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    Umi-Bozu 海坊主

    Huge undead (spirit), neutral evil

    Armor Class 16 (natural armor)

    Hit Points 189 (18d12 + 72)

    Speed 20 ft., swim 50 ft

    STR 22 (+6) · DEX 10 (+0) · CON 18 (+4) · INT 8 (−1) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 16 (+3)

    Saving Throws Str +9, Con +7, Cha +6

    Skills Perception +5, Athletics +3

    Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

    Damage Immunities poison

    Condition Immunities exhaustion, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, unconscious

    Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 15

    Languages Common, Primordial, Yokai Speech

    Challenge 8

    Traits

    Formless Body. The Umi-Bozu can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.

    Water Bound. If the Umi-Bozu ends its turn on land (completely out of the water), it takes 10 necrotic damage at the end of that turn.

    Actions

    Multiattack. The Umi-Bozu makes two Slam attacks.

    Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.

    Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.

    • If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be pushed up to 10 feet away and knocked prone.

    Capsize (Recharge 5 - 6). The Umi-Bozu targets a boat or ship within 10 feet of it.

    • If the vessel is Large or smaller, it immediately capsizes.

    • If it is Huge or larger, the Umi-Bozu makes a Strength check contested by the vehicle’s Strength or its pilot’s Strength (Athletics) check. On a success, the vessel is flipped or violently rocked, potentially throwing creatures or cargo overboard.

    Watery Embrace. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature.

    Hit. 10 (1d10 + 6) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 16). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained and cannot breathe unless it can breathe water. At the start of each of its turns while grappled, the target takes 10 (3d6) cold damage. The Umi-Bozu can grapple only one creature at a time with this ability.

    Wail of the Drowned (1/Day). The Umi-Bozu emits a mournful cry audible out to 300 feet. Each creature within 60 feet that can hear it must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or to russian Each creature within 60 feet of the Umi-Bozu that can hear it must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be forced to spend its movement to flee from the Umi-Bozu at top speed for 1 round. Any creature that fails this saving throw also has disadvantage on saving throws against being frightened for 10 minutes. While frightened in this way, a creature has disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks and attack rolls while it can see the Umi-Bozu. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

    Lore & Behavior

    Umi-Bozu are formed from the souls of drowned sailors, filled with malice toward the living who sail the seas. They often herald storms or appear alongside raging tempests.

    Some seafarers claim to have heard eerie moaning or wailing at night, and only later realized it came from a towering, black shape rising from the water.

    Even large vessels are at risk when a huge Umi-Bozu emerges from the depths, capable of capsizing boats with a single heave.

    On rare occasions, an Umi-Bozu might show fleeting curiosity about mortal life, but such interactions are perilous—and almost never end well for the crew. AN INTERESTING CASE

    Lore

    Giant ocean spirit, appearing at night to terrify seafarers.

    Umi-Bozu (literally “sea monk”) is a colossal yokai in Japanese folklore said to haunt the open ocean. According to legend, it surfaces from the depths to overturn the vessels of anyone foolish enough to address it - apparently taking offense at any attempt to speak.

    Umi-Bozu’s fame arises from the dread it inspires among all who venture out to sea. The name combines the kanji for “sea” ( 海 ) and “Buddhist monk” ( 坊主 ), referencing the creature’s dome-like head reminiscent of a monk’s shaved scalp. These giant spirits typically manifest as massive black silhouettes; some accounts even note huge arms and glowing eyes, but no visible mouth. Veteran seafarers advise never to speak with it. Instead, they claim the best move is to lie still in your boat, close your eyes, and pretend to sleep. Anyone who talks to this maritime specter is rumored to be dragged into the abyss—ship and all.

    From Yokai Bestiary 5E, p. 6 · Fern Flower Press