Blister Beetle, Giant

A large beetle with a slick, dark green carapace approaches. The creature snaps its large serrated mandibles, black in color, together as it moves toward you.

Blister Beetle, Giant (CR 1)

Small Vermin
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +0
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Tremorsense 60 feet; Perception +0

Speed: 30 feet
Space: 5 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 16, touch 16, flat-footed 11 (+5 natural, +1 size)
Hit Points: 11 (2d8+2)
Saving Throws: Fort +4, Ref +0, Will +0
Immunity: mind-affecting effects, poison

Offense

Melee: bite +2 (1d6)
Reach: 5 feet

Special Attacks: blister spray

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
11 (+0)	10 (+0)	12 (+1)	-	10 (+0)	7 (-2)

Base Attack Bonus: +1
CMB +0
CMD 10 (18 vs. Trip)

Feats:

Skills: Stealth +4 (+8 in forests)

• Racial Modifiers: +4 Stealth in forests

Languages:

Special Abilities

Blister Spray (Ex)

20-ft. line, 1d3 acid damage, Reflex DC 12 negates, usable every 4 rounds. Anyone damaged by the inky-black acidic fluid also develops painful blisters and welts, and suffers a -2 circumstance modifier on attack rolls and ability and skill checks for 10 rounds. A Heal check (DC 10) or any cure spell heals the blisters and negates the penalties. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Ecology

Environment: Warm Forests
Organization: solitary, cluster (2-5), or click (4-9)
Treasure: none


Blister beetles are nocturnal scavengers found in forests or underground. They are non-aggressive creatures, but have voracious appetites and will, if food is scarce, attack just about anything that comes close to them. Their favored meal, however, is bees; both giant and normal. Their immunity to poison aids grants them protection from the deadly sting of giant bees (normal bees cannot penetrate their carapace). A cluster of beetles waits near an area frequented by bees and then spring to attack when a bee lands on a flower or plant.

Another favored meal is grasshoppers. Blister beetles ambush these large insects and drag the prey back to their lair. Blister beetles reproduce and mature rapidly. The female deposits a group of 2d4 eggs in a hole in the nest. The male then sprays the eggs with its blister spray. Within three days the eggs burst open with an audible pop and out swarm the young blister beetles. Young reach maturity in about three weeks.

When attacked, a blister beetle releases a foul stream of black oily liquid that irritates the skin of any living creature it hits. Afterwards, it moves to combat and strikes with its mandibles.

Copyright Notice Author Scott Greene.