Unique Corrosives. Creatures and objects made of metal or stone are completely immune to the damage of the bilething's corrosive spray, and rust monsters have advantage on the Dexterity saving throw of the bilething's corrosive spray attack as well as resistance to its damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing damage.
Corrosive Spray (Recharge 5-6). The bilething sprays acid in a 15 foot cone. Each creature in that line must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. If the creature is wearing non-metallic armor such as leather or its natural armor, the creature has disadvantage on the saving throw. If it is wearing metallic armor, it has advantage. Additionally, oozes and plants that are struck by the bilething's corrosive spray attack effectively have vulnerability to the bilething's acid damage, and if the plant or ooze typically has resistance or immunity to acid damage, such resistances or immunities are ignored
Description
A bilething roughly resembles a slightly larger, fiercer-looking rust monster that lacks the iconic antennae, instead having what appears to be a set of oversized mandibles that aide its ability to climb.
Kin of Rust Monsters. The relationship bilethings share with rust monsters go beyond their similar appearance. When on their own, bilethings may find themselves be accompanied by a pack of 4-6 rust monsters that instinctively follow them. The acidic spray of a bilething rapidly melts through bone, flesh, wood, and clothing, reducing them to a pile of half-solid mush in seconds which the bilething greedily devours, its powerful jaws easily crushing the more durable parts of its meal. This acid, however powerful, is completely ineffective against metal and rock, and thus it relies on its cabal of rust monsters to mitigate this weakness when going up against creatures that wield metallic weapons and armor. The hide of rust monsters is incredibly resistant to the acid of the bilething, protecting them if they accidently get caught in the bilething's attacks. In addition to this resistance, the acid produced by bilethings loses its potency rapidly, allowing the rust monsters to safely pick through the piles of mush left behind to reach potential treats that they otherwise couldn't.
Spawned of Spite. It is said that the first bilethings were spawned when an ancient black dragon magically bred them from rust monsters in an initial attempt to spite the demon lord Juiblex when a horde of its followers leveled its home and nearly slew it. As it's ancient mind went to work, the dragon came across a horde of rust monsters and began to experiment on them. At first, the dragon simply wanted to create a monster that would wipe the world clean of Juiblex's spawn, but as it worked, it had a better idea. The creatures retained their ability to spray a unique chemical compound that is especially brutal to oozes, but also could be used to "prune" the plant life around the dragon's lair. It is thanks to this decision that has resulted in bilethings being one of the few creatures that can confidently hunt oozes and magically empowered plants like shambling mounds and blights. Although the bilething's original creator would take the secrets on how to create them to his grave, the methods on how to breed, train and care for bilethings would spread like wildfire among the rest of his kind, and now every black dragon worth its salt knows these things and has 1-2 dozen domesticated bilethings under its command at any time, the exception being wyrmlings which seldom have more than a half-dozen. A black dragon that is impressed or amused by another creature that manages to somehow earn its favor may given a domesticated bilething, as well as any knowledge or equipment necessary to properly care for it. If the dragon later discovers that it's "gift" is being neglected or abused by its owner, the dragon hunts down the offender, reclaims the bilething, and drags the fool kicking and screaming to its lair to be thoroughly tortured.
Bilethings are typically much more aggressive than rust monsters, but can be tamed through offerings of food. Once tamed, a bilething is a fiercely loyal companion that will gleefully give up its own life if it means giving its master a chance at survival.
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