Buy me a coffeeGougou, The Tidal Huntress
“Meet Gougou, the Terrifying Sea Monster of Mi’kmaq Folklore: Cannibal Giantess with Scaled Horror and a Deadly Basket!”
Gougou is a towering, monstrous figure with a form that combines elements of human and aquatic terror. Her skin is scaled and glistens like the hide of a deep-sea creature, shifting between dark greens and iridescent blacks. Her piercing yellow eyes burn with an unsettling intelligence, and her mouth is filled with sharp, protruding fangs. Her hair cascades like tangled seaweed, adorned with shells, feathers, and bone charms. Large fins rise from her shoulders, amplifying her aquatic essence, and her muscular limbs end in clawed hands capable of rending flesh. Tattoos in swirling, wave-like patterns cover her arms and torso, blending Mi’kmaq art traditions with her monstrous visage.
Behavior:
Gougou is cunning and predatory, with a chilling patience that belies her monstrous strength. She is both a solitary and territorial creature, rarely straying far from her lair unless compelled by hunger or curiosity. Despite her savagery, she displays a calculated intelligence, using her knowledge of tides, currents, and human behavior to ensnare her victims. She often plays on the fears and superstitions of her prey, appearing as an almost spectral figure in the distance to lure them closer.
Habitat:
Gougou resides in a hidden, damp cave along rugged, remote coastlines, accessible only by treacherous paths or the sea. Her lair is littered with the remnants of her prey—bones, shattered canoes, and tattered clothing—testifying to the number of lives claimed in her grasp. The surrounding waters teem with danger, from sharp rocks to strong, unpredictable currents, amplifying the ominous atmosphere. The cave itself often echoes with the sound of dripping water and the distant roar of waves, creating an eerie, inescapable presence.
Modus Operandi:
Gougou’s preferred method of attack is to ambush her victims. Using her haunting appearance as both a lure and a weapon, she emerges from the shadows of her cave or the mist of the sea to overwhelm unsuspecting prey. She drags her victims to the depths, drowning them before consuming their bodies. In some tales, she carries a macabre basket or uses a pouch on her belly to trap and transport her victims, ensuring they cannot escape. Her attacks are swift, brutal, and relentless, leaving little chance for survival.
Motivation:
Gougou’s motivations are primal yet multifaceted. At her core, she is driven by an insatiable hunger, both physical and symbolic. Her consumption of humans may represent not just a need for sustenance but also her dominance over those who dare venture too close to her domain. In Mi’kmaq lore, Gougou serves as a cautionary figure, embodying the dangers of disrespecting the natural world, the sea, and its mysteries. Her existence is a grim reminder of the thin line between human civilization and the wild, untamable forces of nature.
Gougou 5e
Gougou 3.5 (Home brew)
Gougou, the Malevolent Giantess
Large monstrosity (giant), chaotic evil
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 189 (18d10 + 90)
Speed 40 ft., swim 60 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 (+5) | 14 (+2) | 20 (+5) | 6 (-2) | 10 (+0) | 8 (-1) |
Skills Perception +6
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages understands Giant but can’t speak
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)
Amphibious. It can breathe both air and water.
Hold Breath. It can hold its breath for 30 minutes.
Keen Smell. It has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Multiattack. It makes three attacks: one with her bite and two with her claws or basket.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 5) piercing damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 16). Until the grapple ends, the target is restrained, and Gougou can’t bite another target.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage.
Drowning Embrace. Gougou attempts to grapple a creature it has bitten. On a successful grapple, the target is restrained, and at the start of each of Gougou’s turns, the grappled creature takes 21 (3d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage as it is submerged underwater. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. If Gougou moves while a creature is grappled in this way, the creature is forced to move with her.
Basket Ensnare. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one target. Hit: The target must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be restrained by Gougou’s enchanted basket. A creature restrained by the basket can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. While a creature is restrained in the basket, Gougou gains advantage on attacks against it. Additionally, Gougou can use her Drowning Embrace on a creature restrained by the basket, regardless of size.
Escape the Depths (Costs 2 Actions). Gougou commands her enchanted basket to release all creatures restrained by it. Each creature restrained by the basket must make a DC 16 Strength saving throw. On a failure, the creature takes 21 (3d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage as it is forcibly expelled from the basket. On a success, the creature is freed and lands prone in an unoccupied space within 10 feet of Gougou.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Gougou 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. Gougou regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Attack. Itmakes one claw attack.
Watery Retreat (Costs 2 Actions). Gougou submerges into water, disappearing from view. She reappears in an unoccupied space within 60 feet that is underwater.
Gougou
Originally Posted by Bhu. of the Wizards Community forums.
According to the Micmac Indians, Gougou is a cannibal Giantess that dwells in a secret cave. She has been described as a hideous scaled giantess with yellow eyes, pointed ears, fangs, seaweed for hair, and 2 great fins on her shoulders. She either carries a basket or has a belly pouch that she puts victims in before submerging to drown them.
| Gougou | |
| Gargantuan Giant (Aquatic) | |
| Hit Dice | 25d8+375 (487 hp) |
| Initiative | +0 |
| Speed | 50 ft. (10 squares), Swim 50 ft. |
| Armor Class | 26 (-4 Size, +20), touch 6, flat-footed 26 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +18/+50 |
| Attack | Slam +34 melee (1d8+20) or Rock +18 Ranged (4d6+10) |
| Full Attack | 2 Slams +34 melee (1d8+20) and 1 Bite +29 melee (2d6+10) or 1 Rock +18 Ranged (4d6+10) |
| Space/Reach | 20 ft./20 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Improved Grab, Rock Throwing |
| Special Qualities | Amphibious, Low Light Vision, Damage Reduction 5/-, Rock Catching |
| Saves | Fort +29, Ref +8, Will +12 |
| Abilities | Strength 50, Dexterity 10, Constitution 40, Intelligence 14, Wisdom 18, Charisma 24 |
| Skills | Climb +35, Hide +10, Knowledge (local, Nature) +17, Listen +19, Spot +19, Swim +43 |
| Feats | Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Awesome Blow, Large and In Charge, Area Attack, Crush, Multigrab, Greater Multigrab |
| Environment | Cold Aquatic |
| Organization | Unique |
| Challenge Rating | 14 |
| Treasure | None |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Advancement | 26+ HD (Gargantuan) |
| Level Adjustment | — |
Combat: She is pretty straightforward. She rushes up, tries to grab, and then pulls victims under to drown them.
Improved Grab (Ex): If she successfully hits with her Slam attack she can immediately attempt a Grapple Check as a Free Action without provoking an Attack of Opportunity. If successful she will attempt to Pin her victim underwater, drowning it.
Rock Throwing (Ex): The range increment is 180 feet for her thrown rocks. It uses both hands when throwing a rock.
Rock Catching (Ex): A Gougou gains a +4 racial bonus on its Reflex save when attempting to catch a thrown rock.
Skills: Gougou has a +8 Racial Bonus to Swim Checks, and may always Take 10 on a Swim check even if threatened or endangered. Gougou has a +4 Racial Bonus on Hide checks in the water, and when submerged with only her hair and eyes showing she has a +10 Cover Bonus to Hide checks.