Lurking beneath the lakes, streams, and swamps of Terrinoth, merriods use their powerful, flexible tentacles to immobilize their prey. They then squeeze the life out of them or, if feeling particularly cruel, eat them while still alive.
Among Mennara’s aquatic beasts, few elicit as much terror and dread as the merriod. Sailors and pirates in Shellport taverns swear it is the last vengeance of a dead sea god, one who cursed the world with an avatar borne of its own unfathomable malice. Combining the jaws of the shark, the grasping tentacles of the kraken, and the cleverness of the octopus, the god unleashed the merriod into the waters.
Thankfully, these amphibious beasts are relatively rare, slow to reproduce, and often simply slumber in their dark, damp lairs. When stirred by hunger or some darker motivation, however, merriods become one of the most dangerous predators adventurers can face. They are especially adept at luring or driving their targets places where they can entrap or encircle them, such as a dank cavern or flooded dungeon.
Merriods often use their mawed tentacles to stealthily grasp an adventurer and pull them down to a watery grave, but the creatures are also formidable when confronted in open battle. They move with a speed that belies their bulk, their great jaws allow them to bite clean through armor, and their thick hide can ward off the mightiest blows.
References
- Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)
- Realms of Terrinoth