Whale
| Common
| Giant
| Leviathan
| Killer
| Narwhal
|
Climate/Terrain:
| Oceans
| Oceans
| Oceans
| Oceans
| Oceans
|
Frequency:
| Common
| Very rare
| Very rare
| Common
| Rare
|
Organization:
| Pod
| Pair
| Solitary
| Pod
| Pod
|
Activity Cycle:
| Any
| Any
| Any
| Any
| Any
|
Diet:
| Plankton
| Omnivore
| Omnivore
| Carnivore
| Fish
|
Intelligence:
| Low (5-7)
| Average
| Exceptional
| Average
| Animal (1)
|
|
| (8-10)
| (15-16)
| (8-12)
|
|
Treasure:
| Nil
| See below
| See below
| Nil
| Nil
|
Alignment:
| Neutral
| Neutral
| Neutral
| Neutral
| Neutral
|
No. Appearing:
| 1-8
| 1-2
| 1
| 5-40
| 1-6
|
Armor Class:
| 4
| 3
| 1
| 4
| 6
|
Movement:
| Sw 18
| Sw 18
| Sw 18
| Sw 30
| Sw 21
|
Hit Dice:
| 12 to 36
| 18 to 54
| 36 to 72
| 9 to 12
| 4+4 to 6+6
|
THAC0:
| 12 HD: 9
| 5
| 5
| 9-10 HD: 11
| 4+4 - 5+5 HD: 15
|
| 13-14 HD: 7
|
|
| 11-12 HD: 9
| 6+6 HD: 13
|
| 15+ HD: 5
|
|
|
|
|
No. of Attacks:
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
|
Damage/Attack:
| See below
| See below
| See below
| 5-20
| 2-24
|
Special Attacks:
| Tail
| See below
| See below
| See below
| Nil
|
Special Defenses:
| Nil
| Nil
| Nil
| Nil
| Nil
|
Magic Resistance:
| Nil
| Nil
| Nil
| Nil
| Nil
|
Size:
| G
| G
| G
| H-G
| H-G
|
Morale:
| Champion
| Champion
| Champion
| Elite (14)
| Steady (12)
|
| (15)
| (15)
| (15)
|
|
|
XP Value:
| 2,000
| 8,000
| 26,000
| 9 975
| 4 + 4 175
|
| + 1,000
| + 1,000
| + 1,000
| 10 1,400
| 5 + 5 270
|
| per HD
| per HD
| per HD
| 11,12 2,000
| 6 + 6 420
|
| over 12
| over 18
| over 36
|
|
|
Whales are the largest sea mammals. They are highly intelligent creatures that
occupy a number of ecological niches. The common whales include plankton
eaters like blue or hump-backed whales and carnivores like sperm whales.
Common whales range in size from a 10-foot-long calf to 110-foot-long blue
whales. The skin is normally blue-gray. Whales share a common language that is
difficult for land creatures to learn since it uses tones below human hearing.
Combat: All common whales can attack with their tails. These can deliver a crushing
blow that inflicts damage equal to half the whale's Hit Dice.
Plankton-feeding whales can attack with either of their flukes (fins). Whales
of 12-17 HD cause 1d8 points of damage, those of 18-24 HD inflict 3d8 points,
and those of 24-36 HD cause 5d8 points.
Carnivorous whales can bite. Whales of 12-17 HD inflict 5d4 points of damage,
those of 18-24 HD cause 1d4x10 points, and those of 24-36 HD inflict 3d4x5
points.
Whales are vulnerable to surface ships only when the whales are on the surface.
Habitat/Society: Whales live in tribal gatherings called pods. They maintain strong personal
and family ties. Their culture is based on complex songs that can be heard for
miles underwater. Whales are curious about humanoids but if attacked they can
become deadly foes. Whales rarely initiate combat. Whales are curious about other
intelligent beings. They welcome communication with other beings. They do not
lie, but they may not reveal everything they know.
Most whales feed on a variety of plankton, shrimp, and small fish that they
suck up as they swim along. Sperm whales feed on larger fish, octopi, and
especially giant squids.
Whale cows normally give birth to a single calf. Twins occur in 5% of births.
The calf remains with the cow for the next five to ten years, depending on the
species. After five years, the cow may give birth again. The calves are
protected and taught by all members of the pod.
Ecology: Although they are neutral in alignment toward humanoids, their alignment
toward sea life is generally lawful good. With their great size, power, and
diversity, they are the masters of the sea. They preserve order through their conflicts
with evilly inclined sea monsters.
Unfortunately, their relations with seafarers are less certain. Because of the
value placed on parts of the whale's body, the creatures are hunted to excess
by greedy whalers. Despite the hostility of the humanoids, whales remain
curious and basically friendly toward non-whaling seafarers.
The carcass of a common whale is worth 100 gp per Hit Die, both for its meat
and blubber. Whales possess a stinking, yellow mass called ambergris that is
valuable for making perfumes; they vomit this up when ill. The ambergris is worth
1d20 x 1,000 gp.
Giant Whale
Giant whales are immense versions of sperm whales, 100' to 400' long. In the
cetacean culture, they serve functions similar to knights or barons by
protecting common whales against evil sea monsters and whalers. Giant whales are
attended by 2d4 common whales.
Giant whales attack by biting or crushing. Whales of 18-25 HD inflict 1d4x10
points of damage, those of 26-35 HD cause 2d4x10 points, and those of 36-54 HD
inflict 3d4x10 points. The tail can deliver a crushing blow that inflicts damage
equal to half the whale's Hit Dice. Giant whales can ram the sides of surface
ships, delivering a crushing blow that, if successful, sinks the ship. They can
also leap halfway out of the water and fall onto a target vessel (50% chance
of success). If successful, the ship is immediately driven under the surface. If
a giant whale is facing an opponent under 20 feet long, it can swallow the
target intact on an attack roll that is 4 or more greater than it needs to hit.
Their stomachs contain large air chambers in which a victim might survive
until he escapes or is digested. The stomach acid is diluted by seawater;
characters or objects trapped in the stomach gain a +1 bonus to saving throws vs. this
acid. A swallowed character suffers 2 points of damage per round (1 if the
saving throw is successful each round) from the acid. The stomach might contain
undigested possessions of previous meals. Each type of treasure has a 1% chance per
Hit Die (of the whale) of being present in the giant whale's gullet. There may
be 1,000-3,000 coins of each type, 1d20 gems, or 1d4 magical items.
The carcass of a giant whale is worth 100 gp per Hit Die. The ambergris is
worth 2d20 x 1,000 gp.
Leviathan
The leviathan is an almost unimaginably immense whale, 500 to 1,000 feet long.
It is the lord of all whales and the intermediary between cetaceans and the
gods. Under normal conditions, only one leviathan dwells in each ocean. The
leviathan is not always active. It may hibernate for years on the ocean floor.
During these long sleeps, the leviathan is attended and protected by its entourage
of other whales. The leviathan awakens if summoned by the needs of other whales
or in answer to a divine request. Leviathans are awesome foes with a variety of
attacks. Their bite damage is determined by their Hit Dice. Leviathans of
24-35 HD inflict 3d4x5 points of damage, those of 36-47 HD cause 3d4x10 points, and
those of 48-72 HD inflict 3d4x15 points. The tail can deliver a crushing blow
that causes damage equal to half the whale's Hit Dice. On an attack roll that
is 4 or more greater than it needs to hit, a leviathan is capable of swallowing
a target up to 80 feet long. When attacking a mass of surface vessels, the
leviathan creates a powerful wave by swimming deep, rushing to the surface, and
leaping halfway out of the water. The resulting wave causes every ship within 500
feet to roll a saving throw vs. crushing blow and every ship within 500 to
2,000 feet to roll a saving throw vs. normal blow. Ships that fail a saving throw
immediately sink.
Once each century, leviathans gather in arctic waters to confer and to mate.
This gathering lasts six months. Each leviathan is attended by 2d10 giant whales
and 10d10 whales of other species.
The stomach of a leviathan contains air pockets that are capable of sustaining
a victim until he escapes or is digested. The stomach may also contain
undigested possessions of previous meals or even sea vessels. Each type of treasure
has a 1% chance per Hit Die (of the whale) of being present in the giant whale's
gullet. There may be 2,000-6,000 coins of each type, 5d20 gems, or 1d8 magical
items.
The carcass of a leviathan is worth 100 gp per Hit Die. The ambergris is worth
4d20 x 1,000 gp. However, the killing of a leviathan will result in every
whale within that ocean converging on the killer to avenge their lord's death.
Killer Whale (Orca)
The killer whale is one of the largest predatory sea mammals. It is a deadly
killer able to hold its own against all but the most powerful sea monsters. A
killer whale is likely to attack humanoids; it is capable of swallowing a man
whole, should the need arise.
Killer whales measure 15 to 30 feet long. Their black bodies are marked by a
brilliant white belly and markings that vary from individual to individual.
Killer whales are not inherently hostile and do not attack unless hungry or
provoked. There is a 20% chance that encountered killer whales are hungry. If
they are communicated with rather than attacked, killer whales may prefer to talk
rather than feed.
The killer whale's diet consists of both fish and warm-blooded animals. It is
a crafty hunter that can recognize the shadows and sounds made by animals atop
ice floes. It will break through the ice to visually confirm the presence of
prey. Smaller ice floes are rammed and shattered to force the prey into the
water. When the killer whale smashes into the ice, every being on the ice must roll
a saving throw vs. paralyzation. Failure means the being has slipped into the
water and can be attacked the following round.
When a killer whale makes a successful hit, its prey is held in its jaws where
it can automatically bite each round. Victims risk drowning in two to four
rounds and the loss of 1 point of Strength and Dexterity per round, due to the
numbing effect of the icy water. When either Strength or Dexterity reaches 0, the
victim dies.
The killer whale's main weapon is its terrible bite. Killer whales of 9-10 HD
inflict 4d6 points of damage, while those of 11-12 HD cause 6d4 points.
When hunting larger creatures, the pod acts together to bring down prey of up
to 100 feet in length.
Most pods consist only of adults, but 25% of encountered pods also have 1d8
calves (2-5 HD, swim 15, bite for 2d4). Adults defend their calves to the death.
They also assist each other.
Although killer whales prey on other whales, they also act as their protectors
by battling other sea monsters that might decimate the entire cetacean family.
Killer whales may enter into alliances with aquatic elves.
The carcass of a killer whale is worth 100 gp per Hit Die. The ambergris is
worth 1d10 x 500 gp.
Narwhal
The narwhal is common to cold, subarctic waters. It is called the "unicorn of
the sea" because of the 6- to 12-foot-long spiral horn that the narwhal uses to
dig into the sea floor for shellfish. If a narwhal is provoked, the horn can
also be used like a lance to attack. When a narwhal attacks with its horn, its
Hit Dice determine the damage caused. A narwhal of 4+4 HD inflicts 2d12 points
of damage, one of 5+5 HD causes 6d4 points, and one of 6+6 HD inflicts 7d4
points. Only a male can develop this horn. A female attacks by ramming headfirst
into its target, inflicting 2d4 points of damage.
Narwhals are basically peaceful creatures. They may serve as companions or
guards for dolphins. They may also be trained and used by aquatic elves.
The carcass of a narwhal is worth 100 gp per Hit Die. The ivory is worth
1d4x10 gp. The ambergris is worth 1d10 x 200 gp.