FREQUENCY: Uncommon
NO. APPEARING: 1-4
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVE: //18"
HIT DICE: 8-12
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-20
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Swallow whole
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
ALIGNMENT Neutral
SIZE: L (20'-30' long)
LEVEL/XP VALUE: 8 HD: VI/650 + 10/hp
    9 HD: VI/1,000 - 12/hp
    10 HD: VII/1,500 + 14/hp
    11 & 12 HD: VII/2,150 • 16/hp

The giant carp is an overgrown cousin of the common carp, a food-fish favored by many people. The
giant carp lives in all types of fresh water lakes and rivers, if they are of substantial depth. Its range extends
from colder temperate waters to tropical climes. It feeds as a scavenger, primarily digging through the ooze on
the bottom. However, they have been known to surface to attack small boats or swimmers. Some have even
taken the bait of a simple fishhook.

Swallow Whole: In addition, on an attack that causes 12 or more points of damage, the carp
may swallow a creature whole. Those with 8 HD can swallow creatures the size of a dog, those with 9 HD a
large dog or colt, a 10 HD carp can swallow a small man, an 11 HD carp a normal-sized man, while those with
12 HD can even swallow a small oni or ogre. Creatures swallowed suffer normal damage from the attack and 1
hp per round thereafter from the carp's digestive juices. In addition, the victim has a 5% cumulative chance per
round of suffocating.

Characters swallowed can be rescued from the outside or the victim can cut his way free if he has some
type of sharp-edged weapon. When the carp has suffered a loss of 50% of its hit points, the victim can be freed.
While those on the inside suffer no penalty when making these attacks, those outside the fish suffer a -2 on their
chance to hit (they are attempting to aim a series of blows to the same area). Thrusting and stabbing weapons
have a 20% chance of striking the swallowed victim.

A single giant carp can supply the needs of a village for quite some time.
Consequently, fishermen sometimes organize expeditions to bring back one of these beasts.
Such endeavors are highly dangerous and often result in the loss of life, however.