Dire Crustacean (Marine)

Marine Crustaceans always seem larger than imagined when first encountered, with thick mottled shells resistant to slashing weapons, and pincers capable of snipping a human torso in half. These colossal arthropods use their venom-laced forearms to paralyze prey before plucking them up to devour. Victims unlucky enough to be brought to the Marine Crustacean’s mouth face armor-piercing bites and are torn limb from limb. Despite their mighty presence, the Marine Crustacean possesses only a dim intelligence, and will fixate on one target to the exclusion of all else when enraged, due to their natural inclination to duel other Crustaceans. These creatures dwell in both freshwater and saltwater, emerging at night to hunt, their irascibility often tempered only by a fascination with shiny objects like mirrors or coins, liquor, and food.

Marine Crustaceans are really just lumbering brutes, drawn toward civilization because of hunger or out of curiosity (unusual lights on the shore, for example, or strong vibrations near the water). While most Crustaceans are solitary monsters that are not above practicing cannibalism, when a fresh supply of food becomes available, a cast of the creatures will descend upon the source in a frenzy. Their behavioral weaknesses are easy to exploit, however, and a knowledgeable party can sidestep an encounter with quick thinking. Moreover, the underside of a Marine Crustacean is soft and lacks armor plating; this physical weakness can be targeted with advantage when the creature is prone.