DnDChick
Demon Queen of Templates
Note: I didn't use the "conversion" rules from the CoCD20 book to make this conversion. Doing so would have made this elephant-sized creature have only 6HD, as compared to the 4HD human-sized byakhee. That didnt seem to fit for me. Since they were elephant-sized, I made them Huge 10HD creatures. I also disagree with their conversion of CoC Armor to D20 AC, so I simply used the armor value as its natural AC bonus.
Critiques and comments are welcome!
Shantak
Huge Beast (Lesser Servitor Race)
Hit Dice: 10d10+10 (65 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 30 ft., 120 ft. fly (average)
AC: 17 (-2 size, +9 natural)
Attacks: Bite +13 melee or 2 claws +13 melee
Damage: Bite 2d6+8, claw 2d4+4
Face/Reach: 10 ft. by 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Snatch
Special Qualities: Fear of nightgaunts, immunities
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +3
Abilities: Str 27, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 12
Skills: Listen +7, Spot +7
Climate/Terrain: Any land, underground, the Dreamlands, and interstellar space
Organization: Solitary or brood (2d6)
Challenge Rating: 7
Advancement: 11-20HD (Huge), 21-30HD (Gargantuan)
Sanity Loss: 0/1d6
"Not any birds or bats known elsewhere on earth … for they were larger than elephants and had heads like a horse's … The Shantak-bird has scales instead of feathers and those scales are very slippery."
—H. P. Lovecraft,"The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath."
Shantaks are immense, scaled creatures that live in abyssal caverns in Earth’s Dreamlands. They vaguely resemble vultures with equine heads, slimy scaless and huge, bat-like wings. Shantaks have two strong legs tipped in vicious talons caked with the blood and rotted flesh of their victims.
Shantaks are commonly summoned as guardians or steeds, and have been known to bear the Great Old Ones and their minions across the void of interstellar space. They have at times carried unwitting riders to Azathoth.
Combat
Shantaks fight primarily with their bite, scratching at particularly difficult opponents with their long, sharply clawed feet.
Snatch (Ex): If a shantak hits a Medium-size or smaller opponent with both claw attacks in a single round, it latches on. The next round, the shantak can either inflict 4d4+6 damage for each round it maintains the hold, or it can lift the opponent into the air the next round as a standard action. Once airborne, the shantak may inflict damage as above or make an automatic bite attack each round.
The shantak can drop a creature it has snatched as a free action, or use a standard action to fling it aside. A flung creature travels 30 feet and takes 3d6 points of damage. If the shantak flings it while flying, the creature suffers this amount or falling damage, whichever is greater.
Fear of Nightgaunts (Ex): If confronted by nightgaunts, a shantak must make a Will save (DC 15 + the number of nightgaunts present) or flee.
Immunities (Ex): Shantaks are immune to all the natural perils of vacuum (extreme heat and cold, zero pressure, and lack of breathable air). They are susceptible to damage from other sources of heat and cold, though they can suspend their breathing at will (if they ever breathe at all).
Critiques and comments are welcome!
Shantak
Huge Beast (Lesser Servitor Race)
Hit Dice: 10d10+10 (65 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 30 ft., 120 ft. fly (average)
AC: 17 (-2 size, +9 natural)
Attacks: Bite +13 melee or 2 claws +13 melee
Damage: Bite 2d6+8, claw 2d4+4
Face/Reach: 10 ft. by 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Snatch
Special Qualities: Fear of nightgaunts, immunities
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +3
Abilities: Str 27, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 12
Skills: Listen +7, Spot +7
Climate/Terrain: Any land, underground, the Dreamlands, and interstellar space
Organization: Solitary or brood (2d6)
Challenge Rating: 7
Advancement: 11-20HD (Huge), 21-30HD (Gargantuan)
Sanity Loss: 0/1d6
"Not any birds or bats known elsewhere on earth … for they were larger than elephants and had heads like a horse's … The Shantak-bird has scales instead of feathers and those scales are very slippery."
—H. P. Lovecraft,"The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath."
Shantaks are immense, scaled creatures that live in abyssal caverns in Earth’s Dreamlands. They vaguely resemble vultures with equine heads, slimy scaless and huge, bat-like wings. Shantaks have two strong legs tipped in vicious talons caked with the blood and rotted flesh of their victims.
Shantaks are commonly summoned as guardians or steeds, and have been known to bear the Great Old Ones and their minions across the void of interstellar space. They have at times carried unwitting riders to Azathoth.
Combat
Shantaks fight primarily with their bite, scratching at particularly difficult opponents with their long, sharply clawed feet.
Snatch (Ex): If a shantak hits a Medium-size or smaller opponent with both claw attacks in a single round, it latches on. The next round, the shantak can either inflict 4d4+6 damage for each round it maintains the hold, or it can lift the opponent into the air the next round as a standard action. Once airborne, the shantak may inflict damage as above or make an automatic bite attack each round.
The shantak can drop a creature it has snatched as a free action, or use a standard action to fling it aside. A flung creature travels 30 feet and takes 3d6 points of damage. If the shantak flings it while flying, the creature suffers this amount or falling damage, whichever is greater.
Fear of Nightgaunts (Ex): If confronted by nightgaunts, a shantak must make a Will save (DC 15 + the number of nightgaunts present) or flee.
Immunities (Ex): Shantaks are immune to all the natural perils of vacuum (extreme heat and cold, zero pressure, and lack of breathable air). They are susceptible to damage from other sources of heat and cold, though they can suspend their breathing at will (if they ever breathe at all).
Last edited:
