Defensive Stance. This creature can only attack using reactions, or if a creature is incapacitated in any way. In addition this creature has 3 reactions per round, and if it lands a crit, it regains 1 reaction.
Active Camouflage. This creature can stand perfectly still, and can even change its body color and texture to match its surroundings, making the creature near invisible. Creatures can only find it if they are actively searching for it. In which case they must roll a dc 17 investigation/perception check. Lastly if it makes an attack from camouflage, on a hit, it counts as a critical strike.
Jumping wings. The mantis does have wings however they do not allow it to fly, instead it can jump 15ft in the air before floating back down, additionally it can use a bonus action to rapidly flap its wings, adding 15ft to its walk speed
opposable claws. This creature can hold items in its claws and use them(including weapons)
One two punch. Thisbcreature can make an grapple attempt (Str battle) then if it succeeds it can make 2 Blitz Claw Strikes.
Blitz Claw Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10ft., 1 target. Hit: 9(3d6) [slashing] damage. Then the target must make a con 10 save or be stunned until the end of the round. If the attack crits, the target is also grappled, if it is the same size or smaller
Crunch takes 2 rounds to use and is treated similar to concentration, if it takes damage while unhinging its jaw it must make a con 12 save or lock its jaw again. During the First round, it unhinges its jaws, then makes the attack on the second round as long as the target hasn't moved away.
Crunch. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft., 1 target. Hit 60(30d4+5) [pierce] damage. If this brings the target to 0 hit points, the head of the target is ripped of instantly killing it.
Catch. If an attacker it can see, makes a melee attack on it, it can use a reaction to catch the attack(make Blitz Claw Strike) on a hit, it catches the weapon and strikes the attacker.
Gladius Blitz. If a creature it can see moves IN OR OUT of range, it can make a Blitz Claw strike on them and can make a grapple attempt. If the creature is moving out of range, the grapple has advantage.
Reflex dodge. If an attacker it can see makes an aoe spell attack, such as fireball, it can use its reaction to give it a +5 to the dex roll, if it passes, it takes no damage.
Description
This large Insect is the embodiment of a nightmare. An apex predator that strikes fear into all creatures. Almost Nothing and i mean just about nothing even dares to challenge it. These insects are mostly solitary creatures unless they have young and are almost impossible to find. Its hyperactive camouflage allows it to blend into almost any environment making it the perfect ambush predator. In fact they are so perfect that they live in just about every biome other than one of a cold climate. They are cold blooded so naturally they don't do well in the cold. Its attacks are so quick and precise that often times, its prey is killed before it even knows what hit them. And even if the creature somehow survived, the strike has so much force that a lot of the time they are left in shock. Because of this they are feared by hunters globally, especially in forested or jungle areas where they are most common. These predatory insects are not picky eaters, if its meat, they will eat it making them very successful. And in the off chance that they are not doing so well, researches say they can last weeks without the need of food or water, similar to many scorpions. They also seem to be pretty crafty, using their claws to grab long sticks to force creatures out of dens or using rocks to break hard shells. Most bizarrely, they make for great parents, the female bites the male's head off and uses his body as sustenance for her and her young. Then the mother fiercely defends its young, fending off anything and everything, including larger creatures like drakes and wyverns, almost as if she has no fear. She defends them so fiercely because upon hatching, they are only about the size of a normal praying mantis, the babies grow to full size within 4 months, and then leave the mother to go live out their life.
"These creatures are most fascinating, i have always wanted to meet a live one face to face, but they are too hard to find and simply to dangerous to get close to. I have had many men die at the hands of them in some of the most gruesome ways. They sit perched almost invisible on trees, rocks, cliffs, or vines and strike with such speed that they are killed before my men even have a chance to scream. Other times it would sit just above our heads, again Camouflaged, with its jaw unhinged and as we walked under it, it would snap its jaws tight decapitating them instantly... it was oddly fascinating. This may be unachievable, however, I reckon they could make for some unrivaled battle mounts. However i'm not to sure they would care too much about loyalty.
-Arthur Mendzil,
wildlife researcher
Comments