Merbeast (animal)
Found in the seas around the north-western isles of Sarradon, the Merbeast is a horrific amalgam of man and fish. With a humanoid upper half that resembles a pale and misshaped man, and a black scaled tail, the Merbeast preys upon waters both shallow and deep. While their disruption to fishing is little more than a nuisance to coastal communities, lone sailors often disappear in the waters of the swift and insatiable Merbeast.
The Merbeasts that lurk in the island waters are often said to have teeth like knives and venom sacks beneath their chins that spew a corrosive substance onto their victims. Whilst the challenge of facing such a creature does not elude me, I know one weakness that makes my task easier: its intelligence, or lack thereof. Whilst they bear a passing resemblance to humans, merbeasts are no more intelligent than the average fish.
My party have located this particular Merbeast after finding the wreck of a small fishing boat on the shore. The Merbeast awaits us within, the signs of a faceless cadaver being devoured within made clear by both the sickening slurping sound of the creature and the smell of burnt flesh. It may not be aware of my presence, but it is still a beast of similar strength to a man with the ferocity of a baser creature.
With my weapons by my side, it is time to enter the wreckage and face the monster.