From the Stars Without Number Compatible – Alien Database
Mandibles. When a chitin worm scores a hit by 5 or more, its mandibles grapple the target and inflict automatic damage (not hit roll required) each subsequent round. The target can get free as an Instant Action by rolling a successful Exert skill check opposed by the chitin worm’s Exert skill check.
Spit Acid. Once every other round the chitin worm can spit its digestive acid against a target or a grappled target to an average distance of 5 meters. This attack is considered a ranged attack. The maximum damage pool a chitin worm can spit in a standard day is 5d4 damage (1d4 per hit die) in increment of 1d4 damage. The acid does not affect metals or silicates. The target can avoid the acid spit with an Evasion/Dexterity saving throw.
COMBAT & TACTICS
Chitin worms are simple and predictable predators. They hide in small underground tunnels they dig and wait for prey to get close enough. When they detect the presence of settlements, farms, and livestock, they instead become bolder and create small temporary lairs close to the inhabited area. They prefer to attack
solitary targets first, and then swarm in mass to deplete all the food they can bite, people and animals alike.
DESCRIPTION
Chitin worms are insect-like creatures covered by a hard chitinous plating. They are from 3 to 6 meters long with a number of legs that range from 6 to 10, depending on the specimen. Their color varies from dark green, orange or yellow, with some rarer specimens that develop a gray or black pigmentation. Their head mounts a huge pair of mandibles capable of breaking wood and bending metallic objects.
HABITAT
Chitin worms flourish in a wet environment that is also rich in biomass. It is usually an alpha predator in its niche and it is a scourge for farming colonies and settlements. Chitin worms hunt any animal form, but livestock is their favorite meal. Many specimens that have come into contact with farming communities have learned how to employ their acidic spit to open breaches in fences and warehouses.
BIOLOGY
Chitin worm’s biology and metabolism are very simple and yet very efficient. Even if very dangerous, they have two main positive traits. The first is that they fertilize the soil with precious substances, second their meat is delicious, rivaling that of lobsters. Primitive locals value these creatures for their plating, their meat and some believe that their humors possess medical properties.