Biting Book

Tiny construct, typically unaligned

Armor Class 15 (natural armor) Hit Points 27 (6d4 + 12) Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	14 (+2)	14 (+2)	6 (?2)	10 (+0)	7 (-2)

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Languages Understands the languages they were written in, but cannot talk
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Astounding Leaps. Biting books can jump up to 10 feet high or 20 feet across.
• False Appearance. While the biting book remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal book.
• Soothed by Song. Music can lull a biting book into a calm state. A successful DC 12 Charisma (Performance or a musical instrument) check makes the book stop attacking and behave friendly toward the player. If the performance continues for at least one minute, the book falls unconscious for one hour or until it suffers damage.

ACTIONS

• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) bludgeoning damage.

ABOUT

What seems to be an ancient tome springs to life and tries to snap you with pages like jaws. Biting books are codices that have become animated.

Sometimes this is intentional using the awaken book spell (page 9), either to dissuade thieves or prank rivals. Sometimes these books appear spontaneously, when exposed to magic for a long time.

Needlessly Territorial. Though they have no need for food or other resources, biting books are universally cranky and lash out at any strangers who come near. Fortunately, their aggressive attitude is calmed by soothing music, and a few minutes of a lullaby can put them to sleep. Occasionally biting books form a bond with a single humanoid, who they do not lash out against. Most often this is the creator of the book, but occasionally somebody who discovers a lost book can befriend it.

Valuable Dangers. Biting books often contain rare volumes within their pages, so many libraries and collectors keep biting books in a secure section that requires special permission to access. Reducing the books to 0 hit points destroys the books and ruins their contents, so those interested in collecting the books must find alternate ways to deal with them.