I hope you enjoy the kairuku, and I'll see you tomorrow with another monster.
This penguin stands
almost five feet tall. Its long beak has serrated edges.
Kairuku CR 1
XP 400
N Medium animal
Init +0; Senses low-light vision; Perception +6
DEFENSE
AC 12, touch 10,
flat-footed 12 (+2 natural)
hp 15 (2d8+6)
Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +1
Defensive Abilities
stability; Resist cold 5
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.,
swim 60 ft.
Melee bite +3
(1d6+3 plus grab)
Special Attacks
serrated beak
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +3 (+5 bull rush, +7 grapple); CMD 13 (19 vs. bull rush, 17 vs. trip)
Feats Improved
Bull RushB, Power Attack
Skills Perception
+6, Stealth +0 (+8 when underwater), Swim +10; Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth when underwater
SQ hold breath
ECOLOGY
Environment cold
coastlines
Organization
solitary, pair, or colony (3–16)
Treasure none
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Hold Breath (Ex) A
kairuku can hold its breath for a number of minutes equal to 4 times its Constitution
score before it risks drowning.
Serrated Beak (Ex)
If a kairuku succeeds at a combat maneuver check to maintain a grapple, it adds
twice its Strength modifier to its bite damage.
Stability (Ex) A
kairuku has a +4 racial bonus to CMD against bull rush and trip attempts while
standing on ground. Additionally, it moves across icy surfaces without penalty,
and it gains a +8 racial bonus on Acrobatics checks to run or charge on ice.
Kairukus are prehistoric forebears to modern-day penguins but
still exist in more remote arctic locales. They are expert hunters which can
take on moderate sized sharks and even humans who encroach on their
territories. They either attack by latching onto prey and gnawing it with their
serrated beaks or by pushing foes into water where they gain an advantage, especially
over landbound foes. They have a thick layer of blubber which gives them protection
from physical blows and the cold typical of the open seacoasts where they hunt.
Despite their height relative to everyday penguins, they have a low center of
gravity, and their webbed feet provide them surety on icy surfaces.
A typical kairuku stands at 4 feet, 9 inches, and it weighs
150 pounds.
Kairuku Animal
Companions
Starting Statistics:
Size Medium; Speed 20 ft., swim 60 ft.; AC
+1 natural armor; Attack bite (1d6);
Ability Scores Str 13, Dex 12, Con
14, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 8; Special
Qualities low-light vision, hold breath, stability.
4th-Level Advancement:
AC +1 natural armor; Ability Scores Str +2, Dex –2,
Con +2; Special Qualities cold
resistance 5, grab, serrated beak.
