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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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There is a Remastered version here.

PFS StandardGrindylow

The top half of a grindylow looks vaguely like that of a goblin, but from the waist down, their bodies split into a tangle of suckered, wriggling tentacles. They dwell mostly in shallow waters both fresh and briny, including lakes, rivers, coastal regions, and near coral reefs. Grindylows generally organize into schools ranging from a few individuals to a few hundred. Smaller schools can sometimes be brought under the leadership of a powerful aquatic creature, though such alliances last only until the school faces a major setback, at which point the surviving grindylows scatter and form smaller schools of their own.

Grindylows aren't territorial, but they are pragmatic; while they rarely build permanent structures, they will adopt a good hunting ground for generations until driven away by predators. They often lair in mobile shelters, such as a sargasso of seaweed or the hull of an abandoned ship. They are skilled scavengers and hunters that eat anything they can sink their teeth into.

Grindylows respect the power of bigger sea predators but have a special hatred for squids (or anything they believe looks like a squid). Sailors plying grindylow-infested waters often paint the images of squids on the bottoms of their hulls in hopes of warding the little terrors off. While this can keep smaller schools at bay, it can also backfire, potentially inciting larger groups to gather for a coordinated attack; this becomes especially more likely if the ship's route becomes predictable. This hatred of squids does not extend to other tentacled creatures; grindylows consider octopuses to be the epitome of grace and power.

Recall Knowledge - Aberration (Occultism): DC 14
Unspecific Lore: DC 12
Specific Lore: DC 9

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Changes from being Elite are marked in red below.
NOTE: The +2 damage bonus to non-strike offensive abilities (+4 if the ability is limited, such as spells) is NOT factored in.

Elite GrindylowCreature 2

Legacy Content

CE Small Aberration Amphibious 
Source Bestiary 2 pg. 138 2.0
Perception +7; darkvision
Languages Aquan
Skills Athletics +7, Stealth +9, Survival +7
Str +1, Dex +3, Con +2, Int -1, Wis +3, Cha +0
Items spear
AC 17; Fort +8, Ref +9, Will +7
HP 24
Attack of Opportunity [reaction] A grindylow gains 1 extra reaction at the start of each of its turns that it can use only to make an Attack of Opportunity with a tentacle. It can't use more than one Attack of Opportunity triggered by the same choice.
Speed 10 feet, swim 25 feet
Melee [one-action] bite +9 [+4/-1] (finesse), Damage 1d6+2+1 piercingMelee [one-action] tentacle +9 [+5/+1] (agile, finesse, trip), Damage 1d4+2+1 bludgeoning plus GrabMelee [one-action] spear +7 [+2/-3], Damage 1d6+2+1 piercingRanged [one-action] spear +9 [+4/-1] (thrown 20 feet), Damage 1d6+2+1 piercingClinging Suckers When a grindylow Grabs a creature larger than itself, it attaches to that creature. The grabbed creature is not immobilized, but if it moves, the grindylow moves with it. If the creature is Medium or smaller, it takes a –5-foot status penalty to its Speeds while the grindylow is attached. The grindylow is flat-footed while it is attached to a creature.Jet [two-actions] (move) The grindylow moves up to 60 feet in a straight line through the water without triggering reactions.

Sidebar - Advice and Rules Giant Grindylows

While most grindylows are Small, a minute percentage of these creatures keep growing throughout their lives. Those that become Large or larger gain the giant trait and often become champions of their schools.