Monster Monday: Giant Tardigrade, Resilient Little Buggers

Today's Monster Monday is the giant tardigrade, a man-eating giant version of the tiny creature often studied for its incredible ability to survive extremes of pressure, temperature, or radiation.  Tardigrades can even survive in the vacuum of space.  But can they survive a group of low-level adventurers?

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Arnvida stops to examine the body.  Another desiccated sheep corpse, the same fist-sized holes punched into its flesh.  She looks back to the rest of the party to give a wordless acknowledgement of what they all know: something weird is killing Bolg's livestock.  But Perrin isn't paying attention.  He's staring to the west, mouth flapping dumbly, trying and failing to mouth some warning.  Arnvida follows his gaze to the stone well.  Two fat, trundling creatures - like pigs fashioned from a giant's toenail clippings - are clawing their way out on eight stubby legs, toothy tube-like mouths pulsing hungrily as if anticipating the adventurers' meat juices.  

The following text in gold is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2016 Jonah Bomgaars.

Giant Tardigrade                CR 2

XP 600

N Medium vermin (aquatic)

Init -1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception -2

DEFENSE

AC 14, touch 9, flat-footed 14 (+5 natural, -1 Dex)

hp 22 (3d8+9)

Fort +6 (+10 vs. poison), Ref +0, Will -1

Resist cold 10; Defensive Abilities mindless, stasis

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft., swim 20 ft.

Melee bite +4 (1d4+2 plus 1 Con damage), 2 claws +4 (1d3+2 plus grab)

STATISTICS

Str 15, Dex 8, Con 17, Int --, Wis 6, Cha 4

Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 13

SQ amphibious

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Stasis (Ex)

When a giant tardigrade is severely threatened by environmental hazards, it can go into stasis.  While in stasis, the tardigrade gains a +4 bonus to AC and can take no actions.  It can survive for decades without water or air while in stasis, or in areas of intense pressure or vacuum.  A tardigrade in stasis is revived in 1d4 rounds by the presence of water if it is not otherwise threatened by pressure or lack of air. 

   When a giant tardigrade takes cold damage exceeding its resistance, it goes into stasis for one round.  

ECOLOGY

Environment any

Organization solitary, pair, herd (3-12)

Treasure none

Giant tardigrades, also known as water bears, are an otherworldly species of vermin like no other.  Most tardigrades are creatures so small they cannot be observed without magic or glass optics, but giant tardigrades can reach the size of dogs, pigs, or even black bears.  Their barrel-shaped, segmented bodies are covered in chitinous plates that protect it from predators and stiffen to ward off environmental hardships like extreme cold or pressure.  They use their extending tube-like mouth to pierce their prey and drain their juices, leaving behind only a desiccated husk.  Perhaps the tardigrade’s most impressive adaptation – though one not often observed – is its incredible resiliency.  By going into stasis, tardigrades can survive intense cold, lack of air, lack of water, or even the vacuum of space for decades.

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As always, this Monster Monday is made possible by Patreon.  Any patron pledging $5+ per month can see a new monster every week.  The giant tardigrade first appeared on my Patreon back in March.

-your eutelic d20 Despot