Khargi

Huge fiend, neutral evil

Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 147 (14d12 + 56)
Speed 30 ft., fly 20 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	12 (+1)	18 (+4)	10 (+0)	15 (+2)	9 (–1)

Saving Throws Dex +5, Con +8, Wis +6
Damage Resistances fire; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned, prone
Senses blindsight 30 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages understands Abyssal and Infernal but can’t speak
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +4

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Deadly Infestation. A creature that touches the khargi or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes 7 (2d6) poison damage as stinging insects rise up to protect the khargi.
• Death Swarms. When the khargi dies, the insects crawling across and within it burst from its body, forming 2d4 swarms of insects that appear in unoccupied spaces within 5 feet of the khargi’s space.
• Infested Weapons. The khargi’s weapon attacks are magical. When the khargi hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 2d6 poison damage (included in the attack).

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The khargi makes one Bite attack and two Leg attacks.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.
• Legs. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d4 + 5) bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.
• Swarming Breath (Recharge 5–6). The khargi exhales biting, stinging insects in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw, taking 31 (9d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one.
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REACTIONS

• Adaptive Carapace. When the khargi takes acid, cold, force, lightning, or thunder damage, it can magically attune itself to that type of damage. Until the end of its next turn, the khargi has resistance to damage of the triggering type, and when it hits with any weapon, the target takes an extra 7 (2d6) damage of the triggering type. The huge fiendish beetle, its carapace swarming with hoards of vermin, roars with fury and exhales a swarm of biting, stinging insects from its gaping maw.

ABOUT

Khargis are fiends that wander the wastes and badlands of the mortal world, killing for the sheer pleasure of death and blood. Some speculate they reach the Material Plane from gates to darker planes, but none have seen a khargi’s arrival and lived to tell the tale.

Insect Affinity. Khargis are protective of insects and can sense the death of insects from vast distances. Some vengeful specimens, attracted by a large number of insect deaths, travel scores of miles to avenge them. Insects are likewise drawn to khargis, and the fiends are never without scores of stinging insects crawling across their bodies, resting beneath their elytra, or hiding within their maws.

Celebrated by Cultists. Cultists who worship demon lords associated with insects see khargis as greater servants of those they serve and as omens of good fortune. Some khargis travel with bands of such cultists as their allies; often the cultists are ready to die in the service of the kargi’s dark desires.