Ice Mauler

Medium monstrosity, chaotic evil

Armor Class 13
Hit Points 45 (6d8 + 18)
Speed 30 ft., swim 60 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
14 (+2) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 7 (-2) 10 (+0) 6 (-2)

Skills Athletics +4, Stealth +3
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Damage Resistances cold
Languages Orc
Challenge 2 (450 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

  • Amphibious. The ice mauler can breathe air and water.
  • Ice Burst. As a bonus action, the ice mauler can burst up through the ice and create a 10-foot radius area of difficult terrain. Any creature within 10 feet of the ice mauler when it bursts through the ice must succeed on a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw or fall into the water and take 10 (3d6) cold damage.

ACTIONS

  • Multiattack. The ice mauler makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its icemaul.
  • Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.
  • Icemaul. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage.
  • Paralyzing Gaze. When a creature that can see the Ice Mauler’s eyes starts its turn within 30 feet of the ice mauler, the ice mauler can force it to make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw if the ice mauler isn’t incapacitated and can see the creature. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature is instantly paralyzed. Otherwise, a creature that fails the save is simply restrained. The restrained creature must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn, becoming paralyzed on a failure or ending the effect on a success. The paralyzation lasts until the creature is freed by the lesser restoration spell or other magic. Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can’t see the ice mauler until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at the ice mauler in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.

ABOUT

Purveyors of the Frozen Depths. Ice maulers are believed to be the descendants of orcs who were magically altered to live in the frigid waters of the coasts of cold and arctic regions. Their top halves resemble their orcish ancestors, but their lower halves look like the rubbery bodies of eels. Their hands are clawed and webbed. This combination of physical traits makes them fast and powerful swimmers. On land, their eel-like lower-body slithers snake-like, allowing them to move around as well as a native land-dwelling creature.

Clans Beneath the Sea. Ice Maulers exist in relatively small clans that usually number between 30 and 50. Although each clan is different socially, they tend to take after their land-based ancestors, which means that though individuals and the occasional clan may be peaceful, most are not. In fact, most are brutal, not only to creatures they encounter, but to one another. The strongest lead and those who follow are expected to do as they are told or fight to take the top spot for themselves. Most force their offspring to compete with one another for food. They are expert tattooists and often have elaborate patterns on various parts of their bodies.

Death By Paralysis. When a hostile encounter ensues with ice maulers, they typically employ their paralyzing gaze against their opponents. Once paralyzed, their victims remain that way and are usually picked clean of their valuables and left where they stand. Eventually, if they are not rescued, they succumb to the cold environment in which they fall.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Creatures of the Cold (5E) © 2023, Darrin Drader Designs; Author Darrin Drader

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