Vermis Scorparex
Medium Aberration, Neutral Evil
Armor Class: 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 45 (6d10 + 12)
Speed: 30 ft. (land), 40 ft. (swim)
Challenge Rating: 2 (450 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 14 | 15 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
Saving Throws: Strength +5, Dexterity +4, Constitution +4
Skills: Stealth +4
Damage Vulnerabilities: none
Damage Resistances: none
Damage Immunities: poison, psychic
Condition Immunities: charmed, frightened
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages: understands Aquan
Spellcasting
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Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Vermis Scorparex makes two attacks: one with its **Pincer Attack** and one with its **Tail Sting**. This showcases its predatory nature and adaptability in combat.
Pincer Attack: **Melee Weapon Attack:** +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
**Hit:** 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage.
**Description:** The Vermis Scorparex lunges forward, its massive pincers snapping with terrifying force in an attempt to crush or grapple its prey. This attack emphasizes its aggressive hunting style and showcases its natural weaponry.
Tail Sting: **Melee Weapon Attack:** +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
**Hit:** 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.
**Effect:** The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on success.
**Description:** With a swift flick of its serpentine tail, the Vermis Scorparex strikes with a sharp stinger, injecting potent venom into its victim. This attack not only delivers immediate damage but also puts the target at risk of being incapacitated by the poison, adding a layer of strategy to using this ability.
Ambush Predator: **Trigger:** When the Vermis Scorparex is hidden from its target prior to the start of combat.
**Effect:** If it successfully attacks during the first round of combat while hidden, it deals an additional 3d6 damage.
**Description:** Taking advantage of the terrain and its own stealth, the Vermis Scorparex launches a surprise attack, aiming to cripple its prey before they even realize they are being hunted. This ability encourages tactical positioning and makes stealth an important factor in its encounters.
Swarm Tactics: **Effect:** When a Vermis Scorparex is within 15 feet of at least one other Vermis Scorparex, it gains advantage on all attack rolls against targets that are within 5 feet of its allies.
**Description:** This ability allows the Scorparex to coordinate attacks with its fellow minions, making it a more formidable presence in combat when encountered in groups. The synergy between the monsters enhances their effectiveness and reflects their primal hunting instincts.
Coastal Evasion (Recharge 5-6): **Effect:** As a reaction to being targeted with a ranged attack, the Vermis Scorparex can move up to half its movement speed without provoking opportunity attacks or may attempt to hide if there’s sufficient cover.
**Description:** With remarkable agility, the Vermis Scorparex can sidestep incoming thrusts and projectiles, utilizing its knowledge of the coast’s terrain to evade and reposition itself, just like a predator navigating through tide pools.
Swallowing Tide (Recharge 6): **Effect:** As an action, the Vermis Scorparex can create a localized wave effect in a 15-foot cone in front of it. Each creature in that area must make a DC 13 Strength saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success. Additionally, targets that fail the save are knocked prone.
**Description:** Channeling the primal forces of the sea, the Vermis Scorparex unleashes a ferocious wave, mimicking the actions of the ocean itself to knock its foes off balance, creating chaotic conditions for its enemies while maintaining its ruthless predatory approach.
Appearance
Physical Description of the Vermis Scorparex
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Size and Shape: The Vermis Scorparex is a formidable creature, measuring approximately 6 feet in length. Its body is muscular yet streamlined, resembling the sleek form of a shark, allowing it to navigate both water and land with impressively swift agility. The overall shape is serpentine, tapering into a powerful tail that aids in propulsion through water and balances its movement on land.
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Coloration: The outer shell of the Vermis Scorparex is predominantly a dark greenish-black, reminiscent of abyssal depths, with iridescent highlights that shimmer in various shades of teal and ocean blue as it shifts. These colors provide excellent camouflage against rocky coasts and murky waters, allowing it to blend into its surroundings effectively.
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Texture and Surface Features: Its skin possesses a unique blend of textures, with a chitinous carapace that is rugged and slightly glossy. This hard outer layer is juxtaposed against smooth scales that shimmer under the light, particularly along the sides of its body. Sharp spines radiate from its tail, extending down its back, adding an intimidating visual element to its formidable appearance.
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Facial Features: The Vermis Scorparex’s head is angular and menacing, characterized by a wide maw filled with sharp, serrated teeth similar to those of a shark, capable of tearing through flesh. Its multifaceted eyes, resembling those of an insect, are large and luminescent, glowing with a spectral light that pierces through darkness, offering an almost otherworldly presence. This distinct vision aids in ambush tactics. A pair of smaller, sharp pincers extends from its jaw region, further enhancing its predatory visage.
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Limbs and Appendages: The creature has four muscular legs that end in powerful, clawed appendages capable of grasping prey and navigating rough terrain. The front limbs terminate in oversized pincers equipped with jagged edges intended for rending flesh. The tail, not only powerful and serpentine, features sharp spines along its length, functioning both as a weapon and a stabilizing structure during movement.
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Special Features: The creature’s most notable feature is its luminescent eyes, which possess the ability to glow in dim light, effectively illuminating its surroundings for greater visibility. Additionally, bioluminescent patterns may ripple across its skin, revealing ancient ritualistic markings connected to its abyssal origins whenever it becomes agitated or threatened.
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Posture and Movement: The Vermis Scorparex displays a low, crouched posture reminiscent of a predator stalking its prey. It moves with a blend of grace and power, exhibiting bursts of speed either in water, where it swims smoothly, or on land, where it scuttles rapidly across rocky surfaces. Its movement is agile and fluid, each action deliberate and lethal, emphasizing its predatory nature.
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Additional Notable Traits: A tough chitinous armor covers its back, segmented and patterned, allowing for flexible movement while providing substantial protection. The dark markings across its body are not merely decorative; they serve a purpose, allowing the Vermis Scorparex to blend seamlessly into its coastal environment, heightening its ambush ability. Moreover, the presence of eerie mist or water vapor often shrouds its form, hinting at its aquatic origins and the dark energies that suffuse its being.
Tactical Information
Combat Tactics for Vermis Scorparex
The Vermis Scorparex employs a combination of cunning ambush tactics, swarm behavior, and aggressiveness during combat. Its behavior reflects its predatory nature and adaptability, allowing it to take full advantage of its environment and the flaws of its adversaries.
Combat Behavior
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Ambush Predator:
- The Vermis Scorparex prefers to hide in the shadows of tide pools or behind rocky outcroppings, utilizing its Stealth to remain undetected before striking.
- It will often stay completely still, awaiting the opportune moment to pounce on unsuspecting adventurers, using its Ambush Predator ability to maximize its damage in the initial strike.
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Hit-and-Run Tactics:
- Once engaged, the Scorparex employs hit-and-run tactics, utilizing its swim speed to retreat into the water after an attack, then repositioning for another ambush.
- It will maintain its distance when taking damage and prioritize retreating to water, where it feels most at home, showcasing its dexterity and speed.
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Swarm Coordination:
- When confronted by multiple adventurers, the Vermis Scorparex signals its allies using low growls or clicks (even though unable to speak), triggering the Swarm Tactics ability.
- When pack members are present, it will collaboratively coordinate attacks, flanking enemies and ensuring they are within reach, effectively using disadvantage for opponents while maximizing its own advantage.
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Engagement Choices:
- The Scorparex will prioritize lightly armored foes or those showing weakness, aiming to stun them with its Tail Sting to impair their movement and force them into a defensive position.
- If not currently threatened, the Scorparex will target spellcasters or ranged attackers who could pose a risk in future turns.
Environmental Use
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Utilizing Terrain:
- The creature will navigate terrain to its advantage, using rocky surfaces to break line of sight with ranged attackers and to create natural cover against melee fighters.
- If in shallow water or tide pools, it favors using waves or underwater kelp for concealment, making it harder for adventurers to anticipate its strikes.
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Disruption of Movement:
- Whenever possible, the Vermis Scorparex will attempt to provoke difficult terrain through environmental features, encouraging adventurers to stagger, which is particularly beneficial if allies are close by to exploit confusion or disarray.
Narrative Interactions
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Intimidation:
- In narrative scenarios, the Vermis Scorparex can invoke fear through its appearance and relentless cunning. Players may hear its low, rumbling growl echoing through tide pools or witness the glint of its multifaceted eyes in the dark, prompting unease long before it strikes.
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Faction Influence:
- As the creature embodies the legacy of the Abyssal Cult, it can act as a focal point for investigating the cult’s remnants. The Scorparex may have ties to ancient artifacts, with hints left in the environment that suggest the presence of cultists or their long-lost secrets.
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Unpredictable Behavior:
- Players may witness the Scorparex display signs of intelligence; for example, using its pincers to rearrange stones, creating barriers or distractions. This intelligent design in the fight can create additional challenges that require critical thinking from the players.
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Retreat and Regroup:
- Should the battle turn against them, the Vermis Scorparex may retreat into the depths, perhaps leaving a cryptic trace or message behind, hinting at a greater scheme of the Abyssal Cult that remains undone. Players who survive an encounter may hear whispers of the creature’s warning calls echoing, indicative of a larger plot at play.
Conclusion
The Vermis Scorparex stands as a formidable and engaging foe, both in combat and in narrative exploration. Its tactics not only reflect its bestial nature but serve to enrich the overall experience by challenging the players to think creatively and work collectively while navigating a multi-faceted encounter against a creature born from the malevolence of ancient deities.
