Gargantua

GARGANTUA by Reagren Wright

It is one of the largest animals on the Palladium world. Some fear it others worships it as a god. The Gargantua is an enormous sperm whale. Unlike the common sperm whale, these huge creatures are more than capable of swallowing small ships, lifeboats, and rafts. Tales abroad speak of sailors swallowed whole who spend a day or two trapped in the whale until it opens it mouth to yawn and they makes their escape. Most of these are tall tales. However, a select few’ve been eaten by the whale then escaped to speak of their harrowing adventure.
Gargantua is a solitary whale with no natural enemies other than sea serpents. The only time more than two are ever seen is when a cow (female) is swimming with a calf (very rare). They are found in most marine water that is over 4000 feet deep (1219 m) and they stay far enough away from shore (beyond 20 miles/ 32 km). These creatures have one of the largest brains around and they are extremely intelligent (I.Q. of 2D6+6). They are well familiar with shipping lanes and trade routes. They recall particular fishing vessels as well as the faces and appearance of their crew. For the most part, the Gargantua is content to eat squid of all sizes (giants especially), octopi (including giants), sharks, and rays. Aquatic mammals are not their prey of choice, and neither are humanoids. However, if any humanoid threatens them, the whale will not hesitate to kill to defend itself. They can also use their telepathic communications abilities to signal for help, and true sperm whales, killer whales, and dolphins have responded to their distress calls. These creatures also possess an awesome display of water elemental magic which can be used to influence the ocean. Yet their biggest display of power comes from rising up out the depths and ramming the ship or leaping up and out of the water and letting their immense size crush it like kindling.
The Western Empire, the Isle of the Cyclops, and the Bizantium Kingdoms possess the whaling ships and experienced crews to hunt these creatures. Only the most fearless and sea savvy will risk their lives to hunt these majestic animals. Some speculate they are less then 300 left in the world for spotting one is becoming a rare sight indeed. Some speculate the rise in population of sea serpents in the Sea of Dread is in direct proportion to the killing of these giants. According to a priestess of Lista, the day the last Gargantua is killed will be the day when the sea demons and devilfish rise out of the depths and claim the world’s oceans as their own.

Alignment: 20% Unprincipled, 25% anarchist, 35% aberrant, 10% miscreant, 5% diabolic.

Hit Points: 4D6x10+60. One-half for females. One-quarter for calves.

S.D.C.: 1D6x100+200. One-half for females. One quarter for calves.

Natural Armor Rating: A.R.: 12

Average P.P.E.: 4D4x10+50.

I.S.P.: 3D6x10

Natural Abilities: Swim 100%, dive 2.2 miles (3.52 km), mid-air leap 15-20 feet (4.5-6.0 m), breach swimming (reduce maximum Spd by 20%), backward flip (leaps ¾ out of the water and land flat with its body (usually to splash someone-4D6x100 gallons of water splashes a 60 foot/18.2 m radius), hold breath 2D6x10 minutes, sense magnetic north 90%, sonic echo-location 70% (range 2000 feet (609 m) for maximum accuracy. Up to 6000 feet (1828 m) but at a skill penalty of -20%, impervious to cold, quick turn & stop (on a roll of 16 or higher this auto parry or dodge can be used to abruptly stop or turn away from (failure means shoots by or slams into, does 1D4x10 damage to self).

Swallowed Prey: Everything swallowed whole by the whale (smaller than 18 feet/ 5.4 m) will take 3D6 points of damage from the swallowing process. Once it enters the creature’s stomach, organic material (leather, wood, and flesh) immediately starts to break down from the creature’s supernatural strength digestive fluids. Organic material takes 4D6 points of damage each melee until it dissolves into an organic stew and is absorbed into the creature’s blood stream and moved into the small intestine. Stones and shells take a little longer suffering 1D6 points of damage every hour and metal takes even longer with 1D4 points of damage every other hour. It is possible to swim around in the creature’s stomach and intact atercraft continue to float, but eventually the digestive fluids will destroy it. There is no breathable air in the creature’s stomach and its pitch black. The stomach lining has no A.R., but its can endure 80 points of damage before the creature feels discomfort and forces it to regurgitate all of the stomach’s contents. Living things will suffer 3D6+6 points of damage from this forced expulsion as well as 1D6+4 points of acid damage to everything organic.

Speed: 18-25 mph (28.9-40.25 km); but is 5x faster during a dive into the deep. The animals can maintain a speed of around 12-15 mph (19.32-24.1 km) for hours. They rarely travel their maximum speed for more than 3 hours before becoming exhausted and needing to reduce Spd by 2/3 for an entire day of rest. Note: It can double it speed for three minutes and it can do this 10x in an hour.

Attacks Per Melee: Four or two by magic.

Damage: Nip does 2D6 points of damage, 6D6 damage from a restrained bite, a full strength bite does 3D6x10 damage, on a roll of 18-20 prey smaller then 18 feet (5.4 m) is swallowed whole (See swallowed prey), Head jab (similar to a punch) 1D6x10 damage, Head strike/ram 2D6x10 damage from a restrained or 3D6x10+40 at full strength, Power Strike (a high-speed underwater attack) 1D4x100. Humanoids smaller then 18 feet (5.4 m) are likely (80%) to lose initiative and two melee attacks, plus are likely (80%) to be knocked out of a boat and sent flying 1D6x10 yards/meters (half the distance underwater) and may have dropped whatever they were holding in their hand (roll a parry vs. strike to hold on). Any small sea vessel that is not destroyed by the attack has 50% of capsizing (+3 to strike large target 30 feet (9.1 m) or larger. Counts as two melee attacks/actions, Tail Slap 1D4x10 damage (+2 to strike), Tail Strike 2D6x10 (+2 to strike).

Bonuses: +1 on initiative, +3 to strike (+5 durng a speed burst), +1 to dodge (+1 during a speed burst), +3 to pull punch, +6 to roll with punch/impact, +2 to save vs. magic (+4 to save vs. water elemental magic), +5 to save vs. poison and disease, +3 to save vs. mind control, and +12 to save vs. horror factor.

Magic: All water elemental magic from levels 1-6. The equivalent of a 7th level water warlock. Calves cannot perform magic until they’re 20 years or older.

Psionics: Needs a 12 or better to save vs. psionics. See aura, see the invisible, sense magic, mind block, and 1D4+2 psionics from either healing, physical, or sensitive categories. All psionics are equal to 4th level. Calves: 1D4x10+10.

Value: Teeth: 10gp each (has 30 teeth of each side of its jaw), meat/oil (whole animal 2000 gold, Spermaceti 500 gold.

Average Life Span: It’s believed they live for 400-500 years.

Habitat: Temperate and tropical waters.

Range: Any ocean (will not be found in the Scarlet Sea or Inland Sea).

Language: Telepathic transmission between self and other whale species, range: 5 miles (8 km). Can also communicate with a series of clicking patterns (indecipherable, unless use tongues. Range: 50 miles (80 km).

Enemies: There primary enemy are humanoids who hunt them for meat, spermaceti (its used to make candles, soap, cosmetics, other specialized lubricants, lamp oil, pencils, leather waterproofing, and rust-proofing materials), and ambergris, a solid, waxy, flammable substance produced in the digestive system is sought as a fixative in perfumery. An adult Gargantua will attack a sea serpent on sight.

Allies: Other whales and dolphins.

Size: Males 80-90 feet (24.3-27.4 m), Females 60-70 feet (18.2 -21.3 m). Calves with their mothers are typically 20 feet (6 m).

Weight: 125,000 lbs (56,669 kg) for males. This is 62.5 tons!!! Females 41,887 lbs (19,000 kg). This is about 20 tons. Calves usually weight about 4400 lbs (1980 kg).