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    Amemasu アメマス

    Large monstrosity (yokai), neutral evil

    Armor Class 16 (natural armor)

    Hit Points 119 (14d10 + 42)

    Speed 0 ft., swim 50 ft. (fish form) (in humanoid form, speed 30 ft.)

    STR 19 (+4) · DEX 14 (+2) · CON 17 (+3) · INT 10 (+0) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 18 (+4)

    Saving Throws Dex +5, Cha +7

    Skills Deception +7, Perception +5, Stealth +5, Survival +5

    Damage Resistances cold

    Damage Immunities poison (fish form only)

    Condition Immunities poisoned (fish form only)

    Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15

    Languages Yokai Speech, Common (or regional dialect), Aquan

    Challenge 7

    Traits

    Shapechanger. Amemasu can use its action to polymorph into a Medium humanoid (usually a beautiful young woman or a handsome man) or back into its true form (a colossal fish). Its statistics, other than its size, speed, and movement modes, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying in humanoid form is left behind when it returns to fish form, sinking or floating at GM’s discretion. It reverts to its true form if it dies.

    Amphibious. Amemasu can breathe air and water, although it prefers submerged environments and can remain underwater indefinitely.

    Freezing Touch (Humanoid Form). A creature that touches Amemasu’s skin (including as part of a grapple or melee attack) experiences a burst of unnatural cold. It takes 3 (1d6) cold damage, and must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or have disadvantage on the next weapon attack or ability check it makes before the end of its next turn (due to numbed limbs).

    False Allure. In humanoid form, Amemasu has advantage on Charisma (Deception) checks made to convince humanoids of its harmlessness or mortal identity.

    Actions

    Multiattack (Fish Form). Amemasu makes two attacks: one with Bite and one with Tail, or it makes one Bite attack and uses Swallow Whole if available.

    Bite (Fish Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) piercing damage, plus 7 (2d6) cold damage as frigid water clings to the wound.

    Tail (Fish Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pushed 10 feet away and knocked prone.

    Swallow Whole (Recharge 5-6). Amemasu attempts to devour a Medium or smaller creature it has grappled or that is within 5 feet and incapacitated. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or be swallowed, moving inside Amemasu’s massive maw. While swallowed, the creature is blinded and restrained, has total cover against attacks and other effects outside Amemasu, and takes 10 (3d6) acid damage at the start of each of Amemasu’s turns.

    • If Amemasu takes 20 damage or more on a single turn from the swallowed creature, Amemasu must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or regurgitate the creature, which falls prone within 5 feet of Amemasu.

    • If the swallowed creature dies, Amemasu regains 10 hit points.

    Seductive Embrace (Humanoid Form). Melee Spell Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target that is charmed or willing.

    Hit: 14 (3d6 + 4) necrotic damage as Amemasu siphons the victim’s life force. The target’s hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic damage taken, and Amemasu regains hit points equal to the same amount. This reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest, and the target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.

    Bonus Actions

    Maelstrom Rush (Fish Form; 1/Day). Amemasu stirs the waters around it in a 10-foot radius. Each creature of Amemasu’s choice in that area must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pulled up to 5 feet closer to Amemasu and knocked prone in the water.

    Reactions

    Sudden Transformation. When targeted by a melee attack in humanoid form, Amemasu can instantly revert to fish form (no action required) if it is within 5 feet of a body of water at least large enough to accommodate its size. The attack still resolves, but if it misses due to the change in size or position, the attacker has disadvantage on any opportunity attack made against Amemasu this turn.

    Personality & Tactics

    In humanoid form, Amemasu lures victims away from crowds, leading them near the water for “moonlit swim.”

    In fish form, it drags prey underwater with a sudden Maelstrom Rush or grapples them to set up a Swallow Whole.

    Amemasu harbors deep hatred toward anglers, occasionally surfacing to sink boats.

    Lore

    Legendary creature, resembling a giant trout, sometimes causing floods and disasters.

    Amemasu is a yokai described in ancient tales as a creature inhabiting Japan’s rivers and lakes. At first glance, it appears to be nothing more than an ordinary trout—until it reveals its sinister ability to grow to colossal proportions. Some insist that Amemasu is in truth a guardian spirit of certain waters, choosing the form of a fish for reasons unknown to mortals. Others proclaim it a veritable “king of trout.”

    Legends speak of Amemasu traveling upstream to arrive for a water festival held every November 15. On the night before the festival, locals stop using their baths and halt any waterwheels. Fishermen haul up their nets so as not to impede the entourage—or, if there isn’t time, they slash them apart so Amemasu may glide unchallenged. Whoever dares to eat a salmon accidentally caught in those waters faces a generational curse. Some say that on the autumn equinox in the year such a salmon was slain, one can hear eerie cries—“We are going upstream!”—and those who hear this voice are doomed to certain death. In some regions, the dread of this story is so great that people refuse to eat salmon at all.

    From Yokai Bestiary 5E, p. 76 · Fern Flower Press