Kuo-toa

Stub-class article · First seen: s15 · Last seen: s15
Kuo-toa
Portrait of Kuo-toa.
Character
StatusDead
First seens15
Last seens15

Kuo-toa are the pale, fish-like creatures that ambushed the party from a flooded side channel of the Eldwythe sewers in session 15, after Vasquez kicked a rock into their pool [1]. They rose out of the water “slick-skinned and wide-eyed”, carrying spears, nets and scavenged gear, and fought with long bone whips that crackled with lightning [7][10][13]. Three were killed, by Hugo, by Terry’s Shadow Blade and by Althea’s Toll the Dead, and as the last sank the party seemed to hear “get these motherfuckers” from below the waves [3][22][20]. This page records what the party saw, not a published statblock.

Overview

Kuo-toa are pale, fish-like creatures that lurk in a flooded side channel of the Eldwythe sewers. The party met them once, in session 15, while fleeing the Aurelians through the sewers, and killed three. The DM names them [6] and gives no count of how many rose from the pool; the page records what the party saw and did, with no published statblock.

Appearance and demeanour

“Pale shapes” that surge out of the dark water, “slick-skinned and wide-eyed”, clinging to stone and iron with wet hands, while the water sheets off spears, nets and bits of scavenged gears [7]. Terry’s first word for them was “Murlocs!” and the DM’s was “these fish people” [8][9]. They thrash wildly in the water and, by the DM’s account, are not clever: one turned on Althea because she was the one shouting [10][11].

Abilities as played

  • Bone whips. A long bony whip that dealt slashing and lightning damage together, “8 slashing damage and 9 lightning damage” on Hugo and 7 and 8 on Caelumn, and crackled against Caelumn’s Shield spell [12][13][14].
  • Reach and grip. Whips reached far enough that backing out of range still drew an opportunity attack, and a whip wound round Hugo’s arms so that he could not make opportunity attacks until the creature’s next turn [13][15].
  • In the water. They ducked under the water to dodge a spell, submerged so that a sword swung over them, and swam sideways out of reach [9][16][17].
  • Hard to hurt. The DM called it “a strange fight” in which they were “super tanky” but no one was hitting anyone [18].

Relationships

None is established. As the last one sank the party heard a voice from below the waves repeat Althea’s battle cry, “get these motherfuckers”; whether more of them wait below has not been tested [19][20].

Disposition towards the party

Hostile at once. They attacked the moment the pool was disturbed and fought until the last was killed [7][21].

Notable quotes

“this is a strange fight they’re super tanky but no one’s hitting anyone” — Nick (DM), [18]

“okay instant death” — Nick (DM), [22]

“you can swear for a moment you hear get these motherfuckers from below the waves” — Nick (DM), [20]

“Wait, they do speak English.” — Terry, [23]

History in the campaign

Session 15: The Death of Ruin and Althea Joins

Main article: Session 15

In a junction of the sewers Vasquez kicked a rock into a deep side channel, and pale fish people surged out with spears, nets and scavenged gear [1]. They fought with lightning-charged bone whips and ducked under the water between blows [10][13][16]. Hugo finished the first, and the table broke for fifteen minutes [24]. Terry’s Shadow Blade killed the second outright [25], and Althea’s Toll the Dead, thrown with her onyx bell, felled the last. As it sank, the party seemed to hear “get these motherfuckers” from below the waves [21].

Status

As of session 23. Three killed in session 15 [3][22][20]. The DM gave no count, the party moved on through the sewers, and none has been met since.

See also

References

  1. ^ Session 15, line 825-826: Vasquez kicks a rock into the pool; "pale shapes surge out of it, slick-skinned and wide-eyed".
  2. ^ Session 15, line 858-943: Bone whips: slashing and lightning damage; a wound whip stops opportunity attacks; reach.
  3. ^ Session 15, line 1048: Hugo finishes the first.
  4. ^ Session 15, line 1133-1141: A strange fight, "super tanky"; Terry's Shadow Blade kills one: "okay instant death".
  5. ^ Session 15, line 1310-1314: Althea's Toll the Dead fells the last; a voice from below the waves: "get these motherfuckers".
  6. ^ Session 15, line 932: Inline citation.
  7. ^ Session 15, line 826: Inline citation.
  8. ^ Session 15, line 827: Inline citation.
  9. ^ Session 15, line 868: Inline citation.
  10. ^ Session 15, line 858: Inline citation.
  11. ^ Session 15, line 958-961: Inline citation.
  12. ^ Session 15, line 880: Inline citation.
  13. ^ Session 15, line 904: Inline citation.
  14. ^ Session 15, line 943: Inline citation.
  15. ^ Session 15, line 931-933: Inline citation.
  16. ^ Session 15, line 1116: Inline citation.
  17. ^ Session 15, line 1130: Inline citation.
  18. ^ Session 15, line 1133: Inline citation.
  19. ^ Session 15, line 918-919: Inline citation.
  20. ^ Session 15, line 1313: Inline citation.
  21. ^ Session 15, line 1310-1313: Inline citation.
  22. ^ Session 15, line 1141: Inline citation.
  23. ^ Session 15, line 1314: Inline citation.
  24. ^ Session 15, line 1048-1049: Inline citation.
  25. ^ Session 15, line 1140-1141: Inline citation.
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