift one of it's great tentacles, shoot spikes from the arm, and pin sailors to the deck in that moment of illumination. As the light died the screams reached my ears.
I called to the deck below and we tried to turn, to get the beast in range of our ballistae. By the time we came round the creature had picked off the majority of the crew and heavily damaged the hull of the ship. All we could do was watch the old lady sink.

— Gedren Redsail, Patron of The Tempest Tavern, Ujen

Spoken of to scare young sailors, land-lovers who rarely venture out to sea, or when and old seaman is too far into their cups, the thorn kraken is an elusive monster said to hunt the Anvarian ocean. It's form is like a monstrous octopus, large enough to seize the bow of a ship. From its arms sprout projectile thorns which can pin a man to the deck or tear sails to shreds. Legends suggest they mostly hunt at night, appearing from the dark depths suddenly and rending the hull of ship to pieces while devouring the contents.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The thorn kraken has 8 arms like an octopus, but from its suckers it can extend thorn-shaped spikes. These spikes can be propelled at great speed to bring down prey and work equally well above and below water. When attacking ships it will often try to pin its targets in place, then one by one take them in its arms an devour them.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The rarity of these creatures means that little is known of their dietary habits. However carcasses of whales, sharks, and giant octopuses have been found with the thorn spikes embedded, suggesting they are all prey for the thorn kraken. If stories are to be believed, they will devour entire crews of large vessels.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Most tales have only reported solitary thorn krakens, with rare reports of pairs, suggesting they may remain together for a period after mating.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Thorn krakens tend to darker blues and purples, with a cream coloured underside.

Thorn Kraken CR: 4

Huge monstrosity, unaligned

Armor Class: 15

Hit Points: 82 (9d10 + 32) 9d10+32

Speed: 20 ft , swim: 15 ft

STR

17 +3

DEX

14 +2

CON

17 +3

INT

5 -3

WIS

10 +0

CHA

4 -3

Skills: Perception +4, Athletics

Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 14

Languages: Aquan

Challenge Rating: 4

Arm Spike Regrowth. The thorn kraken has twenty-four tail spikes. Used spikes regrow when the thorn kraken finishes a long rest.
Freedom of Movement. The thorn kraken ignores difficult terrain, and magical effects can't reduce its speed or cause it to be restrained. It can spend 5 feet of movement to escape from nonmagical restraints or being grappled.
Hold Breath. While out of water, the thorn kraken can hold its breath for 1 hour.
Siege Monster. The kraken deals double damage to objects and structures.

Actions

Multiattack. The thorn kraken makes three attacks: any combination of up to three tentacle or arm spike attacks or one bite or ink cloud.
Tentacles. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it is grappled (escape DC 17). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained and the thorn kraken can't use its tentacles on another target.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Arm Spike. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 100/200 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Ink Cloud (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). A 20-foot-radius cloud of ink extends all around the thorn kraken if it is underwater. The area is heavily obscured for 1 minute, although a significant current can disperse the ink. After releasing the ink, the thorn kraken can use the Dash action as a bonus action.

Suggested Environments

Ocean