Fungi, Wirbeln

A strange, mushroom-shaped creature leaps and flies through the air, spraying spores below itself.

Small plant, lawful neutral

Armor Class 13
Hit Points 16 (3d8 + 3)
Speed 20 ft., fly 20 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
8 (-1) 16 (+3) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 10 (+0)

Skills Stealth +5, Perception +3
Condition Immunities blinded, deafened, frightened, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive perception 13
Languages Common, Druidic, Elvish, Sylvan
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Special Traits

  • Natural Appearance. While the wirbeln remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an ordinary fungus.

Actions

  • Poison Needle. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
  • Poison Dart. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
  • Spore Cloud. (Recharge 5-6). The wirbeln ejects spores in a 15- foot cone. All creatures that are not wirbeln fungi must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 5 (1d10) poison damage and be subject to one of the following effects for 1 minute, depending on the wirbeln’s color: green is poisoned; red is blinded; yellow is incapacitated; blue is paralyzed; purple is frightened; and black is 5 (2d4) poison damage each round. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

About

Wirbeln are spiral-shaped bipedal fungi that appear in an array of colors. Each individual is a specific hue that indicates the type of spores it produces. Wirbeln fungi cause minor coloration changes as a form of communication, depending on mood, temperament, or personality.

Symbiotic Nomads. The wirbeln fungi’s origin is lost to history. Those familiar with the creatures know they are wanderers who roam until they find a suitable home, usually in deep and wild places. Home for the wirbeln fungi is best defined by the deep-rooted companionship they develop with other races, rather than a specific location. The wirbeln fungi form allegiances with numerous species, such as elves, gnomes, treants, and others.

Fierce Protectors. The main strength of wirbeln fungi is their ability to turn back adversaries threatening their gatherings. The extreme loyalty of the wirbeln reveals itself through a determination to defend its chosen community, even if such defense is detrimental to the individual wirbeln.

Cunning Controllers. Wirbeln fungi employ diversionary tactics, using their numbers and the natural terrain to their advantage to shirk capture and harass enemies. The wirbeln fungi continually fly out of reach, landing on high ledges or branches. They attack by shooting poisonous darts and dropping on enemies from above. They utilize body- and mind-altering spores with overwhelming effects.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Creature Codex. © 2018 Open Design LLC; Authors Wolfgang Baur, Dan Dillon, Richard Green, James Haeck, Chris Harris, Jeremy Hochhalter, James Introcaso, Chris Lockey, Shawn Merwin, and Jon Sawatsky.