Dokahi’s Brood: Rhaluq the Many

For Under the Seas of Vodari, we’re creating several kaiju-like ultra-powerful monsters. They’re commonly known to exist, but to be bound in slumber by the bards of the College of Deep Dreamers. Their awakening is an ever-present threat in the setting. In this post, I’m creating lore and stats for the one I named Rhaluq the Many. As I start, I have only the very vaguest concept - let's see where this goes.

Rhaluq the Many

Rhaluq is the newest form of an immortal and apparently indestructible horror. It has changed names and forms countless times, as heroes rise to destroy or contain it. When allies from above and below the waves gathered to strike down Nolgathar the Contagion, they succeeded in ripping that impossibly massive body asunder, but it infected them with Dokahi’s transformative power. As they celebrated victory, they began to merge into a horrifying new form: a titanic crab-like thing made out of dozens of humanoids, which were soon encrusted with barnacles.

Eventually, the song that binds Rhaluq the Many in slumber must fail, because that is the nature of Dokahi’s unquenchable malice. If someone stops it, then perhaps it will take on a new form that allows the Deep Dreamers to bind it once again.

Roiling Thought. All of the people that became Rhaluq are still in there somewhere, their thoughts part of its psychic composition. Dokahi’s pervasive malice channels their confusion and anger at her into destructive rage against the world. Rhaluq’s many minds prevent anyone other than Dokahi or the Deep Dreamers from controlling or contacting it, but its collective sense of self is almost completely lost.

Cacophony. When it is awake, it is possible to speak with Rhaluq the Many. Its voice is the chorus of all the bodies nearest the surface of its form, some of them poking through the barnacles.

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Rhaluq the Many

Gargantuan aberration, chaotic evil

Armor Class  17 (natural armor)
Hit Points  478 (29d20 + 174)
Speed 50 ft., swim 50 ft.

STR   DEX   CON   INT   WIS   CHA

24 (+7) 12 (+1) 22 (+6) 26 (+8) 11 (+0) 6 (-2)

Saving Throws   Con +13
Damage Immunities psychic, poison
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, frightened, stunned, paralyzed, poisoned
Senses passive Perception 11, blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft.,
Languages Common
Challenge 22 (41,000 XP)

Disposable Bodies. Rhaluq doesn’t take additional damage from critical hits. A creature that falls to 0 hit points while within 20 feet of Rhaluq is absorbed through the barnacles into the mass of bodies, and Rhaluq regains hit points equal to its maximum hit dice.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Rhaluq fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Many Minds. When Rhaluq would be affected by any spell or effect that requires an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw, it takes additional damage equal to the spell’s level, but ignores any effect other than damage.

Psychic Invitation. Creatures that end their turn within 20 feet of Rhaluq must make a DC 21 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, they take 2d10 psychic damage. Furthermore, when a creature within 20 feet of Rhaluq is the target of a spell that restores hit points, the spellcaster must make a DC 21 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, Rhaluq regains hit points instead of the original target.

Actions

Multiattack. Rhaluq can use its Psychic Chorus. It then makes three pincer attacks.

Pincer. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 30 ft., one target. Hit: 40 (6d10 + 7) bludgeoning damage.

Psychic Chorus. One creature that Rhaluq can see must make a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the target must spend its reaction to move half its speed closer to Rhaluq.

Legendary Actions

Rhaluq can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. Rhaluq regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Call to Dokahi. Rhaluq calls out to the Mother of Monsters, regaining 50 hit points. Rhaluq can’t use this action again until the end of its next turn.

Pincer. Rhaluq makes one pincer attack.

Psychic Chorus (2 actions). Rhaluq uses its Psychic Chorus. If the target ends its movement within 20 feet of Rhaluq, it takes damage from the Psychic Invitation trait.

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Design Notes

I’m in the odd position of writing a kaiju and not wanting to copy my own work, which is why I haven’t copy-pasted Colossal Creature from the Kaiju Codex. Also, this is for OGL publication, so I don’t think I can use Mythic actions – even though this creature would be a strong candidate for them.

I am taking one thing from Kaiju Codex, decisively: this creature is not fair for its CR. It’s not as unfair for its CR as I made the kaiju of the Codex to be, but you’re not particularly supposed to be able to take this thing on as a single team of PCs and win. (If that were feasible, the whole lore of the Deep Dreamers doesn’t work so great.) That said, I’m very familiar with how PCs can surprise you and punch above their weight. 

I expect this to change a fair bit as it goes through development, so don't be surprised when this doesn't resemble its final version in Under the Seas of Vodari.