Race:Kraken

Kraken Characteristics

The Kraken appears as a squid of impossibly large size. Large enough to destroy or simply pull giant galleons down into the watery depths, these massive sea beasts are tied to the ocean beyond just being aquatic. They possess extraordinary supernatural powers, able to manipulate the ocean weather to match their mood, which is almost always angry. This creature weighs thousands of pounds, and has long tentacles protruding from its body, 6 of which are about 30 feet in length, and 2 which are longer and thicker, reaching out to 60 feet in front of them. While unable to speak, these creatures are incredibly intelligent, and always attack another sea creature or vessel with a plan in mind. Why exactly it does this is specific to the beast’s motivations. While it will usually attack other sea creatures for food, it rarely attacks manned ships without a reason.

Culture

The Kraken meets with few others of its kind at an adult stage. It produces offspring once in its lifetime, and only one or two per birthing. A solitary creature, it roams the bottom of the ocean, a master of its environment. It preys on all other life it finds and gathers valuables found in the ocean or from ships that it destroys. Perhaps similar to a great dragon in its greed, it does not seem to have a use for its treasures, but merely a desire to bask in its luxury. It does, on occasion, use this wealth to trick adventurers into its region of the ocean, floating the material wealth out into the world in all directions so some might find it and be drawn to its source. Very few understand this about the creature, and simply think it an unthinking beast of size that attacks at random. It is this perceived weakness that has allowed the Kraken to function as a terror of the high seas since man first took to water.

History

The Kraken is a legendary beast in every sense of the word. Not only because of its stature and power, but also the legacy of fear it has created amongst sailors the world over. Even those who have never seen the ocean have heard of it, tales of its sudden appearance spelling doom for entire fleets of ships, all lives lost to a watery grave. While casual seafarers believe this to be superstition, the well-seasoned believe it true enough to travel with caution. Some have even taken to offering sacrifices of food and riches to the ocean when they believe to be in the creature’s territory. One notable pirate captain had even claimed to have bargained for his crew’s life with a bounty of stolen wealth to the monstrosity, with the promise of an annual tithe to the lord of the ocean.