This item first appears to be a Huge sealed iron barrel with weighing 500 pounds. The barrel has a hidden catch, which can be found with a successful DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check. Releasing the catch unlocks a hatch at the back of the barrel, allowing two Large or smaller creatures to crawl inside. Eight levers are set in a row at the far end, each in a neutral position, able to move either up or down. When certain levers are used, the apparatus transforms to resemble a giant Stag Beetle. The apparatus of the Bug is a Huge object with the following statistics:
Armor Class: 22
Hit Points: 450
Speed: 20 ft., fly 40 ft. (or 0 ft. walking speed if the legs aren't extended, and 0 ft. flying speed if the wings aren't extended)
Damage Immunities: poison, psychic
To be used as a vehicle, the apparatus requires one pilot. While the apparatus's hatch is closed, the compartment is airtight. The compartment holds enough air for 26 hours of breathing, divided by the number of breathing creatures inside.
The apparatus floats on water, although its flying speed is reduced to 0. It can also fly to a hight of 10,000 feet. Above that, the vehicle takes 2d8 cold damage per minute from altitude.
A creature in the compartment can use an action to move as many as two of the apparatus's levers up or down, or to steer the apparatus. After each use, a lever goes back to its neutral position. Each lever, from left to right, functions as shown in the Apparatus of the Bug Levers table (the steering device is also listed).
Apparatus of the Crab Levers
| Lever | Up | Down |
| 1 | Legs extend, allowing the apparatus to walk. | Legs retract, reducing the apparatus's walking speed to 0 and making it unable to benefit from bonuses to speed. |
| 2 | Forward window shutter opens. | Forward window shutter closes. |
| 3 | Wings extend from the top of the apparatus | Wings retract, educing the apparatus's flying speed to 0 and making it unable to benefit from bonuses to speed. |
| 4 | Two mandibles extend from the front sides of the apparatus. | The mandibles retract. |
| 5 | The extended mandibles make the following melee weapon attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage. | The extended mandibles make the following melee weapon attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: The target is grappled (escape DC 18). |
| Steering Device | The apparatus walks forward. | The apparatus walks backward. |
| Steering Device | The apparatus turns 90 degrees left. | The apparatus turns 90 degrees right. |
| 8 | Eyelike fixtures emit bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet. | The light turns off. |
| 9 | The apparatus ascends as much as 200 feet in the air. | The apparatus descends up to 200 feet in the air. |
| 10 | The rear hatch unseals and opens. | The rear hatch closes and seals. |
Notes: Utility, Exploration, Combat
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