Index: Gorgon, Catoblepas

Fabled | Mythical Beast

Gorgon, Catoblepas

What looks like a large bull with an even larger head offers a terrifying sight before anything. Greenish fiery vapors drift from it's mouth and nostrils, and it's beck, thick with cords of muscle, twists around awkwardly as you approach. Surrounding it, now highlighted by the eerie green smoke, are countless unmoving figures frozen in time.
You can feel the metal bull's haunting stare, as it begins to charge.

Instead of something not-serious, here's a history lesson.
By way of accident, the Gorgon in 5e and earlier editions is one from Greek myth, but not the Medusa or even the Sthenno/Euryale. This version is the Catoblepas, a mythical bull creature of north African origin (even to the Greeks) known to have a stare and breath that could petrify or kill.
To that end, the Catoblepas is one of the only mythical African creatures in that game. Even when you ignore that they made up another version for the Catoblepas creature, which paralyzes things by smelling really bad. We're not using that version.
It stinks.

Statistics

-General-

* = Proficiency

STR / Strength	DEX / Dexterity	CON / Constitution	INT / Intelligence	WIS / Wisdom	CHA / Charisma
+5	+2	+5	-3	+1	-2
Fortitude Save	Reflex Save	Will Save
+5	+5	+1

-Combat-

Armor Class: 19

Max HP (+AHP): 175 (+0)

Average HP | Formula: 120 (+0) | 10d10+25+50 (+0)

Blockstun Breakpoints: Bloodied, 1 HP

-

Speed: 35 ft

Initiative: +3

Creature Senses: Low-Light Vision

-

Damage Vulnerabilities:None

Damage Reduction: All/7

Damage Resistances: None

Damage Immunities: Fire, Poison

-

Condition Immunities: Poisoned

-

Doom Abilities: None

-Skills-

• Proficiency Bonus: +3
  
• Intimidation(STR+Prof): +5
  
• (For all untrained, roll relevant Attribute Scores instead.)
  
• Languages: -
  

-Other Stats-

Base Threat Level: 5

EXP: 500

Creature Size: Large

Creature Type(s): Fabled, Mythical Beast

Source(s): Core

-

Armor Type: Natural Armor (DEX or CON x2 + Half-Proficiency)

-

Features

Actions

Attacks | ◈ per, up to 2 a turn

The Catoblepas will attack either it's horns or hooves when it's able. It may try to position itself first, often targeting vulenrable targets that are about to be or have have already been Petrified.

Horns | ◈ | Melee Natural Weapon Attack | +8 to hit | Hit: 16 ( 2d10+5 ) Piercing damage
Hooves | ◈ | Melee Natural Weapon Attack | +8 to hit | Hit: 16 ( 2d10+5 ) Bludgeoning damage

Catoblepas' Petrification : ~5.0|2⥣|1d4⟳| | ◈ | Targets Fortitude

The Gorgon's namesake turns those caught unaware into the stone, and the Catoblepas's version involves their gaze and their breath.

The Catoblepas either exhales a breathe of putrid, gas in a 60 ft cone, or fires a beam from their eyes in a 120 ft long, 5 ft wide line. Each creature caught in both areas must make a Fortitude Saving throw vs DC 17 (or 10 + Proficiency + CON). Those with no defenses against Poisons make the save at disadvantage. Those that looking directly at the Catoblepas or do not have their vision obscured in any way also roll with disadvantage.

Those that fail their save begin to turn to stone, making a save at the end of every one of their turns and when they are caught in the effect again. Those that fail their save once gain the Slowed condition for 1 minute. Those who fail while slowed gain the Staggered condition for 10 minutes, or until a Swift Rest passes. Those that fail with the Staggered condition, or who critically fail any save, gain the Petrified condition for an indefinite duration.
Escalation⥣ and Recharge⟳
Escalation⥣: This action only starts being used after Escalation 2, or Round 2. This creature's Escalation count goes up each time the creature becomes Blockstunned.
Recharge⟳: Once used, this action takes 1d4 rounds before it can be used again. This count goes down once per round.

-Tactics-

Gorgons come in all shapes and sizes, but they mostly do the same thing; attempt to even the playing field by petrifying their enemies. In the hulking Catoblepas's case, it's main strategy is to run in charging and, for those brave or foolish enough to not run, it launches it's petrifying gaze or breathe before chasing after stragglers. To this end, the giant, heavy headed oxen fights to the death.

What Others may know...

DC = 15 + TL, using an appropriate skill check.

Heard of (-5 to DC)

WIP

Learned of (Meets DC)

WIP

Fully Know of (DC + 10 and up)

WIP

Adventure Specific...

-Scaling and Alterations-

Adjusting the creature's stats to appropriate Threat levels involves altering the TL, Proficiency Bonus, and damage numbers. This section is a work in progress.

Loot

• Appraise DC: 15

• Normal Loot
• Success
• None
• Critical Success
• None

• Crafting
• Success
• None
• Critical Success
• None