| Hit Dice: | 2d8 (9 hp) | |
| Initiative: | +3 (Dex) | |
| Speed: | 20 Ft., Swim 30 Ft. | |
| AC: | 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +1 Natural) | |
| Attacks: | 8 arms + 5 melee, bite +0 melee | |
| Damage: | Arms 1, bite 1d3 | |
| Face/Reach: | 5 ft. by 5 ft / 5 ft. | |
| Special Attacks: | Improved Grab, Poison | |
| Special Qualities: | - | |
| Saves: | Fort + 3, Ref + 6, Will + 0 | |
| Abilities: | Str 13, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 3 | |
| Skills: | Hide +18, Listen +6, Spot +5 | |
| Feats: | Weapon Finesse (arms & bite) | |
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| Climate/Terrain: | Shallow Subtropical Aquatic | |
| Organization: | Solitary | |
| Challenge Rating: | 1 | |
| Treasure: | None | |
| Alignment: | Always Neutral | |
| Advancement: | 3-4 HD (Medium) | |
The Blueringed Octopus is a small 8-armed sand-hued octopus with blue rings on its body and arms. Besides these chararistics, it looks like any normal octopus.
The Blueringed Octopus mates once every spring, leaving the eggs in a reef for themselves like most other marine creatures. This is one of the few times where more than one of the species can be found together, even they are known to once in a while band together in times of little food.
The Bluringed Octopus' diet mostly consists of small marine creatures like crabs, small fish, oysters etc. that it can overcome with its poison and beak. When the prey is scarce, the octopus is known to attack larger creatures, but never those that are more then half its own size. Humans are only attacked when the octopus feels threatened and cornered where it has no room to make an escape.
When hunting, the Blueringed Octopus has great patience, and can lie in wait in a single spot for a long time, waiting for its prey. The Blueringed octopus is hunted by larger marine creatures and giant species of its own prey.
If treated with care, the Blueringed Octopus can become an excellent diet for humans. Some fishermen even specialize in the capture of this highly poisonous octopus, in order to sell it to high-paying restaurants.
Combat
The Blueringed Octopus never attack humans unless threatened or frightened; its primary food are small fish and other aquatic creatures that are small enough to digest.
When the Blueringed Octopus is forced to attack, it strikes at a single target with all its tentacles, trying to attach itself.
The tentacles can take two points of damage (each) before being separated.
Besides this, the Blueringed Octopus is normally no threat, and will probably flee if left alone.
Improved Grab (Ex) To use this ability, the octopus must hit the same target with an arm attack. If it gets a hold, it automatically deals bite damage each round until the hold is broken.
Poison (Ex) When the Octopus scores a hit with its beak, it injects a strong poison in its opponent. The poison calls for a Fortitude save (DC 12); initial damage is 1d6 temporary constitution point, and secondary 1d6. This should be strong enough to kill most kinds of aquatic prey.
Skills Due to its colors, the Blueringed Octopus is adept at camouflage and receives a +8 racial bonus to hide checks while on the ocean floor.