Nepenthergast (5e Creature)
Nepenthergast
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Huge plant, unaligned Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
Saving Throws Strength +1 Colonial Physiology. The nepenthergast is composed of a series of polyps hanging off a central vine. It has a float, 12 (4d6) feeding polyps, and 40 (6d10 + 7) reproductive polyps. If it takes 5 or more damage in a turn, it loses a reproductive polyp; over 15 it loses a feeding polyp; and over 30 damage the float deflates and reduces its flying speed to 0 for 1 hour. A creature that deals over 15 damage can choose to kill 2 reproductive polyps, and a creature which deals over 30 can kill 2 feeding or 4 reproductive polyps instead. The nepenthergast regains 5 hit points and regrows 2 reproductive and 1 feeding polyp each minute it doesn't take damage. False Appearance. While the nepenthergast remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a brightly-colored tropical vine. Innate Spellcasting. The nepenthergast's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma. As long as it has a reproductive polyp remaining, it can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components: At will: silent image Reactive Polyps. For each feeding polyp the nepenthergast has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks. ACTIONSMultiattack. The nepenthergast makes up to two attacks with its colonial sting. It may replace one of these attacks with its pollen cloud if it has reproductive polyps remaining. Colonial Sting. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4) piercing damage for each feeding polyp the nepenthergast has. Pollen Cloud. The nepenthergast creates a pollen cloud in a 30-foot radius. The cloud spreads around corners, and that area is heavily obscured to creatures other than the nepenthergast. Each creature other than the nepenthergast that ends its turn there must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw, taking 1 poison damage for each reproductive polyp the nepenthergast has and becoming charmed for 1d4 rounds on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A strong current disperses the cloud, which otherwise disappears at the end of the nepenthergast's next turn.
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A rare tropical creature, the nepenthergast is formed from dozens of specialized individuals attached to a core stalk. The "head" or "float" is a large gas bag which provides flight, while further down, feeding polyps sting and drain prey and reproductive polyps belch dense, psychotropic pollen. Each polyp is relatively intelligent, and the overall organism is capable of remarkably coordinated movement and attack. Creatures which inhale sufficient quantities of nepenthergast pollen suffer pleasant but debilitating hallucinations and may regard the creature as a friend. If possible, nepenthergast prefer to keep prey alive and feed from it over the course of several days or weeks, eventually reducing them to a withered, peaceful looking mummy. These they may hang from branches in their territory, or manipulate with their tendrils to further toy with intruders. |
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