Blood Worm

Small monstrosity, neutral evil

Armor Class 10
Hit Points 3 (1d6)
Speed 10 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
4 (-3) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 1 (-5) 10 (+0) 1 (-5)

Condition Immunities prone
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages
Challenge 0 (10 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

  • Infestation. The bite of a blood worm carries thousands of tiny larvae. With each successful bite, the blood worm injects the larvae into the victim’s blood stream. Within a few short rounds, they infest the host creature’s whole body. The larvae attach onto the inner walls of veins and begin to chew their way through the flesh. The larvae break through the veins’ walls in 1d4 days. When this happens, the victim begins bleeding internally, suffering 1 point of necrotic damage every hour after the breech. Eventually, the victim begins bleeding from their eyes, mouth, nose, and from any sores or open wounds on their body. A lesser restoration or similar spell will kill the larvae and stop the infestation. A successful DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) or Intelligence (Nature) check reveals that fever will kill the larvae, as well, and having the victim sit in very hot water or similar rising temperature for 1-4 hours will also clear the infestation.

ACTIONS

  • Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 necrotic damage. The creature automatically latches onto the target, remaining attached until killed or otherwise removed. The creature automatically does 1 necrotic damage on its turn for each additional round it remains attached. If the worm can remain attached for 12 rounds, it becomes full, ceases draining blood, and crawls away. The target must also make a Constitution save (DC 10) from the initial bite or be subject to infestation.

    Ambush Predator. Blood worms lie in wait for victims to approach. When any living creature moves within striking distance of a worm, roughly a foot away, the worm strikes out, attempting to bite the creature and latch on. Worms continue to attack a victim no matter how many other worms have latched on.

ABOUT

Unusual Reproduction. Blood worms can only reproduce by finding a host body for their larvae. Once they bite into a living creature, they attempt to insert their larvae into the creature. Even if the creature dies, it remains a viable food source for the larvae until they mature into blood worms and burrow out.

Fire Aversion. Blood worms have an unusual fear of fire. If a significant source of fire is present, they immediately gain the frightened condition with respect to the fire source.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

5th Edition Monsters & Treasure of Airhde, 1st Printing, Copyright 2021, Troll Lord Games; Author Stephen Chenault & Jason Vey

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