Giant Hanzaki

This enormous salamander-like creature trots forth on short, thick legs. Its tail is as thick as a tree trunk, and its mouth gapes open to reveal row after row of tiny, sharp teeth.

Source Demiurge113
Originally posted on Probing the Membrane of Science

The large river salamanders known as hanzaki continue to grow throughout their lifetime. Already the size of a male human at the stage most consider to be their adulthood, they can reach titanic proportions if left undisturbed for centuries. These giant hanzaki continue to live much as their smaller brethren do, preferring only the coldest, clearest mountain streams. Although they rarely interfere in the lives of surface-dwellers, careless fishermen on these rivers sometimes end up inside a giant hanzaki’s stomach. Hanzaki of all sizes are sensitive to pollution, and a giant hanzaki might lash out at communities dumping toxins into their rivers.

Giant hanzakis are oddly vocal for salamanders, communicating with barks, grunts, whines and a call that sounds much like the cry of a baby. When angry or threatened, they exude a milky fluid with a sharp pungent smell. They have a keen sense of smell and the ability to pick up vibrations in the water, which compensates for their very poor eyesight. A giant hanzaki is thirty feet tall and weighs 10 tons. Rumors indicate that they can grow even larger still, but few giant hanzaki live the thousand years needed to reach a truly immense size.

Giant Hanzaki CR 6

XP 2,400 N Huge animal (aquatic) Init +0; Senses limited blindsense 30 ft., Perception +7, Scent Aura stench (10 ft., DC 18)

DEFENSE

AC 18, touch 9, flat-footed 18 (-2 size, +10 natural) hp 75 (9d8+36) Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +6 Weakness near-sighted

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft., Swim 40 ft. Melee bite +12 (2d6+7 plus grab), tail slap +6 (2d8+3) Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft. (15 ft. with tail slap) Special Attacks swallow whole (2d6+7 bludgeoning damage, AC 15, 7 hp)

STATISTICS

Strength 25, Dexterity 11, Constitution 18, Intelligence 1, Wisdom 12, Charisma 4 Base Atk +6; CMB +15 (+19 grapple); CMD 25 (29 vs. trip) Feats Improved Bull’s Rush, Iron Will, Power Attack, Vital Strike, Weapon Focus (bite) Skills Perception +7, Stealth +2, Swim +21; Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth SQ amphibious

ECOLOGY

Environment cold rivers Organization solitary Treasure incidental

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Limited Blindsense (Ex) A giant hanzaki’s blindsense only functions underwater   Near-Sighted (Ex) All creatures more than 30 feet away from a giant hanzaki are treated as having total concealment against it.

Giant Hanzaki as Animal Companions

Starting Statistics: Size Medium; Speed 20 ft, Swim 40 ft.; AC +5 natural armor; Attack bite (1d6), tail slap (1d8); Ability Scores Strength 9, Dexterity 15, Constitution 10, Intelligence 1, Wisdom 12, Charisma 4; Special Qualities amphibious 7th-Level

Advancement: Size Large, AC +3 natural armor; Attack bite (1d8), tail slap (2d6); Ability Scores Strength +8, Dexterity -2, Constitution +4; Special Qualities grab, stench.