Nepenthergast (5e Creature)
Nepenthergast[edit]
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Huge plant, unaligned Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
Saving Throws Str +4 Colonial Physiology. The nepenthergast is composed of a series of polyps hanging off a central vine. It has 12 (4d6) feeding polyps and 42 (6d10 + 9) reproductive polyps. At the end of each turn, the nepenthergast may lose polyps depending on the amount of damage it took during that turn: for each 4 damage dealt, it loses 1 reproductive polyp; for each 12, it loses a feeding polyp, and if it took 30 or more damage, its float deflates and the nepenthergast's flying speed becomes 0 for 1 hour. For example, if a paladin hits the nepentherghast with a greatsword attack for 12 slashing damage then uses its divine smite to deal an additional 10 radiant damage, the nepenthergast would have taken 22 total damage that turn and would thus lose 5 reproductive polyps and 1 feeding polyp. False Appearance. While the nepenthergast remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a brightly-colored tropical vine. Innate Spellcasting. The nepenthergast's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15). As long as it has reproductive polyps remaining, it can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components: At will: silent image Reactive Polyps. For each feeding polyp the nepenthergast has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks. ACTIONSColonial Sting. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4) piercing damage for each feeding polyp the nepenthergast has. Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 13). Until this grapple ends, the creature is restrained, and the snake can't constrict another target. Pollen Cloud. The nepenthergast creates a pollen cloud in a 30-foot radius centered on itself. The cloud spreads around corners, and its area is heavily obscured. A creature that starts its turn in this area must make on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 1 poison damage for each reproductive polyp the nepenthergast has and becomes poisoned until the end of its next turn; on a success, it takes half as much damage and isn't poisoned. A creature poisoned this way is charmed by the nepenthergast.
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A rare tropical creature, the nepenthergast is formed from dozens of specialized individuals attached to a core stalk. The "head" or "float" is a large gas bag which provides flight, while further down, feeding polyps sting and drain prey and reproductive polyps belch dense, psychotropic pollen. Each polyp is relatively intelligent, and the overall organism is capable of remarkably coordinated movement and attack. Creatures which inhale sufficient quantities of nepenthergast pollen suffer pleasant but debilitating hallucinations and may regard the creature as a friend. If possible, nepenthergast prefer to keep prey alive and feed from it over the course of several days or weeks, eventually reducing them to a withered, peaceful looking mummy. These they may hang from branches in their territory, or manipulate with their tendrils to further toy with intruders. |
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