Patchwork Sea Horse

Large beast, neutral Good

Armor Class 12
Hit Points 135 (18d10 + 36)
Speed 0 ft., swim 40 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	17 (+3)	14 (+2)	6 (-2)	12 (+1)	5 (-3)

Damage Resistances cold
Condition Immunities prone
Senses blindsight 30 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages –
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Underwater Camouflage. The patchwork sea horse has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made while underwater.
• Water Breathing. The patchwork sea horse can breathe only underwater.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The patchwork sea horse makes two Ram attacks or one Ram attack and one Tail Grasp attack.
• Ram. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
• Tail Grasp. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d10 + 2) bludgeoning damage. The target is grappled (escape DC 14) if it is a Large or smaller creature. Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the patchwork sea horse can’t use its tail on another target.
• Bubble Trap (Recharge 5-6). The patchwork sea horse spits a bubble toward a Large or smaller creature it can see within 60 feet of it. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or be trapped inside the bubble. Nothing can pass in or out of the bubble except by teleportation. It has an AC of 13 and 30 hit points. Reducing it to 0 hit points destroys it. At the end of the trapped creature’s turn, the bubble floats 10 feet away from the patchwork sea horse. The bubble dissipates after 10 minutes.
• Poison Growl (Recharge 5-6). The patchwork sea horse makes a growl exhaling poisonous liquid in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on itself. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned. A creature poisoned in this way takes 9 (2d6 + 2) poison damage at the start of each of its turns. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
• Summon Sea Horses (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The patchwork sea horse summons two random swarms of sea horses: swarm of bubble sea horses (1-2), swarm of hiding sea horses (3-4), or swarm of poisonous sea horses (5-6). A summoned swarm appears in an unoccupied space within 60 feet of the patchwork sea horse, acts as an ally of it, and can’t summon other creatures. It remains for 1 minute, until it or the patchwork sea horse dies, or until the patchwork sea horse dismisses it as an action.

TACTICS

The patchwork sea horse may be spotted in the wild on its own or as part of a herd of four or more. Given the protection it provides, a patchwork sea horse is almost always accompanied by other sea horse species, including entire herds of six to eight sea horses.

Patchwork sea horses can be found anywhere there is salt water, even on other planes like the Elemental Plane of Water.

ABOUT

The most powerful aquatic equine in the multiverse is the patchwork sea horse. It taps into the power of a variety of sea horses that it can also summon. While sea horses are normally docile, the patchwork sea horse is aggressive when it comes to making the seas a safe place for the herds it protects.

Expansive Origins. During a disruption on a cosmic scale, a herd of giant sea horses was bathed in multiversal energy. The herd transformed into patchwork sea horses and was scattered across the multiverse. Most worlds are home to at least a few of these creatures, usually enough of them to breed.

Amalgam Appearance. Legend has it that a cosmic entity stitched the first patchwork sea horses together. It is this amalgamated appearance that gives them access to some of the abilities of their kin. Although the patchwork sea horses all share the same abilities, the pattern on their skin is unique to each individual. Unlike other sea horses, those of the patchwork variety have two arms. These arms are not strong enough to cause injury but are often used to hold or wield magic items.

Special Significance. Many aquatic Humanoid civilizations revere patchwork sea horses as representations of the power of the universe. A sighting of one in the wild is viewed as a blessing and a sign of good fortune. Many sea cultures forbid the killing of these long-lived sea horses. Merfolk have been known to avenge the death of any patchwork sea horses known to their tribes.

Multiversal Connection. Some who know of the existence of the multiverse also believe that patchwork sea horses offer a means to explore it. There are rumors of a dark ritual where the corpse of a patchwork sea horse can be used to open a portal to places beyond the mortal realm.