Thaumaturmite, Lesser

Family: Thaumaturmite

Small monstrosity, unaligned

Armor Class 10
Hit Points 10 (3d6)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
10 (+0) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 3 (-4) 5 (-3) 5 (-3)

Condition Immunities prone
Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 7
Languages
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Special Traits

  • Magic Scent. The thaumaturmite can pinpoint, by scent, the location of any magical cloth within 30 feet of it.
  • Consume Magic. Any magical cloth that the thaumaturmite hits starts to corrode. Each time the thaumaturmite bites into a magical cloth which is worn or carried, the bearer of the item must make a successful DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or the item starts corroding. After two failed savings throws the item loses its magical qualities.
  • Spider Climb. The thaumaturmite can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
  • Magic Resistance. The thaumaturmite has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Actions

  • Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) piercing damage.

About

Created by accident in the laboratory of a magic-user renowned for his repertoire of polymorph spells, the magical insect known as the thaumaturmite is capable of dramatically altering its physical dimensions.

The thaumaturmite may be encountered in either of its two forms, a 2-inch-long bug often mistaken for an exotic beetle, or a 6-feet-long menace weighing over 500 pounds. The creature can alter shape at will.

No one knows which of these two shapes is the creature’s true form, as it seems no more inclined to choose one shape or the other at any given time. Likewise, its choice of form often seems inappropriate or chaotic; a giant thaumaturmite has been encountered crammed into a small sewer pipe, while the tiny form sometimes foolishly attempts to attack humansized targets.

Possessing an insect-level intelligence, the thaumaturmite seeks mainly to feed and to procreate. In its smaller form, it eats fabric and cloth, especially that worn by spellcasters. A single thaumaturmite typically chews 2d12 holes in a piece of fabric during a single feeding session. They are capable of damaging magic items such as an elven cloak, rendering the item non-magical if left to feed unnoticed. In its larger state, the thaumaturmite eats meat of all kinds, attacking any living creature when it needs to satisfy its hunger. It almost always favors spellcasters as food, using its special antenna to detect those of such vocations.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Tome of Horrors © 2018, Frog God Games, LLC; Authors: Kevin Baase, Erica Balsley, John “Pexx” Barnhouse, Christopher Bishop, Casey Christofferson, Jim Collura, Andrea Costantini, Jayson ‘Rocky’ Gardner, Zach Glazar, Meghan Greene, Scott Greene, Lance Hawvermale, Travis Hawvermale, Ian S. Johnston, Bill Kenower, Patrick Lawinger, Rhiannon Louve, Ian McGarty, Edwin Nagy, James Patterson, Nathan Paul, Patrick N. Pilgrim, Clark Peterson, Anthony Pryor, Greg Ragland, Robert Schwalb, G. Scott Swift, Greg A. Vaughan, and Bill Webb