#kothoga

When it comes to the infamous sea monsters of the depths, one can see a clear pattern in which are found to be the most terrifying. Size is a, fittingly enough, big one, as there will always be the fear that comes when you encounter something that dwarfs your vessel. A creature that could wreck your ship with hardly any effort, sometimes not even realizing what it had done! That plays into the strength that also gives them notoriety, as there are plenty of legends about leviathans that smashed through armor and scale with ease, or dragged a hooked ship to the ends of the world. Strange powers and abilities factor in too, but the common theme seems to be the ship wrecking part. So many of these infamous monsters are known because they can destroy whaling ships, as that seems to be the ultimate feat. After all, what is scarier then that? Why would any other beast make this list if it couldn't send a vessel and its crew to the bottom of the sea? And this is mostly true, as many creatures carved into legend are leviathans or leviathan-like, massive sea monsters of incredible size and ferocity. But for those who take a closer look at some carvings or tales, they may notice an odd one amongst them. A beast that is much smaller than any leviathan, and who could never even put a dent into an armored galleon. Yet, it is a species that has been preserved in folklore through fear, haunting many horror stories and the imaginations of fishermen. Compared to a leviathan, the Kothodo is small fry. But when you see one in action, you quickly understand that there are other ways to terrify the soul outside of sheer bulk and brawn.

The kothodo is a species of pinniped, as can be seen with its flippered limbs, blubbery hide and semiaquatic lifestyle. They are a bulky beast, their form thick with muscle and fat, with an iconic maned hump to their back. Their flippers are clawed, perfect for grabbing slick shores and blubbery prey. They swim through the seas like a seal, but when on land, their back flippers can rotate to help them walk, in an awkward way. Unlike other semiaquatic beasts, the kothodo hunts both in the sea and on land. Its primary diet is other pinnipeds, though it will feed on invertebrates or other seal-sized beasts. But even when eating seals, it should be noted that there is one specific piece they go after, and this is where their infamy arises.

The head of a kothodo is a wretched sight indeed. It is ugly and blocky, sporting cheek fins and sharpened vibrissae. But the real star of the show is its serrated tusks, which serve as cruel weapons. The interesting thing about these "tusks" is their sheer mobility, as they can both rotate and change positions. A kothodo can have these blades held "up" or "down." The up position has them posed like the mandibles of a beetle, with barbs lining the inside. But then the kothodo can flip them down, where they hang like saber fangs, with the hooked edges either remaining in this claw orientation or rotating to face the beast. Powerful muscles and flexible cartilage allows this strange movement, letting the kothodo adapt its teeth to any situation. And where these weapons are deployed is the hunting and capturing of its prey. Because the unfortunate fact is that the kothodo tends to begin the feeding process without killing its food, as it wastes no time going after its favorite treat: brains.

While the kothodo does feed on flesh and other organa, the part it wants the most is the brains. Its entire hunting process revolves around getting prey into the right position for cranial intrusion. Its barbed flexible tusks my seem like weapons for skewering and slicing, but in truth they are more used for restraint. The kothodo chases down prey and uses its tusk to grab them by the neck. The rotating nature of these tools lets them perform this action in and out of the water, morphing depending on its position. Fang mode is when the kothodo is above or on top of its prey, shoving its tusks down to grab the neck. When chasing its food, the tusks will be more like pincers, so it can lunge forward and snag the fleeing morsel. The point is to grab the target and allow the kothodo to use its strength and tusks to wrangle it into position. The twin blades will grab around the neck, locking the head in the perfect spot. Then comes its razor whiskers and powerful lips, stripping away flesh and latching onto the skull. Once all is secured, the jaws will help crack the skull and the kothodo will use its tongue and specially shaped maw to create a powerful sucking force. Like a pump drawing water from a well, this suction is used to further force open the cranium and pull out the brains. This is, unfortunately, how most prey dies, getting their brains sucked out as this bulky beast practically smothers you in its clawed grip. After the best part is eaten, the kothodo will feed on the rest, tearing the corpses into small strips and pieces to be sucked down its throat.

For seals and other similar marine beasts, the kothodo is a terror. It is a predator that plagues them both in the sea and on land. Underwater, they tend to ambush their prey, lurking around favorite feeding grounds. Prey is snared and their brains are extracted right there, afterwards the kothodo will drag the corpse back to solid land. On the shores, these tusked nightmares attack resting colonies, picking the times when the seals are most tired or distracted. Their rotating limbs help them move faster than the awkward bouncing seals, though not by much. But with sheer bulk on their side, they barrel into prey and force them to the ground. In some cases, their sheer size and weight can crush victims. When a kothodo feeds, it is a terrifying sight. But it can get much worse, because that terrible eye will look to you as the next course...

They love seal brains, but in truth, any brain will do. Large fish and other aquatic beasts can be on the menu. Sea Devils are threatened by them, which is why folks think they developed those horns, to keep that vile mouth away from their skulls. The upsetting fact is that humans are not omitted from this, as the kothodo will happily dine upon man. This is where the tales of terror arise, as they will totally target a person if they see the opportunity. On massive ships, the kothodo can do nothing, but on smaller vessels like fishing boats or whaleboats, this beast is a threat. It will use its bulk to ram into the vessel, hoping to either flip it over or knock someone overboard. When prey goes into the drink, the kothodo is quick to rush them and grab on. Clawed flippers hold them in place and the tusks lock around the neck. Victims better hope help is close by to start shouting and stabbing, because what comes next is a terrible way to go.

Kothodos are both hunted and culled, with many slayings coming from when they get too close to settlements or favorite fishing spots. The beasts are smart and know where prey will gather. Fishermen going out to their usual location to cast out nets will be a target, as their small boat and lone nature makes success for the kothodo that much easier. When corpses with violated skulls wash ashore, you know one of these brain eaters is responsible. Thus, they must be hunted and slain. Piercing weapons are needed, to bite deep through the thick blubber and muscle. Shields are advised to ward away its moving tusks, as the beast will try to grab you with them. Though kothodo are smart, they face the ironic weakness for brains. That organa captures their attention, driving them to feed with little thought of consequence. Thus, brains are the perfect bait to draw one out.

Slaying a kothodo nets one plenty of flesh and blubber, all of it tinged with a bit of Phlegm. While it often isn't enough to grant medicinal properties, the meat gains a pleasing after taste and supposed mental clarity. Their blubber can be rendered into oil that gives lanterns and candles a calming glow. However, superstition claims that bathing in this light for too long will awaken a hunger within a person, suddenly having the craving for fresh flesh. Their leather and manes are used for garments, while the tusks make obvious weapons. Good materials can come from kothodos, but their brain-eating tendencies and infamy causes many seafolk to eye this stuff with caution. Plenty of stories about people being corrupted by the clothes and weapons, gaining madness and a hunger for brains. If one does wield and wear kothodo materials, it is advised to tone it down around seafolk. And also don't wear it when you have a cold or are inflicted with allergies. Kothodos have a wheezing bellow and call, and if you start making sounds like that, people are going to start freaking out. They will think you are morphing into one, becoming a were-kothodo, when man is transformed into a terrible brain-eating monstrosity. Is this a real thing? Hard to say, but some paranoid folk may not dwell on that fact too much before they start stabbing.

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"He Who Flops On All Fours"

"You are challenged by Beast tamer Carmine!"

prompt list by @tealmaskmybeloved

These two monsters could have evolved on the same planet from a common ancestor species

“1997 - Kothoga” © Greco Westermann, accessed at his ArtStation here

[The Relic is a movie I remember enjoying, but I haven’t seen since it was relatively recent. The monster, the Kothoga, was designed by Crash McCreery and performed as a mix of CGI and a man-in-suit, and a very elaborate, non-humanoid suit too. Its backstory is somewhat convoluted--it is a human anthropologist who has mutated into a monster after drinking a potion given to him by a South American tribe, who turned into a monster on the trip back and is now lurking in a natural history museum. Supposedly this monster is used as a weapon against the tribe’s enemies... so why choose this guy? Why doesn’t the monster just go hunting for more victims once it’s done with those enemies? Why doesn’t it ever try to leave the museum once it gets there? My flavor text is an attempt to provide an answer to these questions.]

Kothoga CR 7 LE Aberration This creature looks something like a reptilian lion, although it does have tufts of hair running along its back. It has large scales running along its back, and a softer, smoother underbelly. It has a pair of shear-like mandibles growing from its jaws, and its claws and teeth are overly large.

A kothoga is a mutated humanoid, created upon consuming a strange jungle fungus. The kothoga fungus infects those that consume it, transforming them into a dangerous predator. This predator patrols and maintains a home territory, purging it of large creatures and consuming the brains of humanoids in the area—hormones in humanoid brains resemble the secretions of the kothoga fungus. Once the territory is cleared, the kothoga would rather starve to death than leave its range, and new fungi grow from its corpse.

This bizarre life cycle has been weaponized by some of the people who live in the jungles where kothoga fungus grows. When their village is threatened, a clan will feed someone the fungus, monitor their sickness until they are on the verge of transformation, and then take refuge outside of the new kothoga’s home range. Some peoples transform one of their own—someone elderly or sick who sacrifices themselves to benefit their community one last time. Others use captured prisoners or interlopers are unwilling super soldiers. If one of these victims escapes captivity and flees for their own land, a kothoga can be created far from their ordinary range.

Kothogas are durable and deadly. They typically attack from ambush, pouncing from the shadows or from up in the trees. Despite their size, kothogas are remarkable climbers, combining their claws with gecko-like fringes on the toes to be able to even climb upside down. Fire or magic are the most reliable ways to kill these monsters for good. Fire has the added benefit of destroying the next generation of kothoga fungus, which will otherwise sprout from the body.

Kothoga Sickness (CR 5 hazard) A creature that consumes kothoga mushrooms must succeed a DC 18 Fortitude save or succumb to their effects. Treat this as the following supernatural disease: Kothoga Sickness—ingested; save Fort DC 18; onset 1d12 hours; frequency 1/day; effect 1d4 Con damage and 1d4 Cha damage. A creature reduced to 0 Con is slain; a humanoid or native outsider reduced to 0 Cha is transformed into a kothoga over the course of 24 hours. A creature so transformed can only be restored to its normal self via a limited wish, wish, or miracle spell; cure 3 consecutive saves.