BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
Verme
Verme
Gargantuan Animal (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 18d8+144 (225 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: Swim 50 ft (10 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (-4 size, +9 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +13/+34
Attack: Bite +23 melee (3d8+19/19-20)
Full Attack: Bite +23 melee (3d8+19/19-20)
Space/Reach: 20 ft/15 ft
Special Attacks: Capsize, improved grab, swallow whole
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 10/bludgeoning, darkvision 60 ft, fortification, low-light vision, resistance to fire 10
Saves: Fort +19 Ref +11 Will +6
Abilities: Str 37 Dex 11 Con 27 Int 2 Wis 10 Cha 6
Skills: Hide -3*, Listen +10, Spot +10, Swim +21
Feats: Alertness, Blind-Fight, Cleave, Diehard, Improved Critical (bite), Weapon Focus (bite), Power Attack
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 12
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 19-36 HD (Gargantuan); 37-54 (Colossal)
Level Adjustment: ---
This looks like a catfish of unbelievable size, with very large thick scales, and a mouthful of needles for teeth. Its underside is pale yellow, and its flanks run from dark brown to a mottling of green and brown along the back. This gigantically long fish is flat along the belly, and wider than it is high, to help it lurk along the bottom in shallow waters.
The verme is probably the largest of all fish, able to swallow a large shark or even a baby whale in one gulp. These fish prefer great rivers, but are occasionally known to venture out into saltwater oceans. It can swallow creatures in the water, and can also eat things on the riverbanks, reaching its enormous armored head out of the water to snatch cattle or even humans. Its stomach is likely to contain metallic and other indigestible items, remnants of previously swallowed victims.
A typical verme is about 50 feet in length, but can grow to be up to 80 feet in length.
COMBAT
A hungry verme is a ravenous predator that will not be denied. It swallows any prey it can, and is able to capsize even large craft to get at the tasty morsels therein.
Capsize (Ex): A submerged verme that surfaces under a boat or ship less than 20 feet long capsizes the vessel 95% of the time. It has a 75% chance to capsize a vessel from 20 to 60 feet long and a 50% chance to capsize one over 60 feet long.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a verme must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can try to swallow the foe the following round.
Swallow Whole (Ex): A verme can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of Large or smaller size by making a successful grapple check. The swallowed creature takes 3d8+13 points of crushing damage plus 2d8 points of acid damage per round from the verme's gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 30 points of damage to the verme's gut (AC 14). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out.
A verme's gullet can hold four Large, eight Medium, or sixteen Small or smaller creatures.
Fortification (Ex): A verme's thick, bony plates protect its vital areas effectively. When a critical hit or sneak attack is scored on a verme, there is a 25% chance that the critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally.
Skills: A verme 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.
*A verme has a +8 racial bonus on Hide checks when lying on the bottom of riverbeds and sea floors.
Originally found in the first edition Monster Manual II (1983, Gary Gygax), and Monstrous Compendium Annual Two (1995) under "fish".
Verme
Gargantuan Animal (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 18d8+144 (225 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: Swim 50 ft (10 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (-4 size, +9 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +13/+34
Attack: Bite +23 melee (3d8+19/19-20)
Full Attack: Bite +23 melee (3d8+19/19-20)
Space/Reach: 20 ft/15 ft
Special Attacks: Capsize, improved grab, swallow whole
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 10/bludgeoning, darkvision 60 ft, fortification, low-light vision, resistance to fire 10
Saves: Fort +19 Ref +11 Will +6
Abilities: Str 37 Dex 11 Con 27 Int 2 Wis 10 Cha 6
Skills: Hide -3*, Listen +10, Spot +10, Swim +21
Feats: Alertness, Blind-Fight, Cleave, Diehard, Improved Critical (bite), Weapon Focus (bite), Power Attack
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 12
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 19-36 HD (Gargantuan); 37-54 (Colossal)
Level Adjustment: ---
This looks like a catfish of unbelievable size, with very large thick scales, and a mouthful of needles for teeth. Its underside is pale yellow, and its flanks run from dark brown to a mottling of green and brown along the back. This gigantically long fish is flat along the belly, and wider than it is high, to help it lurk along the bottom in shallow waters.
The verme is probably the largest of all fish, able to swallow a large shark or even a baby whale in one gulp. These fish prefer great rivers, but are occasionally known to venture out into saltwater oceans. It can swallow creatures in the water, and can also eat things on the riverbanks, reaching its enormous armored head out of the water to snatch cattle or even humans. Its stomach is likely to contain metallic and other indigestible items, remnants of previously swallowed victims.
A typical verme is about 50 feet in length, but can grow to be up to 80 feet in length.
COMBAT
A hungry verme is a ravenous predator that will not be denied. It swallows any prey it can, and is able to capsize even large craft to get at the tasty morsels therein.
Capsize (Ex): A submerged verme that surfaces under a boat or ship less than 20 feet long capsizes the vessel 95% of the time. It has a 75% chance to capsize a vessel from 20 to 60 feet long and a 50% chance to capsize one over 60 feet long.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a verme must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can try to swallow the foe the following round.
Swallow Whole (Ex): A verme can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of Large or smaller size by making a successful grapple check. The swallowed creature takes 3d8+13 points of crushing damage plus 2d8 points of acid damage per round from the verme's gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 30 points of damage to the verme's gut (AC 14). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out.
A verme's gullet can hold four Large, eight Medium, or sixteen Small or smaller creatures.
Fortification (Ex): A verme's thick, bony plates protect its vital areas effectively. When a critical hit or sneak attack is scored on a verme, there is a 25% chance that the critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally.
Skills: A verme 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.
*A verme has a +8 racial bonus on Hide checks when lying on the bottom of riverbeds and sea floors.
Originally found in the first edition Monster Manual II (1983, Gary Gygax), and Monstrous Compendium Annual Two (1995) under "fish".
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