Gruemaw (5e Creature)

Gruemaw

Huge monstrosity, unaligned Armor Class 14 (natural armor) Hit Points 172 (15d12 + 75) Speed 15 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 17 (+3) 6 (-2) 21 (+5) 7 (-2) 11 (+0) 6 (-2) Skills Perception +3 Damage Resistances poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks Condition Immunities prone Senses blindsight 20 ft., passive Perception 13 Languages — Challenge 9 (5,000 XP) Keen Smell. The gruemaw has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell. It can't use its blindsight while unable to smell. Fatty Flesh. A creature that touches the gruemaw, hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet, or is hit by its crush attack must succeed on a DC 14 Strength save or become restrained against it. It remakes this save at the start of its turn, becoming freed on a success. Whenever the gruemaw moves, creatures restrained by it take 4 (1d8) bludgeoning damage for every 5 feet it moves. ACTIONS Multiattack. The gruemaw uses its suction breath, then makes a waste cannon attack or lobs a squirt. Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 42 (12d6) slashing damage. Crush. The gruemaw moves 15 ft. in one direction, using up all of its movement. Each creature whose space it passes through make a DC 16 Strength save; taking 14 (3d8 + 1) bludgeoning damage and become restrained against it on a failed save, or taking half as much damage and being knocked prone on a success. Creatures which are already prone make this save with disadvantage. Lob Squirt. The gruemaw shoots a friendly gruemaw squirt at an unoccupied space within 40 ft. of it. It must complete a long rest to use this action again. Suction Breath. The gruemaw pulls all Medium or smaller creatures or objects in a 30 foot cone centered on it 15 feet straight toward it. Waste Cannon. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range 40 ft., one target. Hit: 30 (6d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage.

Art by Jonathan Wojcik Limbless and boneless, the gruemaw's flabby body is supported by its respiratory system, a tough and rubbery network of bladders and hoses constantly emitting a thunderous, rumbling wheeze when the creature is active. By expanding an especially massive central sac, it can generate enough suction to drag smaller prey and unsecured objects into its jaws from a distance of approximately twice its body length. Gruemaw make incredibly destructive battle monsters, not only chewing their way through enemy weaponry and architecture but projecting the resulting waste matter like tremendous cannonballs. The gruemaw generally remains stationary in deep, conical pits for most of their existence, enjoying a steady stream of detritus and whatever organisms wander close enough to their suction range. In the field, they may locomote by slowly rolling in their semimorphous outer skin, trapping whatever they barrels over until it can be ferried to their mouth, but prefers to wait in ambush or enjoy assisted transportation. Left to its own devices, a gruemaw wants little more than to bury itself and wait sleepily for food to stumble within reach. Outside of feeding behavior, its temperament is relaxed and friendly, enjoying company as long as it does not have to exert itself too much.

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