Belabra - Tangler

Belabra (Tangler) CR: 1

Medium monstrosity, neutral

Armor Class: 13 (natural armour)

Hit Points: 24 7d8-7

Speed: 20 ft , climb: 30 ft

STR

16 +3

DEX

17 +3

CON

13 +1

INT

1 -5

WIS

3 -4

CHA

1 -5

Saving Throws: Dex +5

Skills: Stealth +4

Senses: passive Perception 11

Challenge Rating: 1

Surprise Attack. Enemies have disadvantage at surprising the tangler.
Poisonous Blood. On a critical roll against the tangler, a tentacle is chopped off spraying whitish/clear blood on the opponent. This hits the opponent on an AC 12 roll, causing 7 2d6 poison damage, and the creature is now poisoned. It can be cured by a healing potion, or healing spells.

Actions

Multiattack. The tangler can make three attacks with it's tentacles.
Tentacles. Melee Weapon Attack +2 to hit, reach 10 ft, one target. Hit 6 1d8+2 bludgeoning damage. If the tangler scores a critical hit, then it has grappled a victim (escape DC 14 Strength), and if failed the tangler gets a free bite attack on the victim. It will keep the grapple going as long as it concentrates on it (like concentrating on a spell). As a bonus action it will let go. The victim can make an escape roll at the start of their own turn. If successful, then they are free of the grapple.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack +2 to hit, reach 5 ft, one target. Hit 10 2d8+2 piercing damage.

Belabra (also known individually as a Tangler) appears as a cross between a jellyfish & squid. A hardened shell covers most of the body, with the underside having a beak & a set of twelve tentacles. Four eyestalks sprout from the top of the conical shell, which itself is about 2 ft in diameter. It's skin is a pale white.
Found in forests around the world, the Belabra prefers to hide in trees and either drop down on it's prey, or attack it's prey lifting it up to safely eat. It's blood is poisonous, and one of the two reasons it is hunted. The other is that it can be trained. Rarely found on the ground it can jump to a degree using it's tentacles. Belabra can also be found nestling on the ground, with their shell being mistook for a rock. Usually solitary, they are unisex, and through self-fertilisation and the young grow from buds on the parent Belabra, growing for six to eight months before being ejected by the parent. The young will leave to seek their own hunting grounds. When found at this stage they can be trained, and act as guards or hunters for their trainer, and will usually stay near them until commanded to carry out simple commands.

Suggested Environments

Forests