Medium humanoid (kuo-toa), neutral evil
Armor Class 11 (natural armor)
Hit Points 65 (10d8 + 20)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +4 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 (+2) | 10 (+0) | 14 (+2) | 12 (+1) | 14 (+2) | 11 (+0) |
Skills Perception +6, Religion +4
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Undercommon
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Amphibious. The kuo-toa can breathe air and water.
Otherworldly Perception. The kuo-toa can sense the presence of any creature within 30 feet of it that is invisible or on the Ethereal Plane. It can pinpoint such a creature that is moving.
Slippery. The kuo-toa has advantage on ability checks and saving throws made to escape a grapple.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the kuo-toa has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Spellcasting. The kuo-toa is a 2nd-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell attacks). The kuo-toa has the following cleric spells prepared:
- Cantrips (at will): sacred flame, thaumaturgy
- 1st level (3 slots): bane, shield of faith
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The kuo-toa makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its pincer staff.
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.
- Pincer Staff. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 14). Until this grapple ends, the kuo-toa can’t use its pincer staff on another target.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
DESCRIPTION
Kuo-Toa Whips are a type of kuo-toa, a race of fish-like humanoids that live in the dark depths of the sea or underground lakes. They are devoted followers of Blibdoolpoolp, the Sea Mother, a monstrous deity that they worship with fanatical zeal. Kuo-Toa Whips are the clerics and leaders of their communities, wielding divine power and enforcing the will of their god. They are usually accompanied by kuo-toa monitors, who are the monks and warriors of their society.
Kuo-Toa Whips have scaly skin that ranges from green to gray, bulbous eyes that can see in the dark, webbed fingers and toes, and sharp teeth. They wear robes and headdresses adorned with shells, pearls, and other aquatic ornaments. They carry pincer staffs, which are long poles with metal claws at the end, that they use to grapple and harm their enemies. They also have the ability to cast spells, such as sacred flame, bane, and shield of faith.
Kuo-Toa Whips are cunning and ruthless, but also paranoid and delusional. They believe that their god is the supreme ruler of all creation, and that they are her chosen people. They despise all other races, especially those who dwell on the surface or worship other gods. They often raid coastal settlements or underground outposts, capturing prisoners for sacrifice or slavery. They also have a strange power to shape reality with their collective belief, creating bizarre and dangerous phenomena that reflect their twisted imagination.
COMBAT
Kuo-Toa Whips are formidable foes in combat, using their spells and pincer staffs to inflict pain and fear on their enemies. They prefer to fight in groups, coordinating their attacks and supporting each other with their magic. They are especially dangerous in aquatic environments, where they can swim faster than most creatures and breathe underwater.
Kuo-Toa Whips have several traits that give them an edge in combat. They have amphibious nature, which allows them to breathe air and water. They have otherworldly perception, which enables them to sense invisible or ethereal creatures within 30 feet. They have slippery skin, which grants them advantage on escaping grapples. And they have sunlight sensitivity, which makes them vulnerable to bright light.
Kuo-Toa Whips are loyal to their god and their archpriest, who is the highest-ranking cleric in their community. They will fight to the death to defend their faith and their leader, unless they are ordered to retreat or surrender. They will also try to capture enemies alive for interrogation or sacrifice, unless they are too dangerous or unworthy.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
Kuo-Toa Whips live in isolated and hidden settlements under the sea or in subterranean lakes. They build their structures from coral, stone, metal, and organic materials, creating temples, shrines, barracks, prisons, and workshops. They also collect various items from their raids or explorations, such as weapons, armor, jewelry, books, and artifacts.
Kuo-Toa Whips are the rulers and priests of their society, commanding respect and obedience from the other kuo-toas. They are responsible for maintaining the worship of Blibdoolpoolp, performing rituals, sacrifices, prayers, and ceremonies. They also oversee the education, training, and discipline of the young kuo-toas, teaching them the history, laws, and customs of their race.
Kuo-Toa Whips have a strict hierarchy based on their divine power and bloodline. The archpriest is the supreme leader of the community, chosen by Blibdoolpoolp herself. The archpriest’s children are the whips, who serve as the archpriest’s advisors and successors. The whips compete with each other for favor and influence, often plotting against each other or challenging each other to duels. The whips can also lose their status or power if they displease the archpriest or Blibdoolpoolp.
ECOLOGY
Kuo-Toa Whips are an integral part of the kuo-toan ecology, providing guidance and direction for their race. They also have a significant impact on the environment they inhabit, altering it with their magic and belief. They create idols and statues of Blibdoolpoolp from various materials, imbuing them with divine power and animating them with life. They also summon or create other creatures that serve or worship Blibdoolpoolp, such as giant crabs, lobsters, octopuses, sharks, or aboleths.
Kuo-Toa Whips have few natural predators or enemies in their domain, as they are feared and respected by most aquatic creatures. However, they face constant threats from other races that seek to invade or exploit their territory, such as sahuagin, merfolk, drow, duergar, or mind flayers. They also have a long-standing rivalry with the locathah, a race of fish-like humanoids that worship a different god.
Kuo-Toa Whips are carnivorous, feeding on fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other aquatic animals. They also eat the flesh of their enemies or their sacrifices, as a way of honoring Blibdoolpoolp and gaining her favor. They have a short lifespan, rarely living longer than 40 years. They reproduce by laying eggs in underwater nests, which are guarded by the whips and the monitors until they hatch.