Chain Worm

This creature looks like a massive centipede with a bright, reflective silver carapace. Its legs are dull silver and its oversized mandibles are black. A dull black stinger is located at the rear of its body.

Chain Worm (CR 12)

Large Vermin
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +3
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Tremorsense 60 feet; Perception +0

Speed: 30 feet, Climb 20 feet
Space: 10 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 27, touch 12, flat-footed 24 (+3 Dex, +15 natural, -1 size)
Hit Points: 161 (17d8+68 plus 17)
Saving Throws: Fort +14, Ref +8, Will +6
Immunity: mind-affecting effects

Offense

Melee: bite +19 (2d8+8 plus Grab), tail sting +19 (2d6+8 plus poison)
Reach: 5 feet

Special Attacks: trilling

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
26 (+8)	16 (+3)	19 (+4)	-	12 (+1)	4 (-3)

Base Attack Bonus: +12
CMB +21 (+25 Grapple)
CMD 34

Feats: Toughness

Skills: Climb +16

Languages:

Special Abilities

Poison (Ex)

Sting-injury; save Fort DC 22; frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect 1d4 Con; cure 2 saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Trilling (Ex)

By rapidly vibrating its carapace, a chain worm emits a high-pitched trilling sound that stuns and deafens all creatures within range. All living creatures within 30 feet that hear it must succeed on a DC 22 Fortitude save or be stunned for 1d4 rounds and deafened for 24 hours. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Ecology

Environment: Any Land or Underground
Organization: solitary, pair, or pack (3-5)
Treasure: incidental


Chain worms are subterranean predators with an insatiable appetite for meat. The creature has a particular fondness for dwarf, gnome, and bugbear flesh. Chain worms often build their nests near communities of these creatures so their food supply is readily available. Though not particularly fond of cold or damp weather, a chain worm can be found just about anywhere as its chitinous body offers it ample protection against less than friendly environments.

A chain worm's nest is a hole or tunnel littered with rocks, bones, refuse, and debris, and often located on a rocky outcropping or ledge making it inaccessible to most creatures. Any valuables found in its lair are simply the remains of a previous meal that the chain worm couldn't digest or didn't bother eating.

Chain worms stand nearly 6 feet tall and are about 10 feet long with silver carapaces and dull silver legs. Their heads sport oversized dull black mandibles that constantly drip brownish-gray saliva. Its tail stinger is about a foot long and black (as it ages, its tail stinger changes to dull gray).

A chain worm lies in wait for a meal, attacking whenever its target comes within range. It attacks using either a nasty bite or by curling its rear body forward and stinging with its tail stinger. If a chain worm grabs a foe in its mandibles, it holds it and repeatedly stings it until it is dead.

Copyright Notice Author Scott Greene.