Spider Climb. The ardiko can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Water Walk. The ardiko can make a DC 10 Dexterity check when it steps onto the surface of water of a similar liquid. On a success, the ardiko can glide across the surface of the liquid at half its walking speed.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 0 ft., one Beast in the ardiko's space. Hit: 1 piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 9 Constitution saving throw or have its body commandeered by the ardiko. While the target's body is under its control, the ardiko uses the target's stat block, with the exception of the target's Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores and skill proficiencies. If the target knows any languages, the ardiko also uses the target's Intelligence score.
An unarmed strike can be made against the ardiko to knock it off. For this special attack, use the ardiko's AC. The ardiko is considered to have three-quarters cover.
Description
Ardikos are bug-like symbiotes that take control of the bodies of other Beasts, with a preference for mammals. To do so, an ardiko bites a future host and links itself up to the host's nervous system. The ardiko then uses an organ similar to that found in electric eels to create small pulses of electricity, essentially commandeering the host's brain. Aside from biting the host to get to its nerves, ardikos do everything they can to keep them and their hosts alive, sometimes even paying more attention to the host than themselves. Many sages speculate that this is because ardikos are more intelligent than the average beast, but none have been able to prove it.
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