This inky figure resembles a giant newt with a crustaceous shell and lobster-like tail. It lurches forward on six strong, stubby legs, as the mess of tentacles jutting from its forelimbs creep toward you.

Trench newts, also known as tharralisks, are hideous creatures warped by centuries of life in the ocean’s deepest trenches (hence their name). Their voracious appetites and magical affinity for both darkness and acid help them conjure mayhem and spit death from their rancid maws.

Trench Newt (CR 5)

XP 1,600
CE Large aberration (aquatic)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +12 …

DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 9, flat-footed 17 (−1 Dex, +8 natural)
hp 53 (7d8+21)
Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +7
Defensive Abilities form of shadow, thicket of tentacles; Resist acid 5, cold 5
Weakness light confusion

OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., swim 60 ft.
Melee bite +9 (1d8+5), 2 tentacles +7 (1d6+2 plus grab)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks breath weapon (30-ft. cone, 4d6 acid damage, Reflex DC 16 for half, usable every 1d4 rounds), rake (2 tentacles +7, 1d6+2)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 7th)
3/day—acid arrow, darkness
1/week—commune

STATISTICS
Str 20, Dex 9, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 15
Base Atk +5; CMB +11 (+15 grapple); CMD 20
Feats Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Multiattack
Skills Knowledge (any one) +11, Perception +12, Stealth +12, Survival +12, Swim +23; Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth
Languages Aquan, Undercommon

ECOLOGY
Environment any aquatic
Organization solitary, pair, or clutch (3–6)
Treasure standard

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Form of Shadow (Su) The trench newt’s dark form is difficult to pick out except in the brightest light. In normal light, attacks targeting the trench newt suffer a 20% miss chance. This increases to a 50% miss chance in dim light (instead of the normal 20% miss chance).

Light Confusion (Ex) Bright light overwhelms the trench newt’s senses, making it twitch irritably or even lash out at the nearest creature. While in an bright light, the trench newt is confused (as the confusion spell).

Thicket of Tentacles (Ex) The trench newt can extend its many feeler tentacles into nearby squares, impeding the movement of its foes. Its enemies treat its threatened area as difficult terrain.

Typical Characteristics

Thankfully, trench newts usually stay far from land although overzealous fishermen sometimes unwittingly deplete a trench newt’s hunting ground. This may force it to reach further out for prey, sometimes even venturing into ports.

Some decaying port towns welcome the presence of a trench newt, trading sacrifices of human flesh or beef for it dark wisdom. Its corrupt connection to the gods—through its commune spell-like ability—grants divine insight. No one is sure why trench newts can communicate with the gods, although some say they made a pact with an archaic god of secrets. While these dealings sometimes help the humanoids, more often than not, the trench newt ends up losing patience with the port denizens and eating them.

Less often, a trench newt will take a liking to a group of humanoids and twist them into cruel mockeries of their former selves, making them more like the trench newt itself.

Trench Newt Lore

Knowledge (dungeoneering) DC 15: This is a trench newt, a vile aquatic creature known for strangling its foes with its tentacles and for its ability to spray acid. This also reveals the trench newt’s energy resistances.

Knowledge (religion) DC 15: Whispers about the trench newt claim it has a corrupted divine connection from an ancient pact with a long-dead god of secrets.

Knowledge (dungeoneering) DC 20: Trench newts are extremely dangerous in areas of darkness, where they blend in seamlessly, becoming nearly invisible. They are susceptible to bright light, which agitates and confuses them.

Knowledge (religion) DC 25: Legend has it that the ancient ancestors of modern trench newts, soon after making their fabled pact, used the abilities they gained to trick a warrior god into killing the god of secrets. Since then, the abilities they gained have diminished, but they still have a powerful connection to the gods.