A Vermicious Knid is actually one large muscle, and extremely flexible. Their normal appearance, although they are shapeshifters, is a giant, egg-shaped muscle that pulsates and seems to be full of jelly. Knids eat through instant absorbing and submerging beings in their bodies. Their shapeshifting is their main weapon, and can give themselves four, eight, or two legs. They, however, cannot change in color and simply manipulate their form into different shapes, in a way, contortionists.

Essentially, the Vermicious Knids live on Vermes. They are also located in space, and on the planets of the races they have devoured.

Lair Actions

On initiative count 6, the Vermicious Knid takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the Vermicious Knid can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:

• Calling in a swarm of other Vermicious Knids to devour any players who fail the dexterity saving throw required when this happens. If/when the battle is won, one or more party members must open up the Vermicious Knids who swallowed their teammates. The fallen are out of battle once eaten and in order to be healed the Vermicious Knids that ate them must be killed in under 20 turns per player or the eaten are digested. If the offending said Vermicious Knids are killed, they must be opened up so that the teammate(s) inside them can be helped. Once retrieved they can be healed. If everyone is eaten then the battle is lost.
• Consuming one member. This can only be done by the MAIN Vermicious Knid, not any summoned. To survive this a Dex. saving throw is required via a D20. If a Nat. 20 is rolled the attack misses. If a Nat. 20 is NOT rolled then the player is eaten. Once eaten, the player must attempt a Dex. saving throw for their turn until the battle is lost/won. To survive without being digested requires a roll of 16 or more, Nat. or otherwise, until freed/losing. If the saving throw fails then this player is out of battle, as they are being digested, and if the battle is won the Vermicious Knid must be cut open to save the player. If 30 turns per player pass while the player is being digested, they die.

Regional Effects

The region containing a legendary Vermicious Knids lair is barren, which creates one or more of the following effects:

• All food and water present instantly is consumed by a random Vermicious Knid who swoops in every time. If a player has any of their food/water/edible material out in the open/visible (not contained in a backpack or in another way) then Vermicious Knids descend, stripping the character of all food/water/edible materials. Vermicious Knids also attack any shown skin, so COVER UP LADIES.
• No food/water/edible materials will be found, and if any are dropped they disappear.

If the Vermicious Knid dies, these effects fade over the course of 3 days. Plants and wildlife begin to flourish, and the locals (who were hiding who-knows-where) reestablish their towns. Players can expect undying gratitude from the locals, and any, and I mean ANY favors will be granted.