Aggression Pheromone. If a creature that isn't an undead, construct, or elemental starts its turn within 5 feet of the kikimore, the kikimore can force the creature to make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw if the kikimore isn’t incapacitated. On a failure, the target becomes charmed until the start of its next turn, a creature can choose to fail this saving throw if it wishes. While charmed by the kikimore, the creature has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points. If a creature's saving throw is successful, the creature is immune to the kikimore's Aggression Pheromone for the next 24 hours.
Fortitude. The kikimore has advantage on Strength and Constitution checks and saving throws.
Virulent Venom. If the kikimore deals poison damage to a creature, the target's hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the poison damage taken. If this effect reduces the target hit point maximum to 0, it has disadvantage on death saving throws. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a short or long rest, unless the target is poisoned.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 13 (2d12) poison damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned. The poisoned creature must repeat the saving throw every 24 hours, taking 13 (2d12) poison damage on a failed save. The poison lasts until it is removed by the lesser restoration spell or similar magic.
Description
Kikimore
Kikimore workers rarely appear near human settlements, and even then, they only attack when threatened. Is there anything more beautiful than a kikimore — a symbol of hard work, resourcefulness and caution?” — Master Dorregaray in “The Wonderful World of Insectoids"
Insectoid Colony. Kikimores are insectoid monsters that live underground. They usually prefer cooler and dry environment, keeping their distance from warm and damp places, but some subspecies dwell in swamps as well. The kikimores are organized not unlike a termite colony. The queen lays eggs from which soldiers and workers then hatch. Soldiers defend the colony from enemies, while workers build structures and supply food. This division of roles is reflected in their behavior: workers turn aggressive only when attacked or when aggression is artificially induced in them, while soldiers fight any enemy they spot.
Role and Purpose. Life in a kikimore colony is centered around a great, unceasingly procreating female. The landscape around the queen's nest looks like a desert, littered with the remains of unfortunate creatures which unwisely lingered in the area. Not even birdsong can be heard. The beasts' physical appearance underlines their different places in the hierarchy. Workers are smaller, while kikimore soldiers are more massive and protected by thick, chitinous armor. Their horned heads and torsos, as well as the sharp thorns on their legs, clearly identify them as dangerous creatures.
High Proliferation. If left unchecked, kikimore nest can quickly get out of hand. The proliferation rate of the creatures is astonishingly high, as a queen can lay up to two dozen eggs per day, giving birth to a fully grown kikimore in a week or so. Kikimore eggs are thankfully easy to destroy with fire, as they are covered of a bioprotective gel which is extremely flammable. Kikimores are also immune to poison, which make common ways to get rid of vermin inefficient against them. Kikimore nest destruction jobs are a valuable source of income for adventurers, as the destructive and territorial nature of the swarm makes it easy to convince townsfolks to gather a reward to get rid of the nest.
The Threat Below. A few kikimores in town is a nuisance at worst, but left unchecked they may be the downfall of a city. Signs of a kikimore infestation are subtle at start, pets and vermin will start to disappear, a few sightings of strange spider-like creatures might be reported. The work of a kikimore swarm can prove very destructive for a community, as the swarm settles under the town, their countless mandibles will start to chew through rock and earth as they burrow and build tunnels, weakening buildings and eventually collapsing them.
Optional: Kikimore's Venom
The venom emitted by kikimore warrior is one of the most tenacious toxin known to man. Its effects are instantaneous and lasting, liquefying organs and inflicting serious internal injuries after mere seconds:
- Kikimore Venom (Injury). This poison must be harvested from a dead or incapacitated kikimore warrior. A creature subjected to this poison must make on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, it takes 13 (2d12) poison damage and is poisoned. The poisoned creature must repeat the saving throw every 24 hours, taking 13 (2d12) poison damage on a failed save. Until this poison ends, the damage the poison deals can't be healed by any means. The poison lasts until it is cured by a lesser restoration spell or similar magic.
- Kikimore venom costs 450 gp per dose.
Kikimore Warrior
Protect the Colony. A kikimore warrior is a massive insectoid recovered by a protective chitinous exoskeleton. Kikimore warriors defend the workers and the kikimore queen from intruders. They are very dutiful in this, killing anything that comes near the colony. Their hardy build and venomous bite allows them to stand against any foe, and should the enemy attack from afar, they can dig underground, protected until they reach it. Kikimore workers react to pheromones emitted by kikimore warriors. On command, a swarm of workers might begin burrowing tunnels near potential prey to allow for a surprise mass attack. However, if the warrior guiding a swarm is eliminated, the swarm will disperse and the workers cease digging. Other creatures exposed to kikimore warrior pheromones will react aggressively, attacking allies and foes at random.
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