Brain Jacker Broodmother

Corpse Shield. The Brain Jacker Broodmother stays sequestered within the body of its host until it is forced to leave, typically by the destruction of the hosts body. While within the hosts body, it is shielded from outside damage, shifting and maneuvering the deteriorating body to block incoming damage

The Broodmother has 25 Temporary Hit Points while it is within its host, and is incapable of gaining more Temporary Hit Points until it exits the hosts body. Once these Temporary Hit Points are spent, the hosts body is destroyed and the Broodmother becomes vulnerable. Due to her size, a Broodmother is incapable of taking on another host once theirs is destroyed.

Mutant Hybrid. Brain Jacker spiders have been selective bred to have the following features found in other forms of life: the dual pair of wings of a Dragonfly, the stinger of a Wasp, and the ability to control and/or alter the behavior of creatures like a Cordyceps fungus.

• Each pair of wings has an AC of 10 and 10 Hit points. If one pair of wings is destroyed, the Broodmother's Flying speed is reduced to half its normal amount. When both pairs of wings are destroyed, the Broodmother is rendered incapable of flight.
• The Broodmother's stinger has an AC of 15 and 10 Hit Points. When it is destroyed, the Broodmother loses access to its Stinger attack found in its actions.

Limited Telepathy. The Broodmother has the ability to produce a swarm of genetic copies of itself that it can mentally control and direct, out to a distance of 120 ft.,  in order to defend itself. When you roll initiative, the Broodmother spawns 1d4 + 1 swarms of these drones. These drones use the Swarm of Brain Jacker Spiderlings stat block (see Brain Jacker Spiderling and Swarm of Brain Jacker Spiderlings homebrew entries to learn more).

Multiattack. The Brain Jacker Broodmother makes one Bite attack and one Stinger attack.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage plus 2 (1d4) poison damage.

Stinger. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage. The target must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw, or suffer 7 (2d6) poison damage and become Poisoned for 1 minute. A creature that succeeds on the save takes half as much damage and is not Poisoned.

While Poisoned in this way, the target suffers 2 points of Poison damage at the end of each of their turns. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the start of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Command Drones. As a bonus action, the Broodmother can telepathically issue a command to her drone swarms. Choose one of the listed below:

• Attack. Each drone swarm will attack the nearest creature that they are aware of and is not a Brain Jacker Broodmother.
• Defend. Each drone swarm will attack the creature closest to themselves that is hostile to the Broodmother.
• Mark. The Broodmother designates a target, causing all drone swarms to pursue and attack that creature. If the creature is ever more than 120 ft. away from the Broodmother, the mark vanishes and the drone swarms immediately assume the Defend command.

Spawn Drone Swarm. The Broodmother lays a clutch of eggs, that have 5 Hit Point and an AC of 10. At the start of the Broodmother's next turn, if they have not been destroyed, the clutch hatches, spawning a drone swarm that takes its turn immediately after the Broodmother.