Kalas-Toa Monitor

Medium humanoid, neutral evil

Armor Class 19 (natural armor, shield)
Hit Points 50 (9d8+9)
Speed 30 ft., swim 60 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)	11 (+0)	17 (+3)	12 (+1)

Skills Perception +4
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages Undercommon, Kalas-Toan
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Amphibious. Kalas-toa breathe both air and water.
• Slimy. All saves and ability checks to escape a grapple made by kalas-toa have advantage.
• Sensitive Eyes. All rolls made by kalas-toa in sunlight to attack or see with Wisdom (perception) are at disadvantage.
• Edge of Insanity. Monitors are ferocious religious zealots and eschew weapons in combat. They border on the edge of insanity. (1-2 on d6 chance they will go insane during the first round of combat. They will not be able to cast spells, but become immune to any mindaffecting effects, and gain advantage on Intelligence and Wisdom saving throws. They attack the nearest creature until slain.

ACTIONS

• Harpoon. Ranged Weapon Attack: range 10/30 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6 +2) piercing damage. If the target is hit, they must make a Strength save, DC 12 or be forced prone. The kalas-toa can pull the prone target 10 ft. towards itself as an action. The target can pull the harpoon out of the wound, causing 1d6 piercing damage as an action. The rope attached to the harpoon may also be cut on a successful attack against armor class 12.
• Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage.
• Spellcasting. The kakas-toan monitor is a 9th level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 14, +6 To hit with spell attacks). Kalas-toan monitor cleric spell list example:
  • Cantrips (at will): guidance, mending, sacred flame, thaumaturgy
  • 1st level (4 slots): bless, command, cure wounds, darkness, protection from evil or good, thunderwave
  • 2nd level (3 slots): blindness/deafness, hold person, gust of wind, prayer of healing, shatter
  • 3rd level (3 slots): bestow curse, dispel magic, great shout, sleet storm, water walk
  • 4th level (3 slots): control water, death ward, ice storm
  • 5th level (1 slot): flame strike, mass cure wounds

REACTIONS

• Goopy Shield. Melee attacks that miss a kalas-toa may become stuck on shield’s goopy coating. The opponent must make a Strength saving throw (DC 11) or their weapon becomes stuck. Unless they let, go, the wielder becomes grappled and is unable to use their weapon. Weapons are pulled free from the shield using an action and making another Strength check (DC 11).

ABOUT

The kalas-toa are a race of subterranean fishmen. They possess long, gangly bodies with dark scales and light underbellies. Their stomachs are typically distended and paunch. They have large, broad bulbous eyes, located on the sides of their thin fish-shaped heads, that constantly swivel and dark back and forth. Their voices sound like the gurgling noises of a drowning man. Their hands and feet are webbed, and their skin exudes a slimy coating. Kalas-toans do not wear armor, instead they use harnesses to carry equipment and decorate themselves with pearls, beads, and shells. They can breathe both air and water and move equally well on land or sea.

The kalas-toan are organized into a rigid theocracy. For every group of four warriors (4, 8, 12, and so on) there is a 1-2 on d6 cumulative chance of a cleric (6th or 7th level), called a Whip, leading the warband. Whips are devotees of an evil and obscure deity called the Matron of the Deep – a strange lobster-headed female of their species. The presence of a whip inspires kalas-toan warriors.

For every whip-led warband of kalas-toa, there is a cumulative 2 on d6 chance of an elite class of fanatical clerics called monitors. Monitors are normally between 7th to 10th level and move at double normal rate.

Monitors are ferocious religious zealots and eschew weapons in combat. They border on the edge of insanity. (1-2 on d6 chance they will go insane during combat.

A kalas-toan warband or patrol may (50%) include a group of 1d8+6 random slaves, normally with their tongues cut out. Slaves can include dwarves, derro, orcs, goblins, kobold, norkers, etc. Their deity, the Matron of the Deep, demands the ritualistic blood sacrifice of surface-dwellers and enemies.

They reproduce in special ritual spawning pools that are heavily-guarded and considered sacred. Kalastoan speak their own language. Warband leaders, whips and monitors may also speak duergar and drow.

They will speak other languages, subject to various races in their vicinity.