Monster Monday: Termite Mound Guardian, a Swarm-Filled Construct

Today's Monster Monday is the termite mound guardian, a druidic construct full of swarming, biting termites. Crafted from the gigantic termite mounds found in the tropical regions of the world, these stalwart defenders are often created to protect villages, natural resources, or sacred spaces. From a distance, they appear to be ordinary termite mounds, but when interlopers approach, they rise out of the ground, taking on a roughly humanoid form. A flood of angry termites pours from a thousand tiny tunnels throughout its body, massing against the enemy, while other warrior termites take up defensive positions along the mound's body, ready to bite any who make contact with it.

via Wikimedia

5 meter high Cathedral Termite Mound - Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

I like the idea that there is a whole range of naturalistic constructs that only druids can make. Like, if a wizard saw a termite mound guardian, they might think, "Why not just make a clay golem?" But druids see these as something that augments and complements nature, where golems are something that contravenes the natural order.

The following text in gold is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2018 Jonah Bomgaars.

This huge mound of hardened mud rises up on two legs, termites pouring from hidden tunnels in its body

Termite Mound Guardian    CR 8

XP 4,800

N Large construct

Init -1; Senses low-light vision, darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +1

DEFENSE

AC 21, touch 8, flat-footed 21 (+13 natural, -1 Dex, -1 size)

hp 79 (9d10+30)

Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +4

DR 5/magic and bludgeoning; Immune fire, cold, construct traits

Defensive Abilities biting defenders

Weaknesses vulnerable to claws

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft.

Melee 2 slams +13 (1d8+5)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

Special Attacks termite swarm

STATISTICS

Str 20, Dex 9, Con --, Int --, Wis 12, Cha 1

Base Atk +9; CMB +15; CMD 24

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Biting Defenders (Ex)

Any creature coming into contact with the termite mound guardian, including attacking it with a natural attack or unarmed strike, or attempting to grapple it, must make a DC 17 Reflex save or be bitten by its massed termite defenders. Those bitten take 1d6 points of damage plus 1d6 acid damage, and must make a DC 17 Fortitude save or be affected by the termite swarm’s lingering sting ability (affected creatures are sickened with pain, and can attempt a new save to end the effect at the end of each round.

Termite Swarm (Ex)

As a standard action, the termite mound guardian can release a termite swarm from its body once every 24 hours. The swarm acts independently, attacking any who threaten the mound. As long as one square occupied by the swarm remains adjacent to the termite mound guardian, the swarm gains fast healing 5 as reinforcements pour out of the guardian’s network of tunnels. If the termite swarm is destroyed, the termite mound guardian cannot use this ability for one week while the colony replenishes itself.

Vulnerable to Claws (Ex)

Despite its damage reduction, the termite mound guardian takes full damage from natural claw attacks.

ECOLOGY

Environment warm plains, hills, or forest

Organization solitary, pair, or megacolony (3-9)

Treasure none

Termite mound guardians are constructs built from active termite mounds, the gigantic mud towers built by colonies of termites in tropical regions. They blend into the surrounding environment, appearing to be no more than a normal termite mound until disturbed, when they rise out of the earth, reveling pillar-like legs and lumpy, misshapen arms. These constructs are typically created by druids or shamans to protect villages or natural sites under their care.

Construction

A termite mound guardian must be constructed from an existing termite mound at least 10 feet tall. During the ritual, which takes a full lunar month, the mound is flushed with incense and coated with protective oils and powders worth 1,000 gp.

Name

CL 9^th; Price 31,000 gp

Requirements Craft Construct, awaken, stone shape, summon swarm, transmute mud to rock, creator must be a druid or shaman of caster level 9^th;

Skill Craft (pottery) or Knowledge (engineering) DC 15; Cost 16,000 gp

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Plot Hooks and Encounter Ideas

• The town's Spring hunting grounds are suddenly full of hostile termite mound guardians. Town elders suspect it is the work of their rival town, but its ambassadors claim that something similar has happened to their own shepherds' Spring grazing grounds. Can the adventurers figure out who is behind this insectile intrusion before the two towns come into open conflict?
• While exploring the ruins of the ancient city, the adventurers are attacked by termite mound guardians which burst out of the crumbling mud walls.
• The village shaman requires a bodyguard while he finishes his month-long work on the villages termite-based defenses. The PCs soon find that, not only do they need to protect him from raiders and wild animals, but they must also work to keep the wily old man sober enough to finish it by the next full moon.

-your termitarium d20 despot