Magic Scent. The arcane muncher can pinpoint, by scent, the location of magical items within 30 feet of it.
Arcane Absorption. Any magical weapon or item that hits or touches the arcane muncher has its power siphoned. After dealing damage, the weapon loses any magical benefits outside of treating its damage as magical until the end of the attacking creature's next turn. If the weapon or item comes into contact with the muncher again before the end of the attacking creature's next turn it becomes completely nonmagical for 1 minute. If the object comes into contact with an arcane muncher again before this minute has passed its residual magic is absorbed and the item ceases to be a magical item indefinitely.
Magic Targeter. When attacking a creature wearing magical clothing or armor its attack bonus is doubled and the dc on its tentacle action increases by 2.
Magic Resistance. The arcane muncher has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Shield Bug. Other arcane munchers within 5 feet of this creature gain a +2 bonus to their armor class. Arcane munchers may only benefit from this ability from one creature at a time.
Multiattack. The arcane muncher makes one attack with its bite and one attack with its crushing claws, it may replace its bite attack with its tentacle.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage.
Crushing Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage. On hit the target must make a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Tentacle. The arcane muncher lashes out at a magical object it can see within 5 feet of it. If the object isn't being worn or carried, the touch drains the object of its magic completely and it becomes a mundane object, objects that are larger than a 5x5 square take 2d10 rounds in contact with the tentacle to be fully drained. If the object is being worn or carried by a creature, the creature can make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw to avoid the arcane muncher's touch. If the creature fails the saving throw a magic item of the arcane muncher's choice is subjected to the first stage of its arcane absorption trait, failing by 5 or more the item is subjected to the second stage of the trait. When magic is absorbed through the arcane muncher's tentacles it gains 15 temporary hitpoints.
Description
Arcane Munchers are arthropodic creatures resembling rust monsters, albeit with tentacles instead of antennae and appearing in vibrant colors and patterns. Like rust monsters they are incredibly ravenous creatures that seek to eat their own weight a day. Most of a arcane muncher's diet is comprised of fungus and roots that it constantly forages for, however, their truest desire it to devour the arcane energy found in magical substances and items. The presence of such items provoke the hunting instincts and aggression of arcane munchers.This has made them a prominent nuisance and danger for adventurers and arcanists whom become targets for the normally docile insectoids.
Arcane Munchers due to their appetites and tastes wander further from where they spawn than normal rust monsters, this leads to them being found in a variety of environments. Despite their wide ranging and nomadic ways these creatures will always try and lair in dark, damp areas when not foraging or hunting, it is believed their eggs require low light and high humidity in order to gestate.
These arthropod monsters also prefer to live and travel in groups. Commonly they forage and hunt in small packs of 4-8 drones but large hives consisting of hundreds have also been found. When such a hive is formed the largest female undergoes a metamorphosis into a queen, growing larger and dominant while taking on a majority of the hive's reproduction. Queen arcane munchers are able to lay dozens of eggs at a time compared to normal females and can give rise to other variations not commonly found in smaller packs. Known variations are the common drone, more predatory warriors, the volatile magebugs, and the powerful centurions.
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