Asuran Lockwatcher

Tiny construct, unaligned

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
1 (-5)	18 (+4)	9 (-1)	4 (-3)	4 (-3)	3 (-4)

Armor Class 20 (natural armor)
Hit Points 1 (1d4 – 1)
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.
Skills Stealth +8
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone
Senses tremorsense 20 ft., passive Perception 7
Languages –
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)

Special Traits

• Venomous. The lockwatcher’s poison reservoir can be filled with any kind of poison its owner cares to use, and can afford to acquire, but by default it has the incapacitating poison described in its sting attack (see below). It can sting four times before needing to be refilled.
• Skitter. When the minuscule lockwatcher occupies another creature’s space it will try to climb onto that “host”. Attack rolls made against such a lockwatcher must also be compared to the host creature, possibly hitting both, although attackers can choose to roll with disadvantage in order to target only the lockwatcher. The host, or another creature within 5 ft., can take an action to make an opposed Dexterity check, knocking the lockwatcher into an adjacent space on a success.

Actions

• Sting. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 0 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage. If the incapacitating poison is loaded, the target must succeed at a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for one minute. While poisoned, a creature is incapacitated and its speed is halved.

Reactions

• Retaliation. When another creature succeeds at an opposed Dexterity check to knock the lockwatcher off of a target, as a reaction the lockwatcher can make a sting attack against that creature.

ABOUT

Usually found in the locks in which they are placed, the lockwatcher will remain dormant indefinitely, waking up at the first indication that the lock is being manipulated with an object other than the proper key. Although not intelligent by most measures, the lockwatcher is a canny tactician, and if facing multiple opponents will flee and hide after its target has been poisoned, only to stalk and strike again later.

Description

This tiny metallic insect appears to be part of a lock or other mechanism. Once awoken, though, it unfolds into something that resembles a mechanical spider. Or perhaps a tick.