This site is games | books | films

Umibōzu Yokai

The umibōzu from the Fifty-Three Parallels for the Tōkaidō, Kuwana Station and the sailor Tokuso, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Umibōzu Yokai
The umibōzu from the Fifty-Three Parallels for the Tōkaidō, Kuwana Station and the sailor Tokuso, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

The water begins to bubble and swell before a massive, dark-gray entity surfaces. Its head vaguely resembles that of a shaven monk, although its eyes are oversized for its face. Long, serpentine tentacles lash about, dripping rivulets of seawater.

Originally Posted by Shade of the En World forums.

On this Thread

Umibozu are massive, undead that harass seafaring vessels and their crews. It is unknown whether umibozu are a collective entity formed from monks who lost their lives at sea, or simply undead versions of an unknown gigantic yokai. Regardless of their origin, these cruel undead will often toy with sailors, demanding a bucket be placed upon
the deck which it will fill with seawater until the ship sinks. Enterprising seafarers have designed variant bags of holding known as bottomless barrels to avoid such fates when sailing through umibozu-infested waters.

Umibozu stand 40 feet tall. Coloration ranges from dark gray to utterly black, except for glowing yellow or scarlet eyes.

Umibozu speak Aquan, Common, and Infernal.

Umibozu Yokai
Gargantuan undead (Aquatic)
Hit Dice22d12 (143 hp)
Initiative+6
Speed50 ft. (10 squares), Swim 50 ft.
Armor Class20 (-4 size, +2 Dexterity, +12 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 18
Base Attack/Grapple+11/+35
AttackTentacle +19 melee (2d8+12/19-20)
Full Attack6 tentacles +19 melee (2d8+12/19-20)
Space/Reach20 ft./20 ft.
Special AttacksCapsize, stunning strike
Special QualitiesDarkvision 60 ft., +2 turn resistance, undead traits
SavesFort +7, Ref +11, Will +18
AbilitiesStrength 34, Dexterity 15, Constitution —, Intelligence 7, Wisdom 20, Charisma 20
SkillsIntimidate +30, Spot +30, Swim +20
FeatsAwesome Blow, Combat Reflexes, Dire Charge, Improved Critical (tentacle), Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, lightning reflexes, Power Attack
EnvironmentAny aquatic
OrganizationSolitary
Challenge Rating11
TreasureStandard
AlignmentAlways lawful evil
Advancement23-44 HD (Gargantuan); 45-66 HD (Colossal)
Level Adjustment

COMBAT

Umibozu enjoy frightening and intimidating crews before tearing a ship asunder. They also like batting sailors into the sea with their massive tentacles, one at a time.

Capsize (Ex): A submerged umibozu that surfaces under a boat or ship less than 30 feet long capsizes the vessel 95% of the time. It has a 50% chance to capsize a vessel from 30 to 80 feet long and a 20% chance to capsize one over 80 feet long.

Crushing Blow (Ex): As a full-round action, an umibozu can set up vibrations within the hull of a boat that can split its hull asunder. The ship is hit automatically, taking XdY+Z slam damage. The ship’s pilot must make a DC 33 Profession (sailor) check after each hit to keep the vessel from being breached and sinking in 1d10 minutes. Apply a modifier to the DC based on the type of ship: rowboat +4, keelboat +2, sailing ship or longship +0, warship -3, galley -5. Regardless of the ship’s saving throw result, characters aboard the ship must make DC 33 Reflex saves; a successful save means the character takes 1d4 points of damage; on a failed save, a character on deck is hurled overboard and a character below decks takes 2d4 points of damage. The save and check DCs are Strength-based.

Stunning Strike (Ex): Any creature struck by two of an umibozu’s tentacle attacks in a single round must make a DC 33 Fortitude save or be stunned for 2d4 rounds. The save DC is Strength-based.

Skills: An umibozu has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.

Based on the sea bonze that originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #26 (1979).

Scroll to Top