#mishipeshu

“Mishibizhiw” © Kate Pfeilschiefter, accessed at her deviantArt here

[Welcome to aquatic cat week! In the greater “world tour” umbrella, there’s some points where thematically similar monsters are going to end up paired together. For example, lore of some manner of aquatic feline is pretty much global, which makes sense considering the outsized impression that both big cats and dangerous water have on the human psyche. This week I’m covering two fairly different takes on this trope.

First, the most famous, the mishipeshu, or “underwater panther”. Many cultures east of the Mississippi, up and down the American continent, have a mishipeshu or similar creature in their legendry. Some monsters that have already appeared in the Codex that may have been influenced by the mishipeshu include the hodag,gowrowandpiasa. Some tribes posit that the underwater panther and the thunderbird are enemies, so I went with that. My mishipeshu is the same size and CR as a PF1e thunderbird, and even has the same ability scores.]

Mishipeshu
CR 11 N Magical Beast
This massive creature looks like a scaled, finned feline. Its webbed paws are tipped with claws, and its tail is long and powerful. Copper scales cover its tail and appear as accents along its spine and joints.

Mishipeshu are sometimes referred to as “underwater panthers” or “underwater lynx”. To the uninitiated, that might suggest a small or mundane creature, but mishipeshu are neither. They are masters of aquatic habitats, and each is the ruler of the lake or river they inhabit. Mishipeshu are somewhat temperamental creatures—when appeased, they can protect people living by their shores and drive fish into their nets, but when angry they drown travelers and pelt settlements with devastating storms.

Mishipeshu prefer to fight from the water. They churn bodies of water with their mere presence, slowing down and battering anything in the water with them. Their claws and teeth are deadly, as is their great bludgeoning tail. They can spew torrents of water at great distances, knocking standing creatures prone and flying ones out of the sky. On the rare occasions that they are bested in combat, mishipeshu do not hesitate to retreat, although they may take their injured pride out on their neighbors afterwards.

A mishipeshu’s lair can be underwater or on land, as they are equally comfortable in both environments. What usually limits their location is a deposit of copper—mishipeshu require large amounts of copper in their diet to keep their scales healthy and to protect them against the elements. Mishipeshu and thunderbirds are traditionally enemies, and their clashes can be heard from miles away. The two great beasts are evenly matched—a thunderbird is faster in the air and has ranged capacity, but the mishipeshu is stronger in melee and is resistant to the lightning cast by the thunderbird.

Mishipeshu        CR 11
XP 12,800
N Gargantuan magical beast (aquatic)
Init+3;Sensesdarkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception +20, stormsight
Aurachurning (60 ft., Fort DC 21)
Defense
AC24, touch 9, flat-footed 21 (-4 size, +3 Dex, +15 natural)
hp161 (14d10+84)
Fort+14,Ref+14,Will+7
Resistelectricity 20, fire 20
Offense
Speed40 ft., swim 80 ft.
Melee2 claws +18 (2d6+8/19-20 plus grab), bite +18 (2d8+8), tail slap +16 (2d10+4)
Space20 ft.; Reach15 ft. (20 ft. with tail slap)
Special Attacks breath weapon (100 foot line, 7d12 bludgeoning damage, Ref DC 21, 1d4 rounds)
Spell-like Abilities (CL 11^th, concentration +12)
At will—control weather
Statistics
Str26,Dex17,Con21,Int12,Wis16,Cha13
Base Atk +14;CMB+26 (+30 grapple); CMD39 (43 vs. trip)
FeatsAlertness, Combat Reflexes, Improved Critical (claw), Lightning Reflexes, Multiattack, Power Attack, Toughness
SkillsAcrobatics +16 (+20 jumping), Perception +20, Sense Motive +18, Swim +30
LanguagesAquan
SQamphibious
Ecology
Environmentcold and temperate freshwater
Organizationsolitary, pair or family (3-6)
Treasurestandard
Special Abilities
Breath Weapon (Su) Any creature that takes damage from a mishipeshu’s breath weapon must succeed a DC 21 Reflex save or be knocked prone. A creature that flies with wings must succeed a DC 21 Reflex save or fall 1d6x10 feet, taking falling damage if it strikes a surface. The save DC is Constitution based.
Churning Aura (Su) The waters within 60 feet of a mishipeshu churn violently. They are treated as difficult terrain for all creatures swimming in the aura, and all creatures and objects in the aura must succeed a DC 21 Fortitude save or take 2d6 points of bludgeoning damage a round. Mishipeshu are immune to their own auras, and to the auras of others of their kind. A mishipeshu can suppress or resume this aura as a free action.
Stormsight (Ex) A mishipeshu ignores all vision penalties and concealment from magical and mundane weather effects.