Corpsebomb

Fungus

Environments

Mountain Caves, Swamps, Underdark

Identification Check

Nature DC 16

Value

—

Description

The fungus begins life as a tiny spore that floats along until inhaled by a creature, and lodges itself in the moist tissue of the lungs. The spore then begins to grow, causing irritation, pain, and finally death once the fungus has reached a sizable mass. Once the host creature has perished, the fungus increases growth rapidly until it pushes a hollow tendril forth from the flesh. At the exposed end of the tendril, the fungus begins growing a thin membrane, which is inflated by the gases produced by the rotting body. Within the walls of the membrane are numerous spores, each one looking to continue the cycle. The membrane inflates to a considerable size before violently rupturing, sending the spores outward in a 40-foot radius sphere. A creature in this area may be subjected to its poison (see below).
The gas within the membrane is often highly flammable, and will explode if ignited. All creatures within a 20-footradius sphere centered on the corpsebomb must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes 10 (3d6) fire damage. On a success, a creature takes half as much damage.
Corpsebomb (Inhaled). A creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned. The poisoned creature must repeat the saving throw at the end of every hour and the DC for the save increases by 1 per hour after being poisoned. On a failure, it takes a number of d6 of necrotic damage equal to the number of hours that have passed since the initial poisoning. After a successful save, the poison ends.