Monster Dossier

Krooth

Krooth KROOTH GUTS While krooth lairs can contain valuables in the form of gear and magic items found on dead adventurers, the strange enzymes and other...

Level 8

Traits

nlargeamphibiousanimal

Rules & statistics

Monster Profile

Perception

16

Senses

  • Name
    low-light vision
  • Type
    imprecise
    Name
    scent
    Range
    60

Skills

Athletics
18
Stealth
Std
18
In water
20
Survival
Std
17
To Track a bleeding creature
20

Ability Mods

Str
6
Dex
3
Con
6
Int
-4
Wis
2
Cha
0

Defenses

Ac
26
Saving Throws
Fort
20
Ref
17
Will
14
Abilities
  • +4 status to all saves vs. fear
Hp
  • Hp
    150

Speed

Walk
40
Swim
30

Attacks

  • Range
    Melee
    Name
    jaws
    Attack
    20
    Traits
    • deadly
    • poison
    • reach
    Effects
    • Poison Tooth
    Damage
    2d12+9 piercing plus Poison Tooth
    Types
    • piercing
  • Range
    Melee
    Name
    claw
    Attack
    20
    Traits
    • agile
    Damage
    2d8+9 slashing
    Types
    • slashing
  • Range
    Melee
    Name
    tail
    Attack
    20
    Traits
    • reach
    Damage
    2d8+9 piercing
    Types
    • piercing

Abilities

Mid
  • Activity
    Number
    1
    Unit
    reaction
    Entries
    • Tail only.
    Name
    Attack of Opportunity
  • Entries
    • Whenever the krooth is damaged by a critical hit, it gains a +2 status bonus to attack and damage rolls until the end of its next turn. It can't use reactions while this frenzy lasts.
    Name
    Pain Frenzy
Bot
  • Activity
    Number
    1
    Unit
    action
    Name
    Aquatic Ambush
  • Activity
    Number
    1
    Unit
    action
    Traits
    • poison
    Requirements
    The krooth damaged a creature with its jaws on its most recent action this turn.
    Entries
    • The krooth snaps off one of its teeth in the creature it hit. The creature takes 1d6 persistent damage||persistent bleed damage and is drained 1. Neither can be healed while the tooth remains. Removing the tooth safely requires a successful 26 check to Administer First Aid. Instead of ending bleeding or stabilizing, this removes the drained condition, but it doesn't automatically end the bleed damage.
    Name
    Poison Tooth

Background

Lore

Krooth

KROOTH GUTS

While krooth lairs can contain valuables in the form of gear and magic items found on dead adventurers, the strange enzymes and other chemicals found in the internal organs of male krooths, particularly the liver, pancreas, and kidneys, are of great value to alchemists who seek to concoct elixirs and potions with transmutation effects. A single male krooth's organs, properly harvested and preserved, can be sold to an interested alchemist.

Krooths, sometimes called crocodile eaters, are fast and vicious hunters of bogs and wetlands. While they are known to hunt and eat crocodiles, alligators, and virtually any creature with flesh, their favorite prey are lizardfolk, boggards, and dinosaurs.

Krooths are found alone or in packs. Male krooths are solitary and territorial creatures—fierce, bold, and bloodthirsty. Female krooths, on the other hand, are likely to shy away from potential predators but swiftly turn violent when their brood is threatened. Because their offspring are so vulnerable, female krooths gather in packs to raise their young, sending smaller groups to hunt for food while the rest of the pack watches the brood. Krooths mate only once every 4 or 5 years, and the mating process is a curiously gruesome spectacle. An entire pack of females will hunt as a group for a lone male krooth, claiming their prize in an orgiastic frenzy that can last for an entire day and night. After the mating has finished, the females slay their mate and devour his nutrient-rich flesh, and his organs in particular. These organs contain a unique chemical compound vital to gestation. Many naturalists will pay handsomely for the fresh remains of a male krooth so they can study the strange properties of the creature's blood and organs. In addition, krooths have poisonous, hollow teeth. When these creatures bite their prey, a tooth breaks off and causes the victim to bleed profusely as their blood pours through the hollow tooth.

Whether male or female, krooths seem to be repelled by goblinoid flesh, especially that of bugbears. This doesn't mean krooths won't kill goblinoids, especially those threatening their young, but they typically do so using only their claws and tails, and they take great care to clean themselves thoroughly after such a killing.