Large plant (fungi), unaligned
Armor Class 5
Hit Points 1 (1d10 – 4)
Speed 0 ft., fly 10 ft. (hover)
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +2 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 (-3) | 1 (-5) | 3 (-4) | 1 (-5) | 1 (-5) | 1 (-5) |
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities blinded, deafened, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned, prone
Senses blindsight 30 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception 5
Languages –
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Death Burst. The gas spore explodes when it drops to 0 hit points. Each creature within 20 feet of it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take 10 (3d6) poison damage and become infected with a disease on a failed save. Creatures immune to the poisoned condition are immune to this disease. Spores invade an infected creature’s system, killing the creature in a number of hours equal to 1d12 +the creature’s Constitution score, unless the disease is removed. In half that time, the creature becomes poisoned for the rest of the duration. After the creature dies, it sprouts 2d4 Tiny gas spores that grow to full s ize in 7 days.
Eerie Resemblance. The gas spore resembles a beholder. A creature that can see the gas spore can discern its true nature with a successful DC 15 Intell igence (Nature) check.
ACTIONS
- Touch. Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 1 poison damage, and the creature must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or become infected with the disease described in the Death Burst trait.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
Gas Spore
A gas spore is a spherical, floating plant creature that resembles a beholder. It has a central false eye and ten rhizome growths on its top, which serve as its feeding organs. It is a non-intelligent scavenger that feeds on lichen, mold, leaves, and scum. It is also a dangerous carrier of a deadly disease that can infect and kill any warm-blooded creature.
Description
A gas spore is about 8 feet in diameter and weighs about 50 pounds. Its body is hollow and filled with spores under high pressure. Its skin is grayish-green and covered with warts and bumps. Its false eye is black and shiny, while its rhizomes are brown and hairy. A gas spore has no mouth, ears, or nose, but it can sense its surroundings with blindsight.
A gas spore is often mistaken for a beholder, a fearsome aberration with multiple eye rays. However, a careful observer can discern the true nature of a gas spore with a successful Intelligence (Nature) check. A gas spore has no eye rays, no teeth, no intelligence, and no personality. It is simply a plant that drifts aimlessly in search of food.
Combat
A gas spore is not aggressive, but it will defend itself if attacked or threatened. It has a weak melee attack that can inject its spores into the body of a creature that touches it. The spores invade the infected creature’s system, killing it in a matter of hours unless the disease is cured. The infected creature also becomes poisoned for half of the duration. After the creature dies, it sprouts several tiny gas spores that grow to full size in a week.
A gas spore also has a deadly defense mechanism: when it drops to 0 hit points, it explodes in a burst of poisonous gas and spores. Each creature within 20 feet of it must make a Constitution saving throw or take poison damage and become infected with the disease. Creatures immune to the poisoned condition are immune to this disease.
Some gas spores carry the memories of dead beholders that they grew upon. An infected humanoid can access fragments of those memories, which may be useful or harmful depending on the situation.
Habitat / Society
Gas spores are usually found in cold and dark places, such as underground caverns, hills, or forests. They prefer areas where food is abundant and predators are scarce. They have no social structure or hierarchy; they coexist peacefully with other gas spores as long as there is enough food for all.
Gas spores are sometimes used by other creatures as traps, guards, or weapons. For example, mind flayers often ignore gas spores and use them as a first line of defense against intruders. Beholders may also tolerate gas spores in their lairs, either as a diversion or as a source of amusement.
Ecology
Gas spores are part of the natural cycle of decay and renewal. They feed on organic matter and break it down into simpler forms. They also spread their spores to create new life forms from dead ones. However, they also pose a threat to living creatures that come into contact with them. They can cause outbreaks of disease and death among unsuspecting populations.
Gas spores have few natural enemies, as most creatures avoid them or are immune to their effects. However, some creatures may prey on them or use them for their own purposes. For example, fire beetles can ignite the gas inside a gas spore and cause it to explode. Some alchemists may also harvest the spores of a gas spore for their experiments or potions.
Gas spores are thought to have originated from parasitic fungi that fed on dead beholders and became infected with aberrant magic. Over time, they adapted to sprout from any infected corpse and mimic the appearance of a beholder. Some sages believe that gas spores were intentionally created by beholder mages or mind flayers for their own reasons.