Sour Grub

Tiny beast, unaligned

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
5 (-3) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 1 (-5) 3 (-4) 1 (-5)

Armor Class 11
Hit Points 2 (1d4 )
Speed 5 ft.
Skills Stealth +3
Damage Resistances poison
Condition Immunities blinded
Senses blindsight 10 ft., passive Perception 6
Languages
Challenge 0 (10 XP)

Special Traits

  • Feeding Frenzy. A creature that is paralyzed by a sour grub quickly becomes a target for other nearby grubs. If bitten while already paralyzed a new saving throw is not required, but the creature’s next saving throw is made with disadvantage.

Actions

  • Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 poison damage and the target must succeed on a DC 8 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed until the end of its next turn. Creatures that are immune to the poisoned condition are immune to this effect.

Tactics

The sour grub mindlessly attacks any creature it detects with 10 feet, although it will ignore other targets to feast on a paralyzed creature. The grub cannot gain sustenance from creatures that are not flesh and blood (any construct, elemental, ooze, plant, or undead) and after making one successful attack against such a target it will seek other prey.

A pale, fat wormlike creature as long as a large man’s forearm wriggles free of a refuse heap, its jaws working feverishly as it searches for something living to feed upon.

Useful Menace. These vermin originally lived in the wilds, spawning in cesspits and stagnant pools or beneath the rotting carcasses of animals, but have found urban areas to be an even better habitat. Although disgusting and tenacious creatures, sour grubs do serve a purpose in many modern cities. Citizens tolerate them to a degree because the creatures eliminate disease-carrying rats and other vermin with a singular zeal.

A Growing Problem. Sour grubs are becoming an increasingly dangerous threat as cities of the slowly rebuild, spread, and grow crowded, and cities attract sour grubs in alarming quantities. Sewage drains, refuse piles, and even privies are infested. People who intrude upon sour grub nesting areas – which can be anywhere from gutters to back alleys to stables – are bitten and injected with a paralyzing poison.

Falling victim to this bite can make a person or animal a meal as other nearby grubs close to feed. Horrifically, some of the most destitute and desperate will sink to eating sour grub larvae, and some erstwhile ratcatchers become urban filth-farming maggot dealers.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Creature Collection 5e Copyright 2020 Onyx Path Publishing, Inc.