Ashen Khegon

Small beast, unaligned

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 28 (8d6)
Speed 20 ft., burrow 10 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
14 (+2) 11 (+0) 11 (+0) 4 (-3) 10 (+0) 6 (-2)

Skills Perception +2, Survival +2
Damage Vulnerabilities cold
Damage Immunities acid, fire
Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages body language and pheromones
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

Actions

  • Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) slashing damage plus 2 (1d4) acid damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 12). Until this grapple ends, the khegon can bite only the grappled creature and has advantage on attack rolls to do so.
  • Acid Spray (Recharge 6). The khegon spits acid in a 20-foot line that is 5 feet wide. It must not be grappling a creature. Each creature in that line must make a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw, taking 7 (2d6) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

About

Khegs are mostly known around the world as ravagers of Canker. However, a few uncorrupted specimens still exist, like those who dwell at the foot of Askamor. Their chitinous shells, pincers, and six legs make khegs similar to small arthropods, of which they are a natural giant version.

Adapted to the volcanic environment, khegs form colonies whose way of life is not unlike that of ants or termites. They cultivate mushrooms for food, build tunnels to ensure a constant and pleasant temperature and humidity, and they hunt and harvest on the surface to supplement their reserves. To ensure the survival of the group, the food is transformed into a honeydew with very high energetic qualities, and which keeps remarkably well.

This honeydew is one of Askamor’s most famous products. To harvest it, some particularly daring people learn to become kheculturists. They make sure that their kheg colony is healthy and regularly harvest (or steal) honeydew. The work is not without danger, because kheculturists must be familiar with the kheg body language, who communicate mainly via pheromones. It is advisable to try and pass as a member of the colony! Kheg soldiers, or ankhegs, are in charge of defense: they are temperamental and can attack intruders very quickly.

Some ashen kheg colonies venture outside Kratær’s Garden, but for now they have only been sighted near the Fortress. Perhaps they need the volcano’s heat or toxic fumes?

Occasionally, rather than digging tunnels, khegs take over existing areas, such as abandoned mines, which can be quite a nuisance for anyone wanting to rehabilitate such areas… or a godsend for a budding kheculturist.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

The Creatures Rulebook for the Fateforge Role-Playing Game Copyright © 2021 Studio Agate.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

The Creatures Rulebook for the Fateforge Role-Playing Game Copyright © 2021 Studio Agate.

This is not the complete license attribution - see the full license for this page