Thorny. Any creature that touches the Hergling takes 2(1d4) piercing damage and 2(1d4) poison damage.

 Hergling. The Hergling will follow orders from any Herg it encounters.

Multiattack. The hergling makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, reach 10 ft., 1 target. Hit: 14 (1d20 + 4) piercing damage. If target is a Beast, Dragon, Fey, Fiend, Giant, Humanoid, or Monstrosity, it must make a DC 15 saving throw. On a failed throw, the target becomes a Hergling and changes the following ways.

• The creatures size increases by one size.
• The creatures strength increases by 4.
• The creatures intelligence becomes 10.
• The creature gains one hit dice.
• The creature gains this bite attack, which replaces any previous bite attacks and is exactly the same except for the reach.
• The creatures type changes to Aberration.
• The creatures skin, fur, scales, or feathers take on a green shade.
• The creatures eyes become orange.
• The creatures alignment changes to Chaotic Evil.
• The creature sprouts small thorns all over its body.
• The creature gains the following traits.
  • Thorny. Any creature that touches the Herg takes 2(1d4) piercing damage and 2(1d4) poison damage.
  • Hergling. The Hergling will follow orders from any Herg it encounters.
• The creature becomes immune to poison and acid damage.
• The creature becomes immune to the conditions Exhaustion, Frightened, and Poisoned.
• If the creature has any attacks that deal poison damage, it's poison attacks gain one extra damage die.
• If the creature has arms/forelegs and hands/paws/talons, it gains a claw attack [10(1d20) slashing damage] if it does not already have one.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.

Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6). The hergling uses one of the following breath weapons.

Fire Breath. The hergling exhales fire in a 40-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking 42 (12d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Sleep Breath. The hergling exhales sleep gas in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or fall unconscious for 5 minutes. This effect ends for a creature if the creature takes damage or someone uses an action to wake it.