Porphyrios
The monstrous whale known by the name “Porphyrios” has been the bane of the Roman empire for decades on end. Stories of Porphyrios are legend, and it is difficult to find accurate information about this creature, since its attacks rarely leave survivors to tell the tale.
Sinker of Ships. As far as Roman researchers can tell, there is only one whale of this breed, and it has been terrorizing the Inner Sea for as long as sailors can remember. The colossal whale seems to be motivated only by destruction, stalking and sinking ships of any kind that it encounters in its path. Despite an ever-increasing reward for the crew that captures or kills it, Porphyrios remains at large. Many mercenary ships have set out in search of the monster; none have returned.
The Purple Monstrosity. One of the only details about Porphyrios that seems to be reliable is its color. Sailors who report seeing the creature from a distance describe it as having skin of deep purple “like a dark wine.” It is this unusual description that likely led to the name “Porphyrios” (porphyra in Greek is a shade of purple).
Loot the Body! Presenting evidence of the whale’s death is likely to earn commendations and a gold reward from one of several factions that are actively hunting it. Additionally, most markets will also pay for whale meat and oil. Porphyrios’s corpse will yield up to 100 tons of meat and 25 tons of oil. Provided that a ship can carry a cargo capacity of this size, meat and oil can be sold at market for 70 (2d6 x 10) gp per ton of meat and 140 (4d6 x 10) gp per ton of oil.
Porphyrios
Gargantuan monstrosity, chaotic evil
Armor Class: 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 230 (20d10 + 120)
Speed: swim 50 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 (+7) | 10 (+0) | 22 (+6) | 8 (-1) | 15 (+2) | 10 (+0) |
Saving Throws: STR +11, CON +10
Damage Resistances: cold
Senses: blindsight 120 ft., passive perception 12
Challenge: 15 (13,000 XP) Proficiency: +4
Features
Charge: If Porphyrios moves at least 20 feet straight toward the target and then hits it with a ram attack on the same turn, the target takes an additional 14 (4d6) bludgeoning damage.
Echolocation: Porphyrios cannot use its blindsight while deafened.
Hold Breath: Porphyrios can hold its breath for 2 hours.
Keen Hearing: Porphyrios has advantage on Wisdom (Percep-tion) checks that rely on hearing.
Legendary Resistance (2/Day): If Porphyrios fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 34 (6d8 + 7) piercing damage.
Ram: Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 28 (6d6 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
Legendary Actions
Porphyrios can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option may be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Porphyrios regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Spout: Porphyrios sends a plume of water spraying in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in this area must succeed on a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone.
Tail Slam (costs 2 actions): Porphyrios nudges a vehicle within 10 feet with its tail. The vehicle must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or roll on its “Mishap” table, if it has one.
Undertow (costs 3 actions): Porphyrios dives below the surface of the water, vanishing from sigh and creating a devastating rip current in a 30-foot-radius sphere, centered on the space from which it left. Each target within this radius and in contact with the water must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be pulled 10 feet toward the center of the radius. On a successful saving throw, a target is not pulled. If this movement causes a target to reach the center of the rip current, the target also takes 22 (4d10) bludgeoning damage. Porphyrios reemerges at the beginning of its next turn in an unoccupied space within 60 feet.
Source attribution and license
Silk Road's Guide to Seafaring, printed pages 200.