Chuul, Pale

This lobster-like creature has a green armored shell. A pair of tiny eyes gleam above a mouth full of long writhing tentacles.

Pale Chuul CR 10

XP 9,600
Combat (soldier)
CE Large aberration (aquatic)
Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +14

DEFENSE

AC 24, touch 10, flat-footed 23 (+1 Dex, +14 natural, -1 size)
hp 135 (10d10+80)
Fort +15, Ref +8, Will +8
Immune poison
Weaknesses light blindness

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., swim 40 ft.
Melee 2 claws +18 (1d6+9 plus grab), tentacles +13 (1d6+4)
Size 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks constrict (1d6+9 plus paralyze), paralyze (1 hour, DC 23), rend (2 claws, 1d6+13)

STATISTICS

Str 28, Dex 13, Con 26, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 19
Base Atk +10; CMB +20 (+24 grapple); CMD 31
Feats Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Lunge, Stand Still
Skills Acrobatics +14, Craft (trapmaking) +14, Disable Device +11, Heal +14, Perception +14, Swim +17
Languages Elven, Undercommon
SQ amphibious, traps

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Traps (Ex)

The pale chuul can disable traps with Disable Device as if it possessed the rogue’s trapfinding ability. The pale chuul does not require gold to create traps with Craft (trapmaking), only time.

ECOLOGY

Environment underground
Organization solitary, pair, or pack (3-6)
Treasure standard

Harsh circumstances force subterranean chuuls to seek ways of preserving humanoid prey for as long as possible. The clever aberrations start by creating crippling or maiming traps in watery caves. The chuuls then paralyze captured living food and drag the bodies back to their lair. There they keep the victim alive and confined; killing them a morsel at a time. Packs of chuul capture and control whole herds of crippled drow, duergar, and morlocks, holding them as livestock in deplorable conditions. Occasionally, these victims are able to cut deals with the chuul for their lives and the lives of others captured bring more victims to the cages and they live a little longer.