Metapod (Pokemon)

CR 1/8 : DCR 1/4 - OCR 0

The large armored cocoon of an rapidly growing Caterpie, with only primitive eyes and mouth parts remaining on the outside while the creature inside of it transforms. They are motionless, except when under attack, where they try to endure by hardening their carapace for a short ammount of time, buying time so their attacker gets bored and gives up, or until reinforcement arrives. If they survive long enough, the cocoon opens and out comes their adult form : Butterfrees.

Caterpie : www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/6899620-caterpie-pokemon

 Hooks (1d4) :

1. The party finds a lone metapod at the foot of a fallen tree. It remains motionless and defensless. If the party takes it with them, it will eventually grow up into a butterfree that may be friendly.
2. Caterpies are multiplying in dangerous numbers in the nearby forest, they and metapods need to be found and culled before they turn into their adult form and become an actual local threat.
3. The local Caterpie population, as well as metapods, primary food sources for many creatures, has been greatly reduced recently, throwing the local ecosystem's balance into peril. Whatever, or whoever, is causing this must be found and stopped, lest hungry monsters come closer to town to feed.
4. A local zoologist hires the party to transport an unusual Metapod with red hues to a nearby village, where a colleague can inspect it.