PIERCER – 5e stats

Medium monstrosity, unaligned

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Armor Class (suggested) 17 (natural armor), 13 (underbelly)
Hit Points 22 (3d8 + 9)
Speed 5 ft., climb 5 ft.
Speed (suggested) 5 ft., climb 10 ft.

Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +2 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	13 (+1)	16 (+3)	1 (-5)	7 (-2)	3 (-4)

Skills Stealth +5
Senses blindsight 30 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 8
Languages –
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

Acid Skin (suggested). Touching the skin of a piercer causes 1d4 pointts of acid damage.

False Appearance. While the piercer remains motionless on the ceiling, it is indistinguishable from a normal stalactite.

Spider Climb. The piercer can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Stealthy (suggested). The piercer gains advantage on all stealth skill checks.

ACTIONS

• Drop. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, one creature directly underneath the piercer. Hit: 3 (1d6) piercing damage per 10 feet fallen, up to 21 (6d6). Miss: The piercer takes half the normal falling damage for the distance fallen.
• Drop (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, one creature directly underneath the piercer. Hit: 3 (3d6+3) piercing and bludgeoning damage plus 1d6 per 10 feet fallen. Miss: The piercer takes minimum the normal falling damage for the distance fallen.

DESCRIPTION

Piercers are mysterious and deadly creatures that dwell in the shadows of the underground. They have a strange and fearsome appearance: they look like slugs with long tails, but they can grow a hard and pointed shell that resembles a stalactite, a cone-shaped rock that hangs from the cave roof. By clinging to the ceiling with a sticky substance, piercers can blend in with their surroundings and escape the notice of most creatures.

But piercers are not only masters of disguise, they are also cunning predators. They have a pair of tiny eyes that can detect the presence of potential prey below them. When they spot a suitable target, such as a bat, a rat, or an unwary adventurer, they let go of the ceiling and fall like a deadly spear, impaling their victim with their sharp shell. Then, they use their muscular body and their toothed tongue to feed on the flesh and blood of their prey.

Piercers are very hard to spot, but they can be distinguished from real stalactites by looking closely at their shape and texture. Real stalactites are smooth and rounded, while piercer shells are rough and angular. Also, real stalactites have water droplets at their tips, while piercer shells have a small opening where the eyes emerge. A careful observer may notice the slight movement of the eyes or the sticky trail left by the piercer on the ceiling. However, by the time one realizes that a piercer is nearby, it may be too late to avoid its deadly attack.

COMBAT

Piercers are ambush predators that rely on their stealth and camouflage to catch their prey off guard. They have a keen sense of hearing and can detect heat sources within a large radius, which allows them to locate warm-blooded creatures such as humans. Piercers are patient and cunning; they will wait for the right moment to strike, especially if the noise and light in the area are constant or minimal. Piercers are very hard to notice, even for experienced adventurers. A group of characters has a very low chance of spotting a piercer before it attacks, which means that they will most likely be caught unaware by its attack.

Piercers have only one chance to hit their target; if they miss or fail to kill their prey, they are vulnerable and defenseless. They cannot attack again until they climb back to the ceiling, which takes them a long time. Piercers are not very agile or strong; they can be easily killed by a single blow or shot. However, piercers have a last resort to protect themselves: their soft underbelly secretes a corrosive acid when exposed to air, which causes a small amount of damage on contact with flesh. This is usually enough to deter natural predators from eating them. However, this acid does not affect metal or leather, so it is not very effective against armored foes.

HABITAT / SOCIETY

Piercers are solitary and simple-minded creatures, but they have a rudimentary sense of communication with their own kind. They can emit faint vibrations that alert other piercers of their presence and intentions. They often coordinate their attacks, dropping from the ceiling at the same time, to increase their chances of success and share the spoils of their hunt.

Piercers inhabit the dark and damp regions of the underground, where they form colonies of varying sizes. They usually cluster around areas where prey is abundant, such as near cave entrances or water sources. Piercers have no interest in mating, except during a brief season when they release pheromones that attract potential partners. Piercers have no concept of treasure or value, only of hunger and survival. They are driven by their insatiable appetite for flesh and blood, which makes them relentless and ruthless predators.

ECOLOGY

Piercers are a type of creature that have a peculiar life cycle that begins with a large egg, hidden by the parent in a dark corner of the cavern. The egg contains several embryos, which hatch after a few weeks. The hatchlings look like slugs and feed on fungi and other organic matter on the cave floor. After several months, they undergo a transformation that changes their appearance and behavior. They grow a hard and pointed shell, which they use to climb the cavern walls. They secrete a substance that hardens their shell and makes it look like a stalactite, a cone-shaped rock formation. They then attach themselves to the ceiling and wait for prey to come.

Piercers are very efficient at conserving their energy and resources. They can survive for months without food, thanks to their special stomach. This organ acts as a preservative, keeping food fresh for long periods of time. Some alchemists are interested in this organ, as they believe it can be used to create potions or elixirs that can prolong the shelf life of food and ingredients. Piercers also store large amounts of water in their bodies, which they extract from their victims. They can maintain this water supply for months, even in dry conditions.

Piercers are not considered a delicacy by most people, as they have a bitter and unpleasant taste. Their eggs and offspring are also not valued, as they are difficult to find and transport. Piercers are usually avoided or killed by most cave dwellers, who see them as pests or threats.

EVOLUTION

Some sages and scholars have speculated that the piercer may evolve, under certain circumstances, into a more advanced and dangerous creature: the roper. The roper is another type of stalactite-like predator that dwells in the underground, but it has several advantages over the piercer. The roper has a larger and stronger body, with a mouth full of sharp teeth and a powerful bite. The roper also has more tendrils than the piercer, which it can use to grapple and reel in multiple prey at once. The roper has a higher intelligence and a better perception than the piercer, which makes it more cunning and aware of its surroundings. The roper can even communicate telepathically with other creatures, though it usually does so to lure or taunt its victims.

The exact mechanism of how the piercer evolves into the roper is unknown, but some theories have been proposed. One theory is that the piercer undergoes a mutation or a metamorphosis when it reaches a certain age or size, triggered by environmental factors or hormonal changes. Another theory is that the piercer interbreeds with another creature, such as a darkmantle or a cloaker, and produces a hybrid offspring that inherits traits from both parents. A third theory is that the piercer is influenced by magic or divine intervention, either as a result of exposure to arcane energy or as a blessing or curse from a deity.

Regardless of how the piercer evolves into the roper, the result is a more formidable and fearsome predator that poses a greater threat to any creature that ventures into its domain. Ropers are often worshiped or feared by other underground dwellers, especially by those who follow the drow god Ghaunadaur, who favors these creatures as his servants and symbols. Adventurers who encounter ropers should be wary of their disguise, their tendrils, and their bite, as well as their telepathy and their intelligence. Ropers are not to be underestimated or taken lightly, as they are among the most deadly creatures of the underworld.

Zardock’s Journal: About the Natural Cycle of the Piercer
Entry #23
Date: 11th of Ambyrmont, 1010 AC
Location: The Great School of Magic, Glantri City

I have been studying the piercers and ropers that inhabit the Underdark for several months now, and I have made some fascinating discoveries. These creatures are more complex and mysterious than I initially thought. They have a peculiar life cycle, a remarkable adaptation, and a possible connection to the drow god Ghaunadaur.

The piercer is the larval form of the roper, as I have confirmed by dissecting several specimens of both kinds. The piercer looks like a slug with a long tail, but it can grow a hard and pointed shell that resembles a stalactite, a cone-shaped rock formation that hangs from the cave roof. By attaching itself to the ceiling with a sticky substance, the piercer can blend in with its surroundings and escape the notice of most creatures. The piercer has a pair of tiny eyes that can detect the presence of potential prey below it. When it spots a suitable target, it detaches itself from the ceiling and falls like a deadly spear, impaling its victim with its sharp shell. Then, it uses its muscular body and its toothed tongue to feed on the flesh and blood of its prey.

The roper is the adult form of the piercer, and it has several advantages over its larval stage. The roper has a larger and stronger body, with a mouth full of sharp teeth and a powerful bite. The roper also has more tendrils than the piercer, which it can use to grapple and reel in multiple prey at once. The roper has a higher intelligence and a better perception than the piercer, which makes it more cunning and aware of its surroundings. The roper can even communicate telepathically with other creatures, though it usually does so to lure or taunt its victims.

The exact mechanism of how the piercer evolves into the roper is unknown, but I have some theories based on my observations and experiments. One theory is that the piercer undergoes a mutation or a metamorphosis when it reaches a certain age or size, triggered by environmental factors or hormonal changes. This theory is supported by the fact that I have found some piercers that have partially developed tendrils or mouths, indicating that they are in transition to becoming ropers. Another theory is that the piercer interbreeds with another creature, such as a darkmantle or a cloaker, and produces a hybrid offspring that inherits traits from both parents. This theory is supported by the fact that I have found some ropers that have different colors or shapes than normal ropers, suggesting that they are products of crossbreeding. A third theory is that the piercer is influenced by magic or divine intervention, either as a result of exposure to arcane energy or as a blessing or curse from a deity. This theory is supported by the fact that I have found some ropers that have unusual abilities or markings that resemble symbols of Ghaunadaur, the drow god of abominations.

Ghaunadaur is an ancient and evil deity that favors creatures such as oozes, slimes, ropers, and other aberrations. He is worshiped by some drow sects and other underground dwellers who seek his power or protection. He is also feared by many who dread his wrath or his corruption. I have learned from some of my contacts in the Underdark that Ghaunadaur has a special interest in ropers, as he considers them his servants and symbols. He grants them his blessings in exchange for their loyalty and sacrifices. He also curses those who oppose him or harm his favored creatures. Some of his followers believe that he created the ropers from ordinary piercers as a sign of his might and creativity.

I am intrigued by this possibility, as it could explain some of the anomalies I have encountered in my research. Perhaps Ghaunadaur has a hand in the evolution of the piercer into the roper, either by directly transforming them or by influencing their natural processes. Perhaps he also has a plan for these creatures, beyond using them as his tools or toys. Perhaps he intends to use them as his agents or heralds for something bigger and darker.

I intend to pursue this line of inquiry further, as I believe it could lead me to uncover some secrets of Ghaunadaur and his cult. I also hope to learn more about the nature and origin of these creatures, as well as their potential uses for magic or science. I am aware of the risks involved in this endeavor, as I could attract the attention or ire of Ghaunadaur or his followers. But I am not afraid, for I am confident in my skills and knowledge. I am Zardock, a powerful wizard and scholar, and I will not let anything stop me from satisfying my curiosity and ambition.