Makara are horrid creatures, having protruding lower jaws lined with rows of shark-like teeth and dark, deep-set eyes. Their bodies are covered with tough green scales which afford protection from most types of biting and stinging sea creatures. A row of sharp spines runs from their crested heads to the small of the back. Both their clawed hands and feet are webbed, allowing Makara to move through the water with great speed.
The Makara are social creatures, usually living in colonies of up to two hundred individuals. They often reside within underseas caves and caverns, though it is said that small groves have been known to occupy the hulls of sunken ships. The largest and most powerful male will always be the leader of any such colony, and may be almost twice the size of an average member of the species. According to certain scholars, Makara continue to grow slowly throughout their entire lives, and especially long-lived individuals sometimes reach immense proportions. The Makara constantly war amongst themselves, and life in their colonies is fraught with peril. When food is scarce, the Makara are known to resort to cannibalism.
In combat, Makara are vicious fighters. Although their natural weaponry is quite formidable, most of their warriors employ various types of pole arms, such as spears, military forks, and tridents. Makara are both fearless and merciless, and take prisoners only when food is plentiful. In such cases, a Makara war party may bring air-breathing captives into their watery domains and keep them in undersea grottos or air-filled caverns. There these unfortunate victims are usually tended like sheep, and fattened for slaughter. Makara often argue violently over the rights to the fattest victims, who are considered to be delicacies of the most desirable sort.
Though it was once believed that Makara, being incapable of speech, were ignorant or bestial creatures, it is now known that such is not the case. Makara can communicate empathically with civilized humanoid standards. The ability to communicate empathically is probably used by the Makara when training their "pets" (moray eels, sharks, stingrays, and the like), which are often brought along on warring or hunting missions.
Makara are a great threat to sailors and sea-faring merchants, whose ships they will readily attack from below the water line. Because Makara can survive for up to one hour out of water, they will occasionally attack coastal villages, and isolated island groups.
Height/Length: 6-7 ft.
Weight: 180-260 + lbs.
Attributes:
STR: 9-19
INT: 6-14
SPD: 6-18
WILL: 6-16
DEX: 6-16
CON: 9-19
CHA: 4-12
PER: 6-16
Level: 1-12+
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Damage: Claws: 1-4 (+ STR) each, Bite: 1-3, or as per weapon employed
Special Attributes:
Empathic communication (range unknown)
Water breathing
Armor: As leather armor
Hit Points: 10-60+
Comments:
Makara can survive out of water for approximately one hour. They may either be Warriors, Witch Doctors, or Shamans by trade.
