Sandcrawler CR 1/4
XP 100
N Tiny Vermin
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft; Perception +1
Defense
AC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 12 (+4 Dex, +2 size)
hp 11 (2d8+2)
Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +1
SQ Resistance to Extreme Temperatures (Ex)
Offense
Speed 15 ft, burrow 30 ft.
Melee Bite +5 (1d3–4) Bite -1 melee (1d3-4)
Special Attacks Implant larva
Statistics
Str 3, Dex 18, Con 12, Int -, Wis 13, Cha 9
Base Atk +1; CMB –1; CMD 9
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills –
Ecology
Environment Deserts
Organization solitary.
Treasure NPC gear (leather armor, spear, sling, other treasure)
Special Abilities
Implant Larva: The sandcrawler, when licked or exposed to any bare flesh, will implant a small embryo by secreting a flesh-numbing liquid from glands in its belly. This renders a patch of flesh numb within one minute. The sandcrawler then deposits a single egg just under the flesh of the host via a needlelike ovipositor. This entire process takes six minutes, one minute for the flesh to numb and another five minutes for the egg to be deposited in the host. If the sandcrawler is disturbed during any of this time, then no egg will be implanted. Once the sandcrawler implants the egg, it leaves. The egg grows for four days, dealing 1 point of temporary Constitution damage to its host each day. A Heal or Perception check (DC 20) locates a raised, red welt over the growing larva. Cutting the larva out deals the host 1d4 points of damage. If not removed, the egg bursts free after the fourth day, and a noncombatant sandcrawler young drops off and burrows into the sand. The burst welt deals 2d8 points of nonlethal damage to the host, who must make a Fortitude save (DC 11) or fall unconscious from the pain for 1d4 hours. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Resistance to Extreme Temperatures (Ex): Sable sandcrawlers have a natural resistance to extreme temperatures and aren‘t adversely affected by the heat of the day or the chill of the night. They treat extreme heat or cold as if it were only very hot or cold, (see DMG for rules on temperature effects) but suffer normally from abysmal heat.
Description
This soft, furry black caterpillar is pleasant to the touch. Over a foot long and six inches in height, it also has 20 short, stubby legs, and large bulbous eyes, making it very friendly and beautiful.
Sandcrawlers are lured by the heat and light of campfires. The sandcrawler approaches anyone sitting near the campfire quickly and cautiously, chittering softly and shyly and coming close to the flames. The creature will then nibble shyly on any offered crumbs, and is quick to allow itself to be petted, for the aim of the sandcrawler is to snuggle up close next to someone, appearing to fall asleep, then leave a few moments after everyone else is asleep, having implanted its larva in its dormant victim. Sandcrawler flesh is inedible. Its fine fur, however, is prized by the feral halflings, who find its insulating properties very useful. Feral halflings also know of a technique that will extract an analgesic toxin from the creature, and use it on their darts to induce sleep.
Combat
Sandcrawlers are very passive and only attack if cornered or angered. The ultimate goal of the sandcrawler, when it is near humanoids or other mammals, is to reproduce by using its implant larva special attack. Despite this, the sandcrawler is pretty harmless.
Sandcrawler Society
Sandcrawlers are solitary creatures, burrowing under the sand to sleep during the day, and wandering the surface only at night to hunt for food and search for water in the form of dew. The black fur of the sandcrawler is composed of tiny, hollow tubes, which draw moisture into the creature‘s body. The sandcrawler also eats small insects and reptiles. If the sandcrawler, when looking to reproduce, can‘t find humanoid hosts, it will settle for animal hosts. It uses its fur to attract animal hosts by releasing small amounts of water from it. When the animal takes the bait and licks the sandcrawler, it implants the egg along with the small amount of water it released.