Maw of the Deep

Large aberration, chaotic evil

A massive aberration of grey-violet flesh, bulbous and glistening, with a central body ringed by six powerful tentacles and studded with multiple tooth-filled maws. In The Ley Line Caves, the Maw has anchored itself to the ley line convergence and has been feeding for weeks, slowly draining the energy that sustains the Dusk Elf community of Duskhollow.

Armor Class:14 (natural armor)

Hit Points:80 (adjusted from 126)

Speed:10 ft, swim 30 ft

Challenge:CR 8

STR

20 (+5)

DEX

8 (-1)

CON

18 (+4)

INT

6 (-2)

WIS

14 (+2)

CHA

5 (-3)

Saving Throws:CON +7, WIS +5

Damage Resistances:Cold, necrotic

Damage Immunities:Poison

Condition Immunities:Poisoned, prone

Senses:Blindsight 60 ft, passive Perception 12

Fear Check:DC 16 WIS save.

Traits

Void Metabolism (Weakened). The Maw regains 5 HP at the start of its turn while in contact with the ley line nexus. If the Maw takes radiant damage, this trait does not function on its next turn.

Gravity Well (Reduced). At the start of each of its turns, each creature within 10 feet of the Maw must succeed on a DC 14 STR save or be pulled 5 feet toward the Maw.

Tentacle Array (Reduced). The Maw has 6 tentacles. Each tentacle can be targeted separately: AC 14, 15 HP. A tentacle is severed when reduced to 0 HP by a single hit dealing 15 or more damage. One severed tentacle regenerates at the start of each of the Maw's turns.

Actions

Multiattack. The Maw makes 3 Tentacle attacks, or 2 Tentacle attacks and 1 Bite attack.

Tentacle. *Melee Weapon Attack:* +8 to hit, reach 15 ft, one target. *Hit:* 9 (1d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage. The target is grappled (escape DC 15). While grappled, the target is restrained. The Maw can grapple up to 6 creatures simultaneously (one per tentacle).

Bite. *Melee Weapon Attack:* +8 to hit, reach 5 ft, one creature grappled by the Maw. *Hit:* 14 (2d8 + 5) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage.

Swallow. The Maw makes a Bite attack against a Medium or smaller creature it is grappling. On a hit, the target is also swallowed. A swallowed creature is blinded and restrained, has total cover against attacks and other effects originating outside the Maw, and takes 10 (3d6) acid damage at the start of each of the Maw's turns. The Maw can have only one creature swallowed at a time. If the Maw takes 15 or more damage in a single turn from a creature inside it, the Maw must succeed on a DC 15 CON save at the end of that turn or regurgitate the creature, which falls prone in a space within 5 feet of the Maw.