# Zaratan <div class="grid-container"><div class="MON">Zaratan</div> <div class="CR">CR 20 (307,200 XP)</div> <div class="SOU">Arms and Equipment Guide pg. 88</div> <div class="SYS">Dungeons & Dragons 3.5</div></div> N Immense Magical Beast **Init** +0 **Senses** darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; **Perception** +14 #### defense **AC** 34, -6 touch, 34 flat-footed (+40 natural, -16 size) **hp** 627 (38d10+418) **Fort** +30, **Refl** +21, **Will** +18 **Feint** 52, **Demoralize** 52 **Defensive Abilities** resilient shell, unstoppable **DR** 15/epic **Immune** ability damage, bleed, energy drain, negative levels, paralysis, poison, polymorph #### offense **Speed** 10 ft., swim 30 ft. **Melee** bite +39 (6d6+24) **Space** 100 ft., **Reach** 50 ft. **Special Attacks** fin sweep #### statistics **Str** 43, **Dex** 11, **Con** 28, **Int** 6, **Wis** 19, **Cha** 12 **BAB** +38, **CMB** +60, **CMD** 70, **TA** +38, **RTA** +22 **Feats** [[Ability Focus]] (Fin Sweep), [[Alertness]], [[Cleave]], [[Critical Focus]], [[Devastating Strike]], [[Diehard]], [[Endurance]], [[Improved Natural Weapon]] (Bite), [[Improved Toughness]], [[Improved Vital Strike]], [[Iron Will]], [[Power Attack]], [[Run]], [[Skill Focus]] (Perception), [[Snatch]], [[Staggering Critical]], [[Toughness]], [[Vital Strike]], [[Weapon Focus]] (Bite) **Skills** Perception +14, Swim +65 #### special abilities ### Fin Sweep (Ex) The zaratan thrashes all four of its fins simultaneously, affecting everything in the water in a 50-foot radius. Objects and creatures within the swept area automatically take 4d8+16 points of bludgeoning damage. Affected creatures can attempt a Reflex save (DC 40) to take half damage. ### Resilient Shell (Ex) The zaratan's massive size makes it impossible to damage the creature through its shell. Creatures that wish harm on the zaratan must strike at its exposed head or fins. A zaratan is able to retreat into its own shell, making the creature immune to critical hits. #### ecology **Terrain** Warm aquatic **Organization** Solitary **Treasure** Double **Advancement** 39–76 HD (Colossal) These enormous, sedentary turtles are easily mistaken for small islands. Clever or lucky groups of people who find one can ride it. Zaratans normally ride the warm ocean currents with their mouths open, allowing food and jetsam to wash in. Shipwrecked sailors are sometimes found living on a zaratan’s back. Some don’t even know they’re on a turtle. No fewer than four people can attempt to steer a zaratan. The primary rider must stand on the shell near the head and shout or sing loudly to the creature, giving instructions and motivation to overcome its natural lethargy. Riders can make Diplomacy, Intimidate, or Perform checks (DC 31) to get the zaratan to carry out their wishes. Other riders must stand equidistant around the circumference of the shell and stamp their feet or pound it with a bludgeoning weapon to encourage the zaratan to go only forward, and no other direction (they may also make aid another attempts with any appropriate skill). Though the frontmost rider might not need aid to convince the zaratan to move, it is not sufficiently motivated without these vibrations. A zaratan’s rocky shell is 80 feet long and 80 feet wide, with a sandy outer layer where seeds and pollen take root, sometimes growing into small trees. Even larger zaratans have been reported by old sailors telling tales around the fire. If attacked, zaratans prefer to flee rather than fight, but they are able defenders. At first sign of aggression, a zaratan pulls its head and flippers into its shell, waiting for the attacks to stop. If the attacks continue for more than 2 rounds, it lashes out with its bite and sweeps with its fins for 1 round, then swims away in the next round. It continues to alternate attacking and fleeing until the opponent is discouraged or dead. If a zaratan knows it has riders, it will not dive underwater unless its life is in danger.