Siege-fire Beetle

Siege-fire Beetle

9 HP, 2 Armor, 12 STR, 7 DEX, 6 WIL, sticky fire (d8, blast)
  • Large beetles with tough shells full of viscous, burning liquid.
  • Solitary and territorial omnivores, they burn or melt down edible matter and feed on the sticky ash. Their shells deteriorate into oozing burning fluid shortly after death.
  • Targets hit by sticky fire with a 5 or greater take an additional d4 STR damage on the next two rounds. 

Named for their profitable employment in many wars, siege-fire beetles are well known for their destructive potential. The largest specimens have been observed spraying their burning liquid over 50 ft; once coated in the stuff, a target will continue to burn as the fluid is slowly consumed. Depriving the flames of oxygen will prevent further burning, but unless the fluid is significantly diluted, or dissolved by a total immersion in water, the substance will spark back to life in short order.

Despite all this, siege-fire beetles are usually quite gentle. Only when their nests are intruded upon--or when acclimatized to a threatening environment--will they attack. Once agitated, they rear up and tuck their abdomens to spray their sticky fire. Threatening though this may be, it significantly reduces the beetle's mobility, leaving it comparatively vulnerable to coordinated attackers.

Commentary

Mechanically speaking, this idea emerged from a desire for more monsters with interesting ranged attacks. Beyond that, the clear inspiration is a bombadier beetle with a dash of greek fire.

 

And of course, I just really like bugs.

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