Burrowed Leap. With a 10-foot burrowing start, the Balahara can long jump out of or across the ground up to 25 feet.
Multiattack. The Balahara makes two Claw attacks.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) slashing damage. If the target is a creature, it must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be afflicted with waterblight for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, end the effect on a successful save.
Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Large or larger creature. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 14). Until this grapple ends, the creature is restrained, and the balahara can't constrict another target.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Mud Spit. Ranged Weapon Attack. +6 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d6) acid damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be afflicted with waterblight for 1 minute. The blighted target can repeat its saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a successful save.
Tail Charge. The Balahara uses its speed to lunge forward with its tail in a 30-foot line that is 10-feet wide. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC14 Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature also takes 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage. If a creature is in a space the Balahara ends its movement, it is pushed 5 feet out of the balahara's space into an unoccupied space of the creature's choice. If no unoccupied space is within range, the creature instead falls prone in the Balahara's space.
Mud Spray (Recharge 4-6). The Balahara spews mud in a 30-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 9 (2d8) acid damage and is afflicted with waterblight for 1 minute. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn't afflicted with waterblight. The blighted creature can make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a successful save.
Mud Bomb (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The Balahara spews a giant ball of mud at a point within 60 feet of it. Each creature in a 10-foot radius sphere of that point must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 9 (2d8) acid damage and is afflicted with waterblight for 1 minute. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn't afflicted with waterblight. The blighted creature can make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a successful save.
Retreat. When the Balahara is hit by a melee attack, it can use its reaction to leap 20 feet away from the attacker without provoking opportunity attack
Description
The Balahara is a serpentine leviathan with four short limbs and a long, drill-like tail. Its body carries small brownish-gray scales that enlarge and sharpen along the flanks into scutes that aid burrowing. The head is tripartite, with three interlocking jaws and a tongue in each section, and both the upper and lower jaws bear saw-edge teeth. The mouth interior emits a faint blue glow, and rows of tiny, scallop-like ocelli (simple eyes) line the inner jaws while cranial eyes are absent. The Balahara has shark-like gill slits sit at the base of the neck and function as sand vents during digging.
The Balahara operates as a desert ambush predator that “swims” through sand by driving the tail and flexing the body in a corkscrew motion. It excavates and maintains quicksand pits to immobilize prey, then erupts from below to seize targets. It can spit mud or expel a viscous black mucus during combat. It climbs and clings to walls or pillars when terraindemands vertical access. The species usually hunts alone but can summon nearby balahara to form a pack that attempts to overwhelm larger adversaries. It relies on acute hearing and light-sensitive jaw ocelli to track movement in shifting sand, and it defends burrow sites with immediate, persistent aggression.
The Balahara inhabits arid plains and dune seas, including wind-cut canyons and subsand caverns. It establishes lairs on stable dune crests or bedrock shelves. Records show its activity increases during sandstorms and hot seasonal winds.
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