Karkinoi Brood Swarm

Each member of this horde of blue crablike things is armed with a menacing, oversized pincer.

Karkinoi Brood Swarm (CR 4)

Tiny Monstrous Humanoid (Aquatic, Swarm)
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Initiative: +6
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet; Perception +0

Speed: 20 feet, Swim 30 feet
Space: 10 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 18, touch 14, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +4 natural, +2 size)
Hit Points: 39 (6d10+6)
Saving Throws: Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +5
swarm traits

Offense

Melee: swarm (2d6)
Reach: 0 feet

Special Attacks: clinging grasp (DC 15), consume, Distraction (DC 14)

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
6 (-2)	14 (+2)	13 (+1)	3 (-4)	10 (+0)	7 (-2)

Base Attack Bonus: +6
CMB -
CMD -

Feats: Agile Maneuvers, Improved Initiative, Step Up

Skills: Swim +15

Languages: Aquan

Special Qualities: scuttling swarm, Water Dependency

Special Abilities

Clinging Grasp (Ex)

The spawn in a karkinoi brood swarm clutch with their pincers to tenaciously cling to other creatures and each other, inhibiting their targets' movement as they swarm over prey. When the karkinoi brood swarm ends its turn in the space of a Medium or smaller creature, that creature must succeed at a DC 15 Reflex save or become entangled. This effect lasts for 1 round or until the creature leaves the karkinoi brood swarm's space, whichever comes first. The save DC is normally Strength-based, but because the karkinoi brood swarm has the Agile Maneuvers feat, the DC is instead Dexterity-based.

Consume (Ex)

A karkinoi brood swarm can rapidly consume any creature it swarms over. Against helpless or nauseated targets, a karkinoi brood swarm's attack deals 4d6 points of damage.

Scuttling Swarm (Ex)

A karkinoi brood swarm can use its Step Up feat to move and reshape itself when a creature takes a 5-foot step while within the swarm's area. Each part of the swarm can move 5 feet, provided each part of the swarm ends this movement in a square occupied by the creature taking the 5-foot step or in a square that the swarm occupied before taking this movement.

Water Dependency (Ex)

A karkinoi brood swarm can survive out of the water for 1 hour per point of Constitution. Beyond this limit, it runs the risk of suffocation, as if it were drowning.

Ecology

Environment: Any Aquatic
Organization: solitary, pair, or wave (3-4 swarms)
Treasure: none


Among the myriad horrors inhabiting the Shackles, a karkinoi brood swarm is one of the most terror-inspiring to behold. The brutish karkinoi (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 4 173) reproduce after collecting sufficient meat to feed their offspring, which is usually obtained by raiding coastal settlements. After mating, the female karkinoi lays a mass of eggs in the calm water of a coastal sea cave or sheltered underwater area. The voracious spawn hatch almost simultaneously, instinctively cluster together to form an endlessly ravenous karkinoi brood swarm, and devour all nearby meat. The taste of that first meal imprints itself on the karkinoi spawn, pushing these creatures to become savage marauders when they mature.

The karkinoi brood mother remains close by her progeny after they hatch, both to educate them and to safeguard them from predators, especially other karkinoi, which have been known to cannibalize karkinoi spawn. Karkinoi spawn mature rapidly, growing larger and aggressively vying for domination over each other. A karkinoi brood swarm's spawn rapidly diminish in number as the stronger members consume the vanquished. Eventually, the karkinoi adolescents split up, searching for their own aquatic lairs and ample sources of soft meat.