Dinosaur, Spinosaurus

Family: Dinosaurs

Gargantuan beast, unaligned

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 232 (15d20 + 75)
Speed 60 ft., swim 40 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
25 (+7) 9 (-1) 21 (+5) 2 (-4) 11 (+0) 10 (+0)

Skills Perception +5
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages
Challenge 13 (10,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +5

SPECIAL TRAITS

  • Hold Breath. The spinosaurus can hold its breath for 1 hour.
  • Reptilian Affinity. The spinosaurus never willingly attacks a reptilian Humanoid, such as a lizardfolk or dragonborn, unless attacked first. If magically forced to attack such a creature, the spinosaurus has disadvantage on attack rolls against it. This trait doesn’t function if the spinosaurus’s rider or tamer directs it to attack.
  • Siege Monster. The spinosaurus deals double damage to objects and structures.

ACTIONS

  • Multiattack. The spinosaurus makes one Bite attack and two Claw attacks.
  • Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 33 (4d12 + 7) piercing damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 18). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the spinosaurus can’t Bite another target.
  • Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (4d6 + 7) slashing damage.
  • Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
  • Frightful Presence. Each creature of the spinosaurus’ choice that is within 120 feet of the spinosaurus and aware of it must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the spinosaurus’s Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.

LEGENDARY ACTIONS

The spinosaurus can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The spinosaurus regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

  • Move. The spinosaurus moves up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
  • Roar. The spinosaurus uses Frightful Presence.
  • Tail Attack (Costs 2 Actions). The spinosaurus makes one Tail attack.

ABOUT

Some lizardfolk use spinosauruses as a mode of transportation. The creatures are large enough to pull barges or to carry a crew of raiders anywhere on the rivers, and they are swift overland. Lizardfolk scouts are especially fond of these enormous reptiles, as they are powerful combatants and can carry a dozen lizardfolk warriors. In addition to their role as trained raiders in Veles-Sa, some spinosauruses live in or along major river systems. There they are also called “river dragons” or sometimes “river walkers”.

This massive, blue-skinned saurian lumbers out of the river, depositing a platoon of armed lizardfolk on the bank before releasing a terrifying roar.

Friend to Lizardfolk. The spinosaurus is a special saurian bred for size and loyalty by lizardfolk. Lizardfolk prize them like prime warhorses, and lavish them with food and care.

As spinosauruses age slowly, most large lizardfolk tribes have several young spinosauruses and one adult spinosaurus in their care, reserving the massive adult for major engagements or when the entire tribe must move at once.

Enormous Size and Color. This immense saurian has a long, tooth-filled maw, powerful claws, and colorful spines running the length of its back. An adult spinosaurus is 70 feet long and weighs 35,000 pounds or more, while a young spinosaurus is a mere 20 feet long, weighing 6,000 pounds or more.

Swift Predator. A spinosaurus is at home on both land and water, chasing prey from one to the other when necessary. Though they are carnivores, they have an affinity for lizardfolk and other reptilian humanoids, eating such creatures only if the creatures horribly mistreat them or if they experience extreme starvation with such creatures as the only option for food.

Spinosauruses As Mounts

They are sometimes stolen and sold, generally to lizardfolk and sometimes to daring humans with a knack for training animals. These eggs are worth as much as 2,000 gp apiece; live young are worth twice that. Characters eager for dire spinosaurus mounts, however, should note that buying or domesticating such an enormous carnivore requires vast amounts of food and vast stores of patience. They do not take easily to domestication.

Before it can be ridden in combat, a spinosaurus must practice bearing the weight of its trainer and passengers. They rarely master more than a handful of tricks, but they are extremely comfortable in the water and are aware that some of their riders may not breathe water. An adult spinosaurus can carry up to six tons as cargo. Riding a spinosaurus requires an exotic saddle, riding platform, or howdah.

Lizardfolk use spinosauruses as a mode of transportation; they are large enough to pull barges or to carry a crew of raiders anywhere on the rivers, and they are reasonably swift overland as well. Lizardfolk scouts are especially fond of these enormous reptiles, as they are powerful combatants and capable of carrying a dozen lizardfolk warriors.

In addition to their role as trained raiders, some spinosauruses live in or along major river systems. There they are also called “river dragons” or sometimes “river walkers”. They are kept as sacred animals in several river temples, where they are fed regular meals and have been known to grow to enormous size and strength.

Finally, spinosauruses carry high value spice cargoes when banditry is rife or when a lizardfolk mercenary company is available to guard materials.

These beasts are often especially bred for gaudy coloration: green-and-orange, blue-and-gold, and even red-and-black bloodlines are spotted occasionally.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Tome of Beasts. Copyright 2016, Open Design; Authors Chris Harris, Dan Dillon, Rodrigo Garcia Carmona, and Wolfgang Baur.

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