Jeweled Tick

T Jeweled Tick he jeweled tick is one of the true oddities of nature, a parasite adapted not for infiltration but for invitation, every bit of its appearance and behavior sculpted to endear it to the fearsome dragons whose blood it feeds upon. With scintillating colors and elaborate displays it vies for the interest and embrace of its hoped-for host, its near-vestigial mouthparts plainly unsuited to the task of feeding upon any less-than-willing creature. Vehemently though they may deny it, few dragons of any stripe can resist the pleading eyes and outstretched arms of this treasured pest. Jeweled Tick Lore Arcana DC 10: Despite the inconvenience of keeping a creature that must be hand-fed fresh blood, jeweled ticks are occasionally kept as pets and familiars by those of draconic bloodline or who have entered into a pact with a draconic being, prized for their affectionate dispositions and unparalleled survivability. Nature DC 10: Much like their smaller relatives, jeweled ticks are incredibly resilient creatures, their tough and flexible exoskeletons allowing them to survive blows that would obliterate much greater creatures. Nature DC 15: Jeweled ticks occupy a niche few other creatures can aspire to, feeding upon the mightiest of dragons. They achieve this, not by subterfuge, but by brazenly approaching their prey and requesting to be fed, their intricate display dances and gem-like coloration making a few drops of blood a small price to pay for a dragon to add them to its horde. Jeweled Tick Small monstrosity, unaligned Armor Class 14 (Natural Armor) Hit Points 13 (3d6 + 3) Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 13 (+1) 8 (-1) 13 (+1) 5 (-3) 12 (+1) 4 (-3) Skills Performance +1, Survival +3 Damage Vulnerabilities Fire Senses Blindsight 20 ft., Passive Perception 10 Language understands some draconic, but can't speak Challenge 1/8 (25 XP) Flattened Body. If the tick would be reduced to 0 hit points by bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, it is instead reduced to 1 hit point. Jewel-Bright. The tick cannot be hidden from any creature that can see. Actions Lazy Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Charmed, Incapacitated, or willing creature. Hit: 1 piercing damage and the tick attaches itself to the target (remove DC 11). As a bonus action, a creature the tick is attached to may allow the tick to consume one of its unexpended hit dice. If it does, the tick gains 5 temporary hit points. Display Dance. The tick rears up on its hind legs, displaying it bright coloration and scuttling back and forth in a shuffling dance. Each creature within 15 feet that can see the tick must succeed on a DC 8 Wisdom saving throw or be Charmed by it for the next minute, or until the tick deals any damage. Spit Gob (1/Day). The tick spits a gobbet of congealed elemental energy, forcing one creature it can see within 15 feet to make a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, if the creature the tick most recently fed on was resistant or immune to one or more damage types, the target takes 5 (2d4) damage of one of those types of the tick's choice. Reactions Questing Grasp. As a reaction when a creature leaves the tick's reach, the tick forces it to make a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, the tick attaches itself to the target (remove DC 11).