Tiny Plant, Unaligned
AC 20    Initiative +5 (15)
HP 80 (32d4)
Speed 0 ft.
Mod Save
STR 1 −5 −5
DEX 1 −5 −5
CON 10 +0 +0
Mod Save
INT 19 +4 +9
WIS 17 +3 +8
CHA 18 +4 +9
Immunities Blinded, Deafened
Senses Tremorsense 300 ft.; Passive Perception 13
Languages None
CR 13 (XP 10,000, or 11,500 in lair; PB +5)
Traits

Buried. The root nidus lives 10 feet underground attached to the root network above it. While buried, it has Total Cover.

Root Mind. All artemisian plants tapped into the root network can use the root nidus'  senses. These artemisian plants also replace their Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores with the root nidus' scores, and use the root nidus' bonuses when making saving throws in any of these stats.

Actions

Fortify. The root nidus chooses one artemisian plant within 300 feet, granting it Resistance to all damage types except Fire damage, and the chosen plant has Advantage on attack rolls and d20 Tests, both until the end of the root nidus' next turn.

Stunning Color (Recharge 5-6). The root nidus blooms with branches in three 5-foot squares within 120 feet of itself. Wisdom Saving Throw: DC 18, each creature within 5 feet of a bloom. Failure: The target must use its Reaction to move toward the nearest artemisian plant it can see, and then is Stunned until the end of its next turn.

Lair and Lair Actions

Wherever a root nidus plants itself, the surrounding 300 feet is its lair. On Initiative count 20 (losing Initiative ties), the root nidus takes a Lair Action to cause one of the following effects (it cannot take the same action two turns in a row):

  • Grappling Vines. Strength Saving Throw: DC 18, each creature in a 50-foot Square within 120 feet of the root nidus. Failure: The target is Prone and Grappled (escape DC 18).
  • Grow Long. The nidus chooses two artemisian plants within 300 feet of itself. The chosen plants have doubled range on their Vine Whip attacks, and double the distance their Reel action can move a creature.
  • Thorny Thicket. Each artemisian plant within 300 feet of the nidus gains a +2 bonus to AC, and the area in a 15-foot Emanation from each artemisian plant is Difficult Terrain. A non-artemisian plant creature that moves through the terrain take 4 Piercing damage for every 5 feet it moves.

Regional Effects

The area within the lair is warped by the nidus' presence, creatign one or more of the following effects:

  • Dense Foliage. Jungles and forests where a root nidus lives grow extraordinarily thick to hide the artemisian plant among the foliage. Travel through the affected area takes twice the time as usual, and Wisdom (Survival) checks to navigate it are made with Disadvantage.
  • Grim Pickings. The artemisian plants consume the majority of smaller wildlife, making hunting and gathering difficult. Skill checks made to gather food in the area are made with Disadvantage.

Previous Versions

Name Date Modified Views Adds Version Actions
4/20/2026 6:56:00 PM
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Habitat: ForestSwamp

TheBooksDoctor

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