Large monstrosity (kruthik), unaligned
Armor Class 20 (natural armor)
Hit Points 102 (12d10 + 36)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 20 ft., climb 40 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +3
Proficiency Bonus +5 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 (+4) | 16 (+3) | 17 (+3) | 10 (+0) | 14 (+2) | 10 (+0) |
Saving Throws (suggested) Str +7, Dex +6, Con +6
Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Kruthik
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Keen Smell. The kruthik has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Pack Tactics. The kruthik has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the kruthik’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Tunneler. The kruthik can burrow through solid rock at half its burrowing speed and leaves a 10-foot-diameter tunnel in its wake.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The kruthik makes two stab attacks or two spike attacks.
- Stab. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage.
- Spike. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.
- Acid Spray (Recharge 5-6). The kruthik sprays acid in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
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
DESCRIPTION
A Kruthik Hive Lord is a monstrous creature that resembles a reptilian canine with insect-like features. Its body is covered in plates of thick, purple chitin, with bristles of thick hair growing in patches. It has six limbs composed of bone, chitin, and steely scales; all ending in long scythes that can hew through stone. Its reptilian head is mostly large, serrated mandibles. It has a pair of small, red eyes that can see in the dark and sense vibrations in the ground. It can also spray a cone of corrosive acid from its maw, dissolving flesh and metal alike.
A Kruthik Hive Lord is the result of a rare metamorphosis that occurs when a kruthik reaches a certain age or becomes the dominant adult in a hive. The transformation takes several weeks, during which the kruthik forms a cocoon around itself and emerges as a larger and smarter version of its former self. A Hive Lord can communicate with other kruthiks through complex chitters, hisses, and pheromones, and commands the loyalty and obedience of its hive.
A Kruthik Hive Lord rules over its hive with absolute authority. It decides when and where to hunt, how to distribute the food and treasure, who to mate with, and how to deal with outsiders. The other kruthiks obey the Hive Lord without question, as they depend on it for survival and guidance. The Hive Lord also ensures the growth and prosperity of its hive by selecting the strongest and healthiest kruthiks for breeding. The Hive Lord may have several mates at once, producing dozens of eggs every year.
When the Hive Lord dies, the surviving members of the hive abandon their lair and search for a new one. When a suitable location is found, the largest kruthik in the hive undergoes a metamorphosis, forming a cocoon around itself and emerging several weeks later as a new Hive Lord. The new Hive Lord claims the largest chamber of the lair and keeps several adult kruthiks nearby as bodyguards.
COMBAT
A Kruthik Hive Lord is a formidable opponent that can easily overpower most foes with its strength, speed, and cunning. It prefers to fight from a distance, using its acid spray to weaken and blind its enemies, while directing its minions to swarm and distract them. It can also burrow through solid rock at half its speed, leaving behind a large tunnel that it can use to ambush or escape.
A Kruthik Hive Lord is not afraid to fight in melee, however, and will use its scythe-like limbs to slash and stab at its foes. It can also bite with its powerful mandibles, delivering a painful wound that can cause infection or disease. A Hive Lord is very resilient, thanks to its thick chitin armor and fast healing ability. It can also sense the presence of living creatures within 60 feet of it, making it hard to surprise or evade.
A Kruthik Hive Lord is very protective of its hive and will fight to the death to defend it. It will also seek revenge on anyone who harms or threatens its hive or food source. A Hive Lord is intelligent enough to recognize potential allies or enemies, and may negotiate or cooperate with other creatures if it serves its interests. However, it is also very greedy and territorial, and will not tolerate any intrusion or competition on its domain.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A Kruthik Hive Lord lives in an underground lair that it shares with its hive of lesser kruthiks. The lair is usually located in a warm and dry area, such as a desert, a plain, or a mountain. The lair consists of a network of tunnels and chambers that the kruthiks dig out with their claws. The lair has several entrances and exits, some hidden and some obvious, that allow the kruthiks to access the surface or other underground regions.
The lair has a central chamber where the Hive Lord resides. This chamber is also where the kruthiks store their food and treasure, as well as where they breed and hatch their young. The chamber is guarded by the most loyal and fierce kruthiks, who will fight to protect their leader and their nest. The lair may also have other chambers for different purposes, such as traps, prisons, shrines, or workshops.
A Kruthik Hive Lord may interact with other creatures for various reasons. It may trade with them for food or treasure, ally with them against a common enemy, or enslave them for labor or entertainment. However, it may also prey on them for food or sport, raid them for resources or territory, or attack them out of spite or boredom. A Hive Lord is always looking for opportunities to expand its domain and influence.
ECOLOGY
A Kruthik Hive Lord is a carnivorous creature that feeds on any living thing it can catch. It prefers fresh meat over rotting flesh, but will not be picky if hungry enough. It hunts both on the surface and underground, using its keen smell and tremorsense to track down its prey. It can also use its acid spray to soften or dissolve obstacles or defenses. It can eat almost anything, including metal, stone, or wood, thanks to its powerful digestive system.
A Kruthik Hive Lord is a prolific breeder that can produce hundreds of offspring in its lifetime. It mates with several kruthiks of the opposite sex, fertilizing their eggs internally. The female kruthiks then lay the eggs in a safe and warm place, usually the central chamber of the lair. The eggs hatch after a few weeks, releasing dozens of small and hungry hatchlings. The hatchlings grow quickly, reaching adulthood in a few months. They then join the hive in hunting and defending the lair.
A Kruthik Hive Lord is a dangerous predator that has few natural enemies. It may face competition or conflict from other underground creatures, such as ankhegs, bulettes, purple worms, or umber hulks. It may also encounter surface dwellers, such as humans, elves, dwarves, or orcs. It may avoid or ignore them if they pose no threat or interest, but it may also attack or harass them if they enter its territory or provoke its wrath.