A molluetuesk is a large cave-lurking beast that appears similar to a huge horseshoe crab, which opens itself up into a cavernous opening. Its “mouth” very closely resembles an iridescent tranquil pool of water with small fish to lure prey. If the pool is disturbed, the mouth will snap shut with the stalactite and stalagmite teeth impaling victims within its maw.

A molluetuesk’s mouth is nearly the size of its entire body. Most of its organs are therefore exposed when the mouth is open, although they are lined with a thin carapace to take on the appearance of interesting cavern decor. The exception is its stomach, which appears as an iridescent pool of water with vestigial fleshy filaments that look like swimming albino cave fish. The pool is mixture of gills, ropey tubes, and an open sac of hot sweet-smelling digestive juices.

Molluetuesk (CR 5)

XP 2400
N Huge animal
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +12

DEFENSE
AC 22, touch 8, flat-footed 22 (+14 natural, -2 huge)
hp 69 (9d8+27)
Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +4

OFFENSE
Speed 15 ft., swim 40 ft.
Melee bite +14 (1d12+12), 2 claw +10 (1d6+5)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Special Attacks swallow whole (3d12+12 piercing/acid, AC 17, 15 hp), open stomach

STATISTICS
Str 27, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 8
Base Atk +9; CMB +17; CMD 27 (31 vs. trip)
Feats Great Fortitude, Skill Focus (Stealth), Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills Climb +2, Perception +12, Stealth +18, Swim +4
SQ ambush

ECOLOGY
Environment caverns, deep caverns
Organization solitary
Treasure incidental (roe)

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Ambush (Ex) If a molluetuesk has one hour to prepare, it can disguise itself as a cavern opening with an iridescent pool of steaming water with fish to lure prey. It then waits patiently for days or even weeks for prey to stumble near its ambush site. The molluetuesk’s anatomy radiates heat only from its pool of water, which is easily detectable with darkvision in a cold cave. When the molluetuesk strikes with its ambush attack, all creatures within 10 feet are subject to its bite attack. It can attempt a combat maneuver check to swallow the creature(s) whole. Any creatures swallowed are impaled within its maw and trapped among its acidic stomach pool and mass of its fleshy organs. The victim may escape as per the swallowed whole rules and takes 1d12+4 acid damage per round.

Open Stomach (Ex) If both claws hit the same target, the molluetuesk will automatically make a grapple attempt. If successful, it picks up the victim and drops it into its pool of digestive juices. This counts as a swallow whole attack. The victim may escape as per the swallowed whole rules, and takes 1d12+4 acid damage per round.

Ecology

Molluetuesks are long-lived arthropods that inhabit the deep places of the world. They can adjust their carapace to the same appearance and texture as the local stone. Molluetuesks are primarily solitary creatures except when they mate once a decade. At this time, they congregate in frenzied packs on sandy underground shores and release their roe unto the dark waters en masse. A molluetuesk will leave the waters once it is the size of a fist and it quickly grows into a large predator.

Young molluetuesks occasionally live in symbiosis with adult molluetuesks, cleaning their maw and under-shell of debris. These young are not a threat to Small or larger creatures.

The tail of the molluetuesk, called a telson, is long and pointed but utterly harmless. A molluetuesk uses its tail to flip over should it become overturned.

A molluetuesk can swim, although adults generally avoid large bodies of water.

Tactics

A molluetuesk is an ambush predator and prefers to quickly kill its prey with its ambush attack. If the Molluetuesk’s initial mouth attack fails to snag its meal, it will distend two thin claws and eight walking leg appendages from under its shell to chase down its prey, albeit slowly. If both claws hit the same target, a molluetuesk simply picks up the victim and drops it into its pool of digestive juices.

Molluetuesks have difficulty turning around, and doing so requires a full action. A molluetuesk must make a Reflex Save (DC 20) to right itself if overturned.

Molluetuesk Roe

Molluetuesk roe is rich in nutrients and is both edible and delicious for most humanoids. Roe from an adult molluetuesk can feed six humanoids for roughly one week. Roe taken from a molluetuesk will last 1d12 days before it hatches into ravenously hungry young. Some underground aquatic races use the roe as a delicacy and trade handsomely for it.