Nematoad

Medium beast, neutral

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 18 (4d8)
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12 (+1)	12 (+1)	11 (+0)	2 (–4)	1 (–5)	3 (–4)

Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages none
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Chameleon Skin. Nematoad skin is chameleon-like and they change colours to match their environment. The nematoad has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide.

ACTIONS

• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (3d4+1) piercing damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 11). Until they escape from the grapple, the target is restrained and the Nematoad cannot Bite another target.
• Swallow. The nematoad makes another Bite attack against a Small or smaller target it has grappled with a bite. If this second Bite attack hits, the target is swallowed, and the grapple ends. The target is blinded, restrained, has total cover from attacks and effects outside the Nematoad. The victim suffers 5 (2d4) acid damage at the start of each of the Nematoad’s turns, and is attacked by 1d10+5 Rot Grubs.
• Putrid Spray (Recharge on 5-6). The nematoad ejects from its mouth a stream of putrid water and rot grubs (1d6+5). The discharge is so powerful it sprays 10 feet wide and 15 feet deep from the mouth of the toad (divide the number of rot grubs across each 5-foot square covered). Targets in an affected square are attacked by Rot Grubs. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or take 1 piercing damage from each grub and be infested with rot grubs. The host must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw every 4 hours or take 3 (1d6) necrotic damage and the target’s Constitution score is reduced by 1d4 points. The target dies if this reduces their Constitution to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts until the infestation is cured.

ABOUT

Nematoads are large (5 foot long) subterranean toads.

Their skin is chameleon-like and they can change colours to match their environment and may surprise characters.

They have a white ridge down their spine that never changes pigmentation. Nematoads are carnivores but prefer carrion. As a result, they accumulate rot grubs in their broad mouth pockets. Due to their preference for carrion, they developed an immunity to rot grubs and an ability to absorb other parasites.