Page 256 - ghosts-of-saltmarsh

STORM G IANT QUINTESSENT
Some storm giants approaching the end of their natural
life spans seek an escape from death. They plumb the
depths of their powerful connection to the elements and
SWARM OF ROT GRUBS
disperse themselves into nature. literally transforming
into semiconscious storms. Rot grubs are finger-sized maggots that eat living or
dead flesh, although they can subsist on plant matter.
They infest corpses and piles of decaying matter and at-
STORM GIANT QuINTESSENT
tack living creatures that disturb them. After burrowing
Huge giant (storm giant), chaotic good
into the flesh of a living creature, a rot grub instinctively
chews its way toward the heart in order to kill its host.
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 230 (20d12 + 100) Rot grubs pose a threat both singly and as a swarm.
Speed SO ft., fly SO ft. (hover), swim SO ft. See the accompanying stat block for the mechanics of a
swarm of rot grubs.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA A single rot grub has no stat block. Any creature that
29 (+9) 14 {+2) 20 (+S) 17 (+3) 20 (+S) 19 (+4) comes into contact with one must make a DC 10 Dex-
terity saving throw. On a failed save, the rot grub bur-
Saving Throws Str +14, Con +10, Wis +10, Cha +9 rows into the creature's Oesh and deals 3 (ld6) piercing
Skills Arcana +8, History +8, Perception +10 damage at the start of each of the host creature's turns.
Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
Applying fire to the wound before the end of the host
from nonmagical attacks
creature's next turn deals 1 fire damage to the host and
Damage Immunities lightning, thunder
kills the infesting rot grub. After this time. the rot grub
Senses truesight 60 ft., passive Perception 20
is too far under the host creature's skin to be burned.
Languages Common, Giant
If a creature infested by one or more rot grubs ends its
Challenge 16 (1 S,000 XP)
turn with 0 hit points. it dies as the grubs burrow into its
heart and kill it. Any effect that cures disease kills all rot
Amphibious. The giant can breathe air and water.
grubs infesting the target. Burning a body kills any rot
grubs infesting it.
A CTION S
Multiattack. The giant makes two Lightning Sword attacks or
uses Wind javelin twice. SWARM OF ROT GRUBS
Medium swarm of Tiny beasts, unaligned
Lightning Sword. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 15 ft.,
one target. Hit: 40 (9d6 + 9) lightning damage. Armor Class 8
Hit Points 22 (Sd8)
Wind javelin. The giant coalesces wind into a javelin-like form
Speed S ft., climb S ft.
and hurls it at a creature it can see within 600 feet of it. The
javelin is considered a magic weapon and deals 19 (3d6 + 9)
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
piercing damage to the target, striking unerringly. The javelin
2 (- 4) 7 (-2) 10 (+O ) 1 (-S) 2 (-4) 1 (-5)
disappears after it hits.
Damage Resistances piercing, slashing I
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, grappled, .J
The giant can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the op- paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained - ..
tions below. Only one legendary action option can be used at Senses blindsight 10 ft., passive Perception 6 .,...
a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The giant Languages -
regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn. Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Gust. The giant targets a creature it can see within 60 feet of it
and creates a magical gust of wind around it. The target must Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature's space and
succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be pushed up vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large
to 20 feet in any horizontal direction the giant chooses.
enough for a Tiny maggot. The swarm can't regain hit points or
Thunderbolt (2 Actions). The giant hurls a thunderbolt at a
gain temporary hit points.
creature it can see within 600 feet of it. The target must make
a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) thunder ACTIO N S
damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a suc-
cessful one. Bites. Melee Weapon Attack: +Oto hit, reach 0 ft., one creature
in the swarm's space. Hit: The target is infested by ld4 rot
One with the Storm (3 Actions). The giant vanishes, dispersing
itself into the storm surrounding its lair. The giant can end grubs. At the start of each of the target's turns, the target takes
this effect at the start of any of its turns, becoming a giant ld6 piercing damage per rot grub infesting it. Applying tire to
once more and appearing in any location it chooses within the bite wound before the end of the target's next turn deals
its lair. While dispersed, the giant can't take any actions other 1 tire damage to the target and kills these rot grubs. After this
than lair actions, and it can't be targeted by attacks, spells, or time, these rot grubs are too far under the skin to be burned.
other effects. The giant can't use this ability outside its lair, If a target infested by rot grubs ends its turn with 0 hit points,
nor can it use this ability if another creature is using a control it dies as the rot grubs burrow into its heart and kill it. Any ef·
weather spell or similar magic to quell the storm. feet that cures disease kills all rot grubs infesting the target.

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