Meric Eel, Small

Medium beast, neutral

Armor Class 13
Hit Points 27 (6d8)
Speed swim 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
10 (+0) 17 (+3) 11 (+0) 3 (-4) 11 (+0) 4 (-3)

Skills Stealth +5
Senses passive Perception 10
Challenge ½ (100 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

  • Camouflage. Meric eels can conceal themselves exceptionally well in their normal environment. When concealed and motionless, they receive advantage on all stealth checks. Only the lure is visible, and only when they desire it to.
  • Lure. The meric’s lure is something like a dorsal fin, only situated just behind its eyes. It is long and for the first several feet, black. The end however is shaped vaguely like a sword and possesses a bio-luminesce that allows it to grow in the dark. When the fish is hunting it lays the lure down in the muck, where it starts to glow. Anyone who sees the glow must make a successful Intelligence save (DC 13) or be convinced there a magic sword beneath the water.

ACTIONS

  • Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10+3) piercing damage.

ABOUT

These long, sleek beasts grow up to 20 feet in length. Their bodies are thin, though tall, ranging a good six feet from pectoral fin to the dorsal. They are dark-skinned, though speckled deep orange spots line their bodies from head to caudal fin. The meric eel’s dorsal fin is tall, however, easily as tall as its body and spiny, making it rigid. The creature’s mouth is huge and lined with a pharyngeal jaw, a secondary jaw that allows it to grip food better. The most unique feature the meric possesses is the lure, a long protrusion that rises from its head. The lure glows in the dark and possesses the vague shape of a sword or blade. Beneath the murky waters where the eel calls home the lure appears to be a magic sword lying upon the bottom of the lake.

Death Beneath the Waves. The meric eel dwells in any deep body of water, whether a river, lake, sea or ocean, salt or fresh water. They hunt anything they judge that they can eat, which is fairly much anything that enters the water. They are solitary hunters though on occasion two are encountered and these are always in the process of mating. Their young are born live and close to being full-grown, being 12+ feet at birth.

Patient Predators. They are dangerous but stationary hunters as they wait for their prey to come to them. As they do not move often, they do not need to feed very often. Usually once a month or even less depending on how much meat they consume. Their favorite prey is humans, humanoids, and demi-humans, anything that is drawn to the lure of magical treasure.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

5th Edition Monsters & Treasure of Airhde, 1st Printing, Copyright 2021, Troll Lord Games; Author Stephen Chenault & Jason Vey

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