Introduction
James: The Scar
Freeman: Grendel
Source: Bestiary 2, p 128
Reading List:
Pathfinder Lore
Appearance
· Blue goblin + octopus
· Goblin top
· Bottom is suckered wriggling tents
Ecology
· Not territorial
· Sensible
· Rarely build structures, but not unheard of
· Make homes in shallow waters: lakes, rivers, coasts, reefs, etc.
· Make lairs in mobile shelters of sargasso [mass of floating vegetation made primarily from sargassum]
· Can also reside in abandoned ships
· Gather into schools up to a few hundred
· Smaller schools can be allied under a strong aquatic creature - Sea hag, etc
· But this only lasts until a major obstacle when, they will scatter and form smaller schools
· Will infest a hunting ground for generations if fruitful, but easily driven away by predators
· Skilled scavengers and will eat anything they can catch
Squids
· Loath squids (or anything that looks like a squid)
· Some sailors paint squids on their hulls to ward them off
· This has been known to backfire encouraging larger schools to attack
· Or can cause smaller groups to gather and attack if it’s a consistent route
· Hatred does not extend to other tentacled creatures
· Octopodes are considered “…the epitome of grace and power”
Sidebar
Giant Grindylows
· Most are small
· Can keep growing throughout their lives
· Can be larger OR larger and gain the [giant] trait
1e
· No image, ½ CR, bestiary 2 p. 148
· “…large head and numerous teeth”
· Goblin top, “…greasy octopus below.”
Mythology and Folklore
· Grindylow or grundylow
· Yorkshire and Lancashire counties
· Name is THOUGHT to be connected to Grendel of Beowulf
About
· Small humanoids
· Scaly skin, greenish complexion
· Sharp claws & teeth
· Long thing arms with extended fingers
· Live in pods and shallow waters waiting for children
· Grab victims with their powerful grip and pull them under
· Have been used to frighten children away from places where they could fall in and drown – because of course it’s better to lie to them
· Mentioned in the same breath as Nelly Longarms, Peg Powler & Jenny Greenteeth the water hags – 07 Sea Hags (first ever suite from Jan 2nd 2020)
Pop Culture
· Harry Potter – Lupin taught about them
· The Scar by China Mieville features them as a hostile race (surprise), Mieville is a known D&D player and helped write Pathfinder Chronicles: Guide to the River Kingdoms
Comparison
· PF blue skin vs Grindylow green skin
· PF goblins vs IRL witches
· Mostly the same