🐋 Monster Spotlight: The Lantern Whale

Behind the die by Charlie Stayton

“The sea holds stars of its own — some just want to drag you down with them.”

Sailors whisper of the Lantern Whale, a leviathan that swims in the blackest depths. Its translucent skin glows with an eerie blue light, mimicking a constellation. Many captains chasing its glow have wrecked upon unseen reefs or vanished entirely.

Lore & Description

• Size: Larger than any ship, but rarely surfaces fully.

• Habitat: Deep-sea trenches, open ocean, and areas near ship graveyards.

• Behavior: The Lantern Whale is not malevolent — it is curious. But its light draws sailors to ruin. Some speculate it is a spirit guardian of drowned souls.

Hooks

1. A noble collector wants a shard of its glowing hide — how will the PCs find and approach it?

2. Fisherfolk believe the Lantern Whale guards a sunken cathedral, and disturbing it invites doom.

3. Pirates use glowing lanterns to mimic the beast’s lure, drawing ships into ambush.

Stat Block (D&D 5E, CR 10)

• Lantern Whale – Gargantuan Monstrosity (Unaligned)

• AC 16 (thick blubber) | HP 195 (17d12+85) | Speed swim 60 ft.

• STR 24, DEX 10, CON 20, INT 5, WIS 14, CHA 8

• Senses: Blindsight 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft.

• Abilities:

  • Luminous Lure: 60-ft. radius dim light. Creatures that fail a DC 15 Wis save must move toward the light at the start of their turn.

  • Mighty Tail: Melee Weapon Attack +10 to hit, reach 20 ft., 3d12+7 bludgeoning.

  • Depth Charge: Once per long rest, can emit a thunderous boom in a 120-ft. sphere (6d10 thunder damage, DC 16 Con save for half).

How to Use It

Perfect for sea-travel arcs. Not every encounter with the Lantern Whale has to be combat — it could be a puzzle, an omen, or a world-shaking event.