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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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Damibwa

Damibwas are domesticated hounds capable of detecting prey or predators via echolocation thanks to their exceptionally large ears and keen hearing. Adept swimmers, damibwas have sleek bodies, short limbs, webbed feet, and long muscular tails that enable them to maneuver underwater with grace and speed.

Trained as specialized hunting hounds, damibwas primarily catch fish, although they're also adept at diving for lobsters, crabs, and clams. While hunting, damibwas wait near the water's edge, typically on a boat or along the shore, listening for choice prey. When they detect prey in range, they dive down below the water, catch the animal in their jaws, and drag it back up to the surface. When large or dangerous aquatic predators approach, damibwas retreat to land and howl a warning, making them desirable guard dogs in coastal or riverside communities. Damibwas rarely attack terrestrial creatures unless they're threatened and unable to make an escape.

Damibwas are popular pets along rivers, lakes, and swamps throughout Golarion, particularly in the River Kingdoms, Wanshou, and the canals of Nantambu in the Mwangi Expanse. Some Erutaki in Avistan's far north hunt seals alongside a particular hardy breed covered in thick fur and a layer of blubber. They are only universally called damibwas in the Mwangi Expanse, and are often called “diving dogs” in other regions.

Recall Knowledge - Animal (Nature): DC 19
Unspecific Lore: DC 17
Specific Lore: DC 14

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

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

Weak DamibwaCreature 3

Legacy Content

N Medium Animal 
Source Pathfinder #170: Spoken on the Song Wind pg. 80
Perception +12; echolocation 60 feet, low-light vision
Skills Acrobatics +8, Athletics +10, Stealth +8, Survival +8
Str +4, Dex +4, Con +3, Int -4, Wis +2, Cha +0
Deep Breath A damibwa can hold its breath for 5 minutes.
Echolocation A damibwa's hearing is a precise sense at the listed range.
AC 19; Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +6
HP 47
Speed 30 feet, swim 30 feet
Melee [one-action] jaws +12 [+7/+2], Damage 2d8-2+4 piercing plus GrabFetch [one-action] (attack, move) Requirements The damibwa has a Small or smaller creature grabbed in water; Effect The damibwa attempts an Athletics check against the creature's Fortitude DC.
Critical Success The damibwa moves up to its swim Speed, dragging the grabbed creature along with it.
Success The damibwa moves up to half its swim Speed, dragging the grabbed creature along with it.
Failure The damibwa doesn't move and the creature isn't dragged.
Critical Failure The damibwa no longer has the creature grabbed.Predatory Dive [two-actions] (move) Requirements The damibwa is in or adjacent to water; Effect The damibwa moves up to double its swim Speed, descending at least 10 feet, and then makes a jaws Strike. If it was undetected at the start of predatory dive, it remains undetected until after the attack.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Wild Damibwas

Although feral damibwas are rare, they aren't unheard of. Feral damibwas live in packs of up to a dozen. They fish in close proximity, so the attack of one damibwa drives fleeing fish toward their waiting packmates. Never truly wild in temperament, feral damibwas have a friendly disposition and bond easily with humanoids and other canines.