Art by Jason Chan

Grotgrub

An unlikely apex predator of the subterranean world, the Grotgrub is a solitary beast that can be found nesting in grottos deep beneath the surface. It is born from a cluster of eggs laid in the pool of a grotto. Upon hatching, the Grotgrub spawn will begin to consume each other until only one of the spawn remains. The juvenile Grotgrub will then ascend from the pool and begin to hunt smaller subterranean creatures. Once mature, a Grotgrub will seek out a mate only once in its life. The male will create a grotto to attract female Grotgrubs and secrete a pheromone to summon them. Should a female Grotgrub accept the grotto, the two will mate and end with the female Grotgrub killing and consuming the male. The female will consume the carcass of the male until she is ready to lay her egg cluster into the grotto. She will then abandon the Grotgrub spawn and the cycle continues.

This carnivorous slug lacks any teeth. Instead, it secretes an acid that allows it to liquify its prey into a slurry so it may consume them. This acid also allows them to burrow into stone and create grottos which they may inhabit for their mating rituals. A Grotgrub spawn measures about an inch in length, a juvenile will measure to be about 2 meters long, and eventually will reach a length of anywhere between 5 and 9 meters long in adulthood. They have an incredibly durable skin covered in a thick mucus, making them a nightmare for slashing and bludgeoning weapons to land effective hits.

Written by NOS

DM Guide

The information below is almost exclusively intended for DMs: an explanation of the creature's behaviour, weaknesses, its unique abilities, and a full statblock to aid in rolling checks and contests where applicable. Characters may reasonably have the knowledge of the information in the above post. The information below is more OOC-facing and can be learned in detail via IC research (a research ticket or event) or known in vague, broad strokes where applicable: common sense applies! A Falstoner may have a vague idea of a Faded Steppe creature's abilities, but not specifics. For example: "the creature spews blood, but I don't know how, when, and what that looks like."

Not every spell, feat, or ability interaction is defined for beasts. DMs are expected to use their discretion when adjudicating interactions that are not explicitly covered. Additionally, the mechanics of bestiary creatures are set in stone and not open for adjustment unless specific issues are noted through DMed encounters.

Spoilers ahead... proceed with caution! Here be dragons!

Statblock

Boons

[Digestive Deluge] The grotgrub uses its entire turn to spew forth a large glob of digestive and adhesive slime at a target within Ranged distance. This attack cannot be Evaded or Blocked.

• Anyone caught within the 5x5m (5x5 blocks) area of effect makes an DEX: Acrobatics check.
  • On a success: The player is able to avoid the incoming attack. They take immediate free movement to a block adjacent to the area of effect.
  • On a mixed success: The player takes 3 AP damage, but is not stuck.
  • On a failure: The player takes 3 AP damage and is trapped in place, unable to take movement for that round.

• Anytime a player is trapped in slime, their armor class drops by one level: Heavy > Medium > Light > Unarmoured. This persists until they expend an action to clean themselves of slime.

[Slicked Skin] The combination of a thick hide, mucus coating, and skeletal absence makes the grotgrub a nightmare for wielders of blunt weaponry. The following weapons will only inflict a maximum of 3 damage (no AP regardless of template) to a grotgrub: Mace, Meteor Hammer, Large and Small shields, and Sling.

Banes

[Myopic Mollusk] Born to hunt within the depths of the earth, the grotgrub is sensitive to light. Should someone activate a Sparkler or any other bright source of light (DM discretion) the grotgrub will become briefly disoriented. For the next round, any rolls made by the grotgrub suffer a -3 penalty.

Mechanics Guidance

• Unarmoured
• 50-65 HP
• Up to 2 actions per turn
• Movement
  • 5m (5 blocks) per turn
• Attack rolls and damage - general guidance:
  • Slime Glob Attack, Tail Swipe, Environmental Damage.
    • /roll attack 2 4-5
    • 4-5 damage
    • 1 action
    • Melee distance
  • Acidic Slime Glob Attack
    • /roll attack 1 3-4 AP GP
    • 3-4 AP/GP damage
    • 1 action
    • Skirmishing distance
  • [Digestive Deluge] See Boons.
    • No roll
    • Variable damage
    • Full turn
    • Ranged distance
• For the purposes of contesting spells or making otherwise necessary checks, the following stats are provided: