Small monstrosity (kruthik), unaligned
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 9 (2d6 + 2)
Speed 30 ft., burrow 10 ft., climb 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +2 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 (+1) | 16 (+3) | 13 (+1) | 4 (-3) | 10 (+0) | 6 (-2) |
Senses darkvision 30 ft., tremorsense 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Kruthik
Challenge 1/8 (25 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 21/2-foot-diameter tunnel in its wake.
ACTIONS
- Stab. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage.
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 young kruthik is a small, reptilian creature 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 head is dominated by a pair of large, black eyes and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. A young kruthik is about the size of a large dog and weighs around 50 pounds.
COMBAT
A young kruthik is a fierce and cunning hunter, relying on its keen smell, darkvision, and tremorsense to locate prey. It prefers to attack in groups, using its pack tactics to gain advantage on its foes. A young kruthik can also burrow through solid rock at half its speed, leaving a tunnel behind it. This allows it to ambush unsuspecting enemies or escape from danger. A young kruthik’s main weapon is its stab attack, which can pierce through armor and flesh with ease.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
Young kruthiks are social creatures that live in large colonies called hives. A hive is usually located underground, in a network of tunnels and chambers that the kruthiks dig out with their claws. A hive is ruled by a powerful and intelligent kruthik hive lord, which commands the loyalty and obedience of all other kruthiks in the colony. The hive lord also determines the size and location of the hive, as well as the frequency and targets of the hunting raids.
Young kruthiks are born from eggs laid by female adults. Each egg is about the size of an adult human’s head and hatches within a month. Tiny kruthik hatchlings are harmless, rarely stray far from the nest, and feed primarily on offal and one another. Within a month, the survivors become young kruthiks large enough to hunt and defend themselves. It takes six months of steady eating for a young kruthik to reach adult size. The natural life span of a kruthik is unknown, but some sages speculate that they can live for decades if not killed by predators or adventurers.
ECOLOGY
Young kruthiks are omnivorous scavengers that will eat almost anything they can find or kill. They have a particular fondness for meat, especially that of humanoids and other warm-blooded creatures. Young kruthiks are also known to consume metal, gems, and other minerals, which they use to strengthen their chitinous armor and claws. Some scholars believe that this is how kruthiks acquire their natural resistance to magic.
Young kruthiks are considered pests by most civilized races, as they pose a threat to both livestock and settlements. Kruthiks often raid farms, mines, and villages for food and resources, killing or driving away anyone who stands in their way. They also undermine the stability of structures and terrain with their burrowing activity, causing collapses and sinkholes. Young kruthiks have few natural enemies, as they are able to fend off most predators with their numbers and ferocity. However, they do fear fire, acid, and sonic attacks, which can damage their armor and senses.