Myrmex Indikos

Small beast, unaligned

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 9 (2d8)
Speed 60 ft., climb 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
14 (+2)	16 (+3)	13 (+1)	1 (-5)	13 (+1)	9 (-1)

Damage Resistances fire
Skills Perception +3
Senses tremorsense 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages –
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Special Traits

• Hive Mind. The myrmex indikos is immune to the charmed and frightened conditions while within 30 feet of at least one other myrmex indikos.
• Pack Tactics. The myrmex indikos has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the myrmex indikos’ allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
• Spider Climb. The myrmex indikos can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
• Treasure Sense. The myrmex indikos can pinpoint, by scent, the location of precious metals and stones, such as coins and gems, within 60 feet of it.

Actions

• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 +3) piercing damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 12). Until this grapple ends, the myrmex indikos can bite only the grappled creature and has advantage on attack rolls to do so.

About

This ant is not as big as a dog but bigger than a fox; other than its size, it looks like a normal ant.

Myrmex indikos are among the hardiest and most adaptable vermin. They are known for their mining of gold and are routinely raided by humans for the building material they use in their hives.

These ants live underground, digging out the sand in the same way as the ants in Greece, to which they are very similar in shape, and the sand which they carry from the holes is full of gold.

Camel Sacrifices. The locals hunt them by harnessing three camels apiece, males on either side sharing the drawing, and a female in the middle. The man himself rides on the female, that when harnessed has been taken away from as young an offspring as may be. Their camels are as swift as horses, and much better able to bear burdens besides. With teams so harnessed they ride after the gold, being careful to be engaged in taking it when the heat is greatest; for the ants are then out of sight underground.

The gold hunters grab as much gold as they can (itself spread throughout the sand) and flee. Myrmex are very fast, so fast that they can catch a camel at full speed; to that end, the other camels are left as sacrifices to keep the ants busy while the rider on the female flees. The fate of the male camels is a stark reminder to the mare of her potential fate, and it is believed to lend speed to her flight.