Monster Encyclopaedia II: The Dark Bestiary
| Author | J. C. Alvarez |
| Publisher | Mongoose Publishing |
| Publish date | 2005 |
| OGL Section 15 | me2 |
The material below is Open Game Content
Nuckelavee
Large Monstrous Humanoid (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 11d8+55 (104 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares), swim 80ft.
AC: 19 (–1 size, +2 Dex, +8 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 17
Base Attack/Grapple: +11/+24
Attack: Slam +19 melee (1d6+9) or hoof +19 melee (1d4+9)
Full Attack: 2 slams +19 melee (1d6+9) and 2 hooves +17 melee (1d4+4)
Space/Reach: 10 ft. /5 ft. (10 ft. with slam)
Special Attacks: Bestow curse, fearsome sight
Special Qualities: Amphibious, darkvision 60 ft.
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +9, Will +8
Abilities: Str 28, Dex 15, Con 21, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 14
Skills: Listen +12, Search +11, Spot +12, Survival +1 (+3 following tracks), Swim +27
Feats: Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative, Multiattack, Power Attack
Environment: Any saltwater
Organisation: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 7
Treasure: Double standard
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: 12-22 HD (Large), 23-33 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: +3
Out of the waves emerges a nightmarish creature with the shape of a horse whose flesh has been completely flayed. Where the horse’s head should be, there is a human torso, as skinless as the horse part of its body. To complete its list of monstrous features, the creature has only one red eye on its human forehead. This monstrosity, apparently made entirely of skinned horse and human limbs, continues skittering out of the water and hollering incoherently.
The nuckelavee is a dreadful, unimaginably hideous monster. It haunts the coasts and riverbanks, taking its violent revenge against any mortal that despoils its territory. A nuckelavee appears as a kind of centaur, only with absolutely no skin on its body, leaving its bare muscles and black-blooded veins bare for horrified opponents to see. The human portion of its body is burly and muscular to the point of deformity, with arms so huge they rival its horse legs in size. Where its human eyes should be, the nuckelavee has only one blood-red orb with a slit black pupil. Its filed teeth, hooves and nails are all black.
Nuckelavees speak Aquan and Common.
Combat
A nuckelavee charges its prey, attempting to seize it with its powerful arms and slam the life out of it. It uses its bestow curse ability when truly angered against an individual or community.
The arms of a nuckelavee are extraordinarily large, giving it a longer reach with its slam attacks.
Bestow Curse (Sp): A nuckelavee can cast bestow curse, as the spell, up to once per day. The save DC is 16 (Charisma based).
Fearsome Sight (Ex): Any creature coming within sight of a nuckelavee must succeed at a Will save (DC 17, Charisma based) or become frightened for 1 full minute. A creature that succeeds at this save cannot be affected by the same nuckelavee’s fearsome sight for the next 24 hours.
Skills: A nuckelavee gains a +8 racial bonus on Swim checks made to avoid hazards or perform special manoeuvres. It can always take 10 on Swim checks, even if rushed or threatened.
