Mammoth Squid
Level 14Attacks
Abilities
The mammoth squid tries to capsize an adjacent aquatic vessel of its size or smaller. It must succeed at a DC 40 athletics check (reduce the DC by 10 for each size smaller the vessel is than the mammoth squid) or the pilot's Sailing Lore DC, whichever is higher.
(2d12+14)[bludgeoning], DC 34 fortitude
Requirements The mammoth squid is within 20 feet of a capsized vessel
Effect The mammoth squid wraps its arms around the capsized vessel, then squeezes, causing the vessel's hull to splinter and crack. It inflicts 10d10 bludgeoning damage to the vessel (DC 34 fortitude save). This damage treats the vessel's Hardness as if it had half as much as usual, unless the vessel's Hardness is greater than the mammoth squid's level. If the vessel takes damage, all creatures on board the vessel take 5
The mammoth squid moves up to 300 feet in a straight line through the water without triggering any reactions.
The mammoth squid makes up to four Strikes, each with a different arm and against a different target. Each arm Strike counts separately for the squid's multiple attack penalty, but the penalty doesn't increase until the squid has made all of its arm strikes. If the squid attempts to Grab a creature it hits with one of these arm Strikes (after all Strikes are resolved), the squid gains a +4 circumstance bonus to its Athletics check.
Not all stories of tentacled horrors the size of ships trace their origins to krakens. Many are linked instead to mammoth squid. While they rival krakens in size, mammoth squids have animal intellect and motivation, operating off of instinct and hunger rather than a willful urge to dominate lesser creatures. Thus, victims can't beg for their lives or bargain for peace, though a vast quantity of food might distract a mammoth squid.
Mammoth squids tend to live as solitary creatures in the deepest reaches of the ocean, and when they move against ships on the surface above, it is often the result of being pushed out of their territories by even more dangerous dwellers below, supernatural manipulation, or a compulsion to seek new domains when their deep hunting grounds are scarce of prey.
Other Squids Squids are a well-known oceanic predator, but most are much smaller than the mammoth squid. Even the notorious giant squid is only a fraction of the mammoth squid's size. At the other end of the scale, beyond mere animalistic dangers of the depths, krakens often regard mammoth squids as pawns to train and manipulate as guardians or pets—or merely as yet another thing to feast upon.