Whale Cetacean, Blue Whale

[This content was created by Paizo Publishing LLC for the Pathfinder rules but is not from the Pathfinder RPG product line.]

This massive aquatic mammal has bluish-gray coloration, a wide fluke tail, and a wide mouth filled with layers of baleen.

Source: Pathfinder d20pfsrd.com

The imposing blue whale is one of the largest animals in the sea, though it is generally docile toward anything it doesn’t perceive as a threat. A filter-feeder, the blue whale does not look at humans or ships as potential meals, instead preferring to eat millions of tiny invertebrates known as krill, which it sucks through its baleen in massive gulps. The most dangerous thing about a blue whale, other than its sheer size, is its powerful tail, which can capsize boats and kill humanoids. These enormous mammals can be found in all of Earth’s oceans and seas. An adult blue whale is 100 feet long and weighs 200 tons.

Among the largest animals, cetaceans are as varied as the seas in which they make their homes. From the deadly white whale to the often-friendly dolphin, these air breathing aquatic mammals are perfectly adapted to life on the open ocean, and aside from their need to occasionally surface to breathe air, they are as versatile swimmers as the fish upon which they feed. Cetaceans are split into two categories: toothed whales and baleen whales. Toothed whales eat fish, scooping up whole schools in their wide mouths, while baleen whales filter their tiny-sized food through a comb-like structure. Only toothed whales use echolocation; they possess a lumpy organ on the front of their head called a melon that aids in this ability.

Whalers often hunt cetaceans for their blubber, which whalers render down into oil. Whalers also prize cetaceans’ bones and teeth, which artisans use to craft weapons and art objects using a method of carving called scrimshaw.

Despite their massive size, cetaceans can be relatively docile, but predatory species or threatened members of any species make formidable foes in combat, as their size, speed, and relative intelligence make them more of a challenge than most mundane sea creatures.

Blue Whale CR 12

XP 19,200 N Colossal animal Init -1; Senses Low-Light Vision; Perception +27

DEFENSE

AC 26, touch 1, flat-footed 26 (-1 Dexterity, +25 natural, -8 size) hp 184 (16d8+112) Fort +17, Ref +9, Will +8

OFFENSE

Speed Swim 40 ft. Melee tail slap +21 (8d6+24 plus stun) Space 30 ft.; Reach 30 ft. Special Attacks capsize, swallow whole (4d6+16 damage, AC 22, 18 hp)

STATISTICS

Strength 42, Dexterity 8, Constitution 25, Intelligence 2, Wisdom 13, Charisma 6 Base Atk +12; CMB +36; CMD 45 (can’t be tripped) Feats Awesome Blow, Diehard, Endurance, Improved Bull Rush, Iron Will, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Perception), Weapon Focus (tail slap) Skills Perception +27, Swim +35; Racial Modifiers +12 Perception SQ hold breath

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Hold Breath (Ex)   A blue whale can hold its breath a number of rounds equal to 10 times its Constitution score before it risks drowning.   Powerful Tail (Ex)   A blue whale’s massive tail deals more damage than a normal tail slap. The blue whale’s tail slap is a primary attack and applies 1-1/2 times its Strength bonus to its tail slap damage.   Stun (Ex) A blue whale’s fluke can deliver a powerful stunning blow. A creature struck by this attack must succeed at a DC 34 Fortitude save or be dazed for 1 round. If the strike is a critical hit and the target fails its save, it is instead stunned for 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Strength-based.

ECOLOGY

Environment any ocean Organization solitary, pair, or pod (3-18) Treasure none

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Adventure Path #59: The Price of Infamy © 2012, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Tim Hitchcock.