Spore Beetle

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Spore Beetle
CR 2 N Aberration

This creature looks like an oversized stag beetle the size of a small dog, with a mottled grey and brown carapace. Lichen-like growths cover its body and seep into the cracks in its exoskeleton.

Spore beetles are a subterranean fusion of animal and fungal life. The association is a mutualistic one—neither partner can survive long without the other. They are grisly gardeners, as their preferred food is fungal and bacterial colonies that grow on well rotted animal and plant tissue. These repulsive-smelling galleries attract curious Darklands creatures, which are often killed and fed into the garden. The preferred attack strategy of a spore beetle is from ambush, releasing a cloud of toxic spores that cause unconsciousness. The insensate victims are then killed with the beetles’ mandibles before they can rouse and defend themselves. Creatures that to not succumb are driven away by jets of acid, produced by glands in the spore beetle’s throat.

Spore beetles are typically social, and a group of up to eight will cooperate to build a fungal garden. Eggs are laid nestled deep within the fungal structure, ensuring that the larva are saturated with spores and grows into a proper hybrid creature. Each generation, some of the juveniles disperse in search of new territory, carrying a load of fungal hyphae with them.

A spore beetle is about three feet long.

Spore Beetle        CR 2
XP 600

N Small aberration
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +5
Defense
AC
16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+1 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural)
hp 14 (2d8+5)
Fort
+3, Ref +2, Will +4
Defensive Abilities
plant defenses; Immune acid, mind-influencing effects, paralysis, poison, polymorph, sleep, stunning
Offense
Speed
40 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee
bite +3 (1d4+1)
Special Attacks
breath weapon (15 ft. line, 1d6 acid, DC 12, 1d4 rounds), poison burst
Statistics
Str 13, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 2, Wis13, Cha 7
Base Atk
+1; CMB +1; CMD 13 (21 vs. trip)
Feats Great Fortitude,Toughness (B)
Skills
Climb +9, Perception +5, Stealth +10 (+18 in rocky terrain); Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth in rocky terrain
Ecology
Environment underground
Organization
solitary, pair or cluster (3-8)
Treasure none
Special Abilities
Plant Defenses (Ex) A spore beetle is part plant and shares many of the immunities that plant creatures possess. A spore beetle is immune to mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison, polymorph, sleep, and stunning.
Poison Burst (Ex)
Once per day as a standard action, a spore beetle can create a burst of toxic spores in a 20 foot radius. All creatures in the area are exposed to the poison below:
Sleep Spore—inhaled; save
Fort DC 12; duration 1/minute for 4 minutes; effect unconsciousness 1 minute; cure 1 save. The save DC is Constitution based.

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