Medium swarm of tiny beasts, unaligned
Armor Class 8
Hit Points 22 (5d8)
Speed 5 ft., climb 5 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +3 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 (-4) | 7 (-2) | 10 (+0) | 1 (-5) | 2 (-4) | 1 (-5) |
Damage Resistances piercing, slashing
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained
Senses blindsight 10 ft., passive Perception 6
Languages –
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny maggot. The swarm can’t regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.
ACTIONS
- Bites. Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature in the swarm’s space. Hit: The target is infested by 1d4 rot grubs. At the start of each of the target’s turns, the target takes 1d6 piercing damage per rot grub infesting it. Applying fire to the bite wound before the end of the target’s next turn deals 1 fire damage to the target and kills these rot grubs. After this time, these rot grubs are too far under the skin to be burned. If a target infested by rot grubs ends its turn with 0 hit points, it dies as the rot grubs burrow into its heart and kill it. Any effect that cures disease kills all rot grubs infesting the target.
DESCRIPTION
Rot grubs are disgusting little creatures that resemble maggots. They would be considered inconsequential if not for their horrifying attack form.
Rot grubs’ color ranges from maggot white to dung brown. They are differentiated from maggots by the two tiny antennae nubs on their heads. Their size ranges from ½ inch to two inches long, with some unusual specimens getting as long as three inches. Most of the time (75%), rot grubs are mistaken for regular worms or maggots.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
Rot grub swarms are occasionally found in heaps of offal or dung. They are seldom found in ceilings, floors, or walls, but it is possible. Sometimes, undead such as ghouls, ghasts, zombies, or wights carry rot grubs, though the little beasts have no effect on these undead hosts. In jungle and swamp areas, rot grubs can be found in heaps of rotting plants. Anyone who is so foolish as to walk barefoot in such areas gets what he deserves!
Once the host is dead, rot grubs use the corpse as a nesting place for their eggs. These creatures lack both treasure and the intellect to collect treasure. Still, on a rare (1%) chance, rot grubs are encountered while still inside a recently killed victim. In such rare cases, the chance of treasure is handled under treasure type I, K, L, and M.
As mentioned earlier, rot grub are fond of living flesh, though they have been known to eat dead flesh. plants, and other things best left not mentioned. Still, if they have a choice, they will always choose living tissue.
ECOLOGY
Rot grubs are often sought by assassins. Placing one or two of these on a sleeping victim usually ensures a quick, quiet death. Furthermore, unless a physican knows what to look for, the cause of death cannot be determined.
Giant ants, centipedes, and spiders include rot grubs in their diet. What is worse, however, is that certain subterranean races such as illithids, kuo-toa, trolls, and troglodytes savor rot grubs as delicacies, eating them much the same as one would eat meal worms.
Alchemists have tried to devise a means of extracting the juice from rot grubs in hopes of coming up with a workable anesthetic. Thus far all attempts have been unsuccessful. There are rumors that rot grubs are used as material components in certain harm-causing spells, usually the reverse versions of healing and restorative spells.
DESCRIPTION
Rot grubs are disgusting little creatures that resemble maggots. They are white, slimy, and wriggling, and they emit a foul odor. They have two tiny antennae nubs on their heads, and their size ranges from ½ inch to three inches long. They feed on living and dead flesh, as well as vegetation. They are often found in corpses and piles of decaying matter, where they breed and multiply rapidly. They are attracted to warmth and blood, and will attack any creature that disturbs them. They would be considered inconsequential if not for their horrifying attack form.
COMBAT
A swarm of rot grubs is not very dangerous by itself, as it has a low armor class and hit points. However, its bites can be deadly, as each one can infest the target with one or more rot grubs. These parasites burrow into the flesh of the host, instinctively chewing their way toward vital organs. If left untreated, the rot grubs can kill the host in a matter of minutes.
The only way to remove rot grubs from a host is to expose them to fire or cure them with magic. Fire can burn the rot grubs out of the flesh, but it also causes damage to the host. Magic that neutralizes poison can also stop the rot grubs from burrowing further, but it does not remove them from the body. The host must still undergo a surgical procedure to extract the dead maggots.
A swarm of rot grubs is immune to charm, frighten, and other mental effects, as well as conditions that affect its movement or shape. It can move through any opening large enough for a tiny maggot, and it can occupy the same space as another creature.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A swarm of rot grubs has no intelligence or social structure. It is driven by hunger and survival instincts. It will infest any source of food it can find, whether it is a corpse, a dung heap, or a living creature. It will also avoid any source of danger, such as fire or predators.
A swarm of rot grubs can be found in any environment where there is decay and death. They are common in dungeons, sewers, graveyards, battlefields, and swamps. They are sometimes carried by undead creatures, such as zombies or ghouls, but they have no effect on these hosts. In jungle and swamp areas, rot grubs can be found in heaps of rotting plants. Anyone who is so foolish as to walk barefoot in such areas gets what he deserves!
Once the host is dead, rot grubs use the corpse as a nesting place for their eggs. These creatures lack both treasure and the intellect to collect treasure. Still, on a rare (1%) chance, rot grubs are encountered while still inside a recently killed victim. In such rare cases, the chance of treasure is handled under treasure type I, K, L, and M.
ECOLOGY
A swarm of rot grubs plays an important role in the natural cycle of decomposition. They help break down organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the soil. They also serve as food for other creatures, such as birds, rats, and carrion crawlers.
However, a swarm of rot grubs can also pose a threat to the health and safety of living beings. They can spread diseases and infections through their bites and infestations. They can also cause panic and fear among those who encounter them. Some evil cults and necromancers use swarms of rot grubs as weapons or traps against their enemies.
Rot grubs are often sought by assassins. Placing one or two of these on a sleeping victim usually ensures a quick, quiet death. Furthermore, unless a physican knows what to look for, the cause of death cannot be determined.
Giant ants, centipedes, and spiders include rot grubs in their diet. What is worse, however, is that certain subterranean races such as illithids, kuo-toa, trolls, and troglodytes savor rot grubs as delicacies, eating them much the same as one would eat meal worms.
Alchemists have tried to devise a means of extracting the juice from rot grubs in hopes of coming up with a workable anesthetic. Thus far all attempts have been unsuccessful. There are rumors that rot grubs are used as material components in certain harm-causing spells, usually the reverse versions of healing and restorative spells.