Critters III! Now also in 5e!

[Bhu]

Fire Beetle
Large Magical Beast (Fire)
Hit Dice: 7d10+21 (59 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 19 (-1 Size, +10 Natural), touch 9, flat-footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple: +7/+17
Attack: Bite +12 melee (2d6+6+1d6 Fire)
Full Attack: Bite +12 melee (2d6+6+1d6 Fire)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Spew Flame, Burning Touch, Set Fires
Special Qualities: Dark Vision 60 ft.
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +4
Abilities: Str 23, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 3, Wis 14, Cha 12
Skills: Listen +7, Spot +7
Feats: Ability Focus (Spew Flame, Set Fires), Improved Initiative
Environment: Any Warm or Underground
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: Double Gems
Alignment: Always Neutral
Advancement: 8-10 HD (Large), 11-21 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: ---

Durin the Dwarf: "This has to be the worst evil minion I've seen yet."
Pooter the Elf: "Well it's a giant bug. I don't know as they're really evil..."
Durin: "Made by an evil mage, so it's an evil minion. Man, look at it. Who designs evil minions on spurious puns?"
Pooter: "Most of our opponents actually. Remember that Pope Fish?"
Durin: "Someone really hasta talk with this guy. Tell him he needs less lame monsters."
Pooter: "But it just burned a fist size hole in Bob's nether regions."
Bob the Human: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!! !"
Durin: "Which goes to prove it's lameness. Bob always was a poorly designed character. 6 levels in fighter? Come on!"
Pooter: "I uh..I think we're breaking the fourth wall here..."
Durin: "Screw it. The writer will take the blame not us."
Pooter: "Your axe is on fire...."
Durin: "Okay, now it simply has to die..."

Fire Beetles are 800 pound beetles that appear to be on fire. Mostly because they are on fire. Originally conceived as a neat minion by insect obsessed BBEG's, it's drawbacks have become readily apparent over time. Specifically, it's on fire. And it spits fire. And it likes to set fires. So unless you have an asbestos castle, you got problems.

Spew Flame (Su): The Fire Beetle can spew a 30 ft. Cone of fire once every 1d4 rounds. This cone does 7d6 Fire damage to anything in it's area (DC 18 Reflex Save for half damage, Save DC is Constitution Based).

Burning Touch (Su): The Fire Beetle itself is incredibly hot. Attacking it with a weapon (or being attacked by it if you're wearing armor) produces an effect similar to the Heat Metal spell. Each attack extends the duration by 1 round (DC 14 Will Save negates, Save DC is Charisma Based). Attacking the Fire Beetle with an unarmed strike or natural weapons results in 1d6 Fire damage.

Set Fires (Su): As a Swift Action, once per round the Fire Beetle may set 1 square within 30 ft. on fire. Anyone entering the hex takes 1d6 damage, and must make a DC 15 Reflex Save or catch on fire (see page 303 of the DM's Guide).

Combat: Fire Beetles will try to set fire to hexes to control it's opponent avenues of approach if it can. If not it will Spew Flame as they charge in, and rely on it's mandibles to get the job done. Opponents who are immune to flame are fled from, as they spook the beetle.





Fire Beetle
"Good evening, and welcome to Mutual of Gnomeahaw's Wild Kingdom! As always, I'm your host Harlan Jergens! Today on Wild Kingdom Jim will be trying a new fire-proof suit, and to help him we have provided a Pyrophorus lucifer, better known as the Fire Beetle!"

Mindless Arsonists

"Just for my own edification, who designed this suit Harlan."

"The local Gnome Artiificers Union did Jim!"

"So we're trusting Tinker Gnomes now? Is this what we've come to?"

Come To Think Of It, What Do They Eat?

"Hush Jim, Mutual of Gnomeahaw is listening..."

"Good, tell them if this suit turns out to be made o toxic, alchemical fibers I will sue."

"Be careful Jim, the Beetle seems to have noticed you!"