Catoblepones (Cahto-bleh-pohnes)

Overview

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Catoblepas CR: 5

Huge monstrosity, unaligned

Armor Class:

Hit Points: 114 (12dl0 + 48) 12dl0+48

Speed: 30 ft

STR

20 +5

DEX

11 +0

CON

21 +5

INT

2 -4

WIS

15 +2

CHA

6 -2

Skills: Perception +5

Damage Immunities: poison

Condition Immunities: poisoned

Senses: darkvision 20 ft., passive Perception 15

Challenge Rating: 5

Keen Smell. The catoblepas has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Poor Sight. The catoblepas has disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight and is effectively blind to objects or creatures 30 feet away or more.
Noxious Gas. Any creature other than a catoblepas that starts its turn within 10 feet of the catoblepas must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, roll 1d10. On a 1-2, the creature is poisoned. On a 3-4, the creature is paralyzed. On a 5-6, the creature partially turns to stone and is restrained. On a 7-8, the creature is blinded, On a 9-10, the creature is stunned. Any effect lasts until the start of the creature's next turn. On a successful saving throw, the creature is immune to the Noxious Gas of any catoblepas for 1 hour.

Actions

Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d12 + 5) 2d12+5 piercing damage.
Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft ., one target. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) 2d10+5 bludgeoning damage.
Diseased Breath (Recharge 5-6). The catoblepas exhales gas in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is poisoned and blinded. If the save fails by more than 3, the creature is poisoned and acts as if under the effects of the confusion spell. It may repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effects on a success, or can end the effects with anything that would cure poisoning or disease.

Deep within Ogygian swamps, there is one herbivore that remains nearly unbothered by predators. The catoblepas (plural catoblepones) is a large, long-necked hybrid of boar and bull, its hide tough as rock and covered in swamp plants. Its name ("to look downward" in Ogygian) derives from the way the catoblepas is almost always seen rummaging in brackish water for all manner of weeds, vines, mosses, and mushrooms. This diet helps create a horrendously noxious brew in the catoblepas' stomach, and this becomes its most dangerous defense.

As the catoblepas digests, its stomach pushes a volatile concoction of gases into multiple sacs along its back. These gas sacs steadily vent through pores along its back, creating a film of noxious fog around its body. It is also capable of spewing this gas from its nose and mouth at attackers, though this is in much more limited amounts as it comes straight from the source. A creature that inhales this gas is subjected to its cocktail of afflictions, ranging from poisoning, paralysis, confusion, to even minor petrification. Most creatures with any sense flee when a catoblepas comes to graze.

However, plants are largely immune to the catoblepas' gases, and in fact, many varieties that grow on the creature's back grow nowhere else in the world. Some are even used in incredibly potent medicines, fetching a hefty sum on the market.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A bulky bovine creature with a pronounced back hump, similar to a bison. The body is covered in a leathery hide with short bristles emerging along the back. The neck is elongated, about 10 feet on its own, and capped with a tusked boar head with a rack of wide bull horns and pinprick red eyes. The tail is very short, almost unnoticeable. Four strong legs end in boar's hooves, but the front pair of legs is slightly longer, leading to a raised posture.
The catoblepas' neck is a sturdy, inflexible limb. It keeps the creature's head low, as it is only focused on eating aquatic or low-growing foliage. Its neck allows it to swing from side to side and slightly downward, but it can only barely curve it up enough to look at a 20-degree angle. This lets it defend itself capably with sweeps of its sideways-facing horns and curled tusks, but makes it difficult for it to attack anything elevated higher than its shoulders.

Genetics and Reproduction

The catoblepas mates for life, and produces only one or two piglets per 12-month pregnancy. The male catoblepas creates a nest of branches, leaves, and grasses for the piglets to whelp in. If the mother dies before the piglets are old enough to travel with their parents, the male finds another female to adopt them.

Growth Rate & Stages

A catoblepas piglet can fully feed after two weeks. At this point, the piglet and its parents travel the Ogygian marshlands together while it grows. It takes about six months for the piglet to collect enough peat and growth to start its back-garden, and after five years, the catoblepas is old enough to set off on its own.
A young catoblepas' back-garden takes years to propagate into a lush ecosystem worth harvesting, and if uninterrupted, it only continues to grow in scale and diversity as the catoblepas ages.

Ecology and Habitats

Exclusive to Ogygian marshlands.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Herbivorous, including fungi and flowers. The catoblepas is immune to ingested poisons and particularly enjoys clearing out toxic foliage from the swamps.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Despite its noxious smog, the catoblepas has an impeccable sense of smell, allowing it to sniff out choice meals in the mud. In contrast, its sense of sight is awful; it can only see in mild detail about 10 feet away, and anything further is blurry.

Contents

Details

Lifespan

300 years

Average Height

15 feet at the shoulder

Average Length

25 feet from nose to tail

Geographic Distribution

• Lerna
• The Acheron Swamp