Pack Tactics. The Black Kruthik has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the kruthik’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Tunneler. The Black Kruthik can burrow through solid rock at half its burrowing speed and leaves a 10-foot-diameter tunnel in its wake.
Poisonous Skin. Any creature that grapples the Black Kruthik or otherwise comes into direct contact with the Kruthik's skin must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 minute. A poisoned creature no longer in direct contact with the Kruthik can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Sticky Acid. The acid of a Black Kruthik is incredibly adhesive. Any creature that is not a Kruthik, will reduce their walking speed to 5 while in the acid. A non Kruthik creature ending their turn in the Acid will take 1D6 Acid Damage.
Multiattack. The Black Kruthik makes two Stab or Spike attacks and one tail attack.
Stab. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) acid damage.
Spike. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) acid damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d6 + 4) poison damage. A creature hit by this attack must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 minute
Acid Spray (Recharge 5–6). The kruthik sprays acid in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Misty Step. (2/Day) The Black Kruthik can cast Misty Step.
Description
Black Kruthik's are Kruthik's that have typically been living in the Underdark for too long, but can also be the result of a Lich or other powerful mage. No one knows if these creatures are natural to the material plane, or if they were originally created by someone and later propogated.
These Kruthik's appear completely black and their eyes are white. Their acid is also incredibly sticky, unlike normal Kruthiks whose acid only burns. Their mouths and spikes are coated in this unique acid, making them much more deadly. They tend to have more legs, many smaller ones that give them a much finer and unsettling movement.
In addition to the acid running through their bodies, their skin is also coated in a thin poison. Black Kruthik's also have a long poisonous tail with a scythe-like blade at the end.
Black Kruthik's typically lay eggs in the corpses of dead creatures, which allow their eggs to stay warm and give them a meal when they hatch. Although the eggs can survive just fine in most conditions, including extreme cold or heat, making them hard to exterminate as they tend to hide their eggs incredibly well.
This variant of the Kruthik is rarely seen. When a hive is discovered, communities tend to abandon their homes in search for safer lands.
Kruthiks
Kruthiks are chitin-covered reptiles that hunt in packs and nest in sprawling subterranean warrens. They are attracted to sources of heat, such as dwarven forges and pools of molten lava, and carve out lairs as close to such locations as possible. As they burrow through the earth, they leave behind tunnels—evidence that is often the first clue to the nearby presence of a kruthik hive. Kruthiks also make use of preexisting underground chambers, incorporating them into their lairs when they can.
Kruthiks communicate with one another through a series of hisses and chittering noises. These sounds can often be heard in advance of a kruthik attack. Whenever their lair is invaded, kruthik guards send out an alarm by rapidly tapping the stone floor with their sharp legs.
In addition to having an acute sense of smell, kruthiks can see in the dark and can detect vibrations in the earth around them. They take the scent of their own dead as a warning and avoid areas where many other kruthiks have died. Slaying a sufficient number of kruthiks in one area might cause the remaining hive members to move elsewhere.
Although they can feed on carrion, kruthiks prefer live prey. They kill enemies by impaling them on their spiked limbs, then grind up the flesh and bones with mandibles strong enough to chew rock. When several kruthiks gang up on a single foe, they become frenzied and even more lethal.
Kruthiks abide the presence of Constructs, Elementals, Oozes, and Undead, and they use such creatures to help guard their hive. They are smart enough to barricade some tunnels and dig new ones that keep their neighbors away from their eggs.
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