Ekolids Ekolid Lore Arcana DC 15: Ekolids are a form of lesser obyrith, a classification they find hilarious directed at them by creatures incapable of what they consider genuine conscious thought. Like all obyriths, ekolids can instill in an observer a form of madness, specifically a persistent itch that feels as though parasites are squirming within one's flesh. Arcana DC 20: Ekolids seem to be able to magically coax their young to develop more quickly with their awful chittering. Such prematurely birthed ekolid nymphs are often ambivalent about the experience, emerging from their hosts in a gory spray and then immediately attempting to return to their erstwhile incubator. Nature DC 10: The cluster of whipping stingers that extend from an ekolids thorax are actually sophisticated ovipositors, which they use to lay their young in live incubators, an intrusion considered unmannerly even among the infinite horrors of the Abyss. Nature DC 15: Ekolids lack the ordinary demonic resistance to fire, limiting which layers they can comfortably nest upon. Nature DC 20: Mature ekolids can produce hundreds of eggs an hour, and are limited only in how quickly they can deposit them in hosts. Once hatched, however, ekolids immediately cannibalize any of their siblings they can catch, a fact which blessedly keeps their numbers in check. Religion DC 20: Ekolids cluster in the hive cities of Zionyn, the 633rd layer of the Abyss, building crazed towers out of the amber-glazed corpses of their expended incubators. When infesting the Prime Material, they build grisly facades over infested buildings in a similar manner, sculpting them into temples to the glory of the Prince of Vermin. Ekolid Nymph Tactics Ekolid nymphs choose targets indiscriminately with their Lacerating Ram but always try to move at least 20 feet before attacking. Once one uses it Cannibalize, often if no enemies arc close, they all begin to, and if one attempts to coccoon itself while others are still alive they prioritize it as a target. If they emerge and see no other nymphs, the nymph typically follows the host it emerged from around until it can crawl back into the wound with its Wound Intrusion. If its original host is dead and no other nymphs are nearby, the nymph leaves in search of others of its kind to devour. Ekolid Carnifex Tactics Carnifexes often hunt in groups, attacking as many creatures as possible with their Stinging Flurry until each is infected with Ekolid Parasitism and then flying off, using their Exultant Chitter just before leaving range. If one or more is killed, or if attacking at the behest of ObOxob, as long as two or more foes are infected they use their Exultant Chitter whenever available, immediately attempting to reinfect any that fail their save. They typically use their Screeching Choir only when a creature they can see that is affected by their Form of Madness begins concentrating on a spell. Ekolid Parasitism. A creature infected with ekolid parasitism must eat twice as much to avoid exhaustion, takes 7 (2d6) piercing damage whenever it completes a Long Rest, and must spend one additional hit die whenever it spends hit dice to heal or receive no benefit from that healing. Whenever a creature spends an additional hit die in this way, it must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the disease ends, the creature takes 14 (4d6) piercing damage, and an Ekolid Nymph slices its way out of the creature, emerging in the creature's space. As an action, a creature may deal 1d6 slashing damage to the infected creature to attempt a DC 12 Wisdom (Medicine) check, extracting the Ekolid Nymph and ending the disease on a success. A creature that succeeds by 5 or more may kill the nymph as part of this process.
Ekolid Nymph Tiny fiend (demon), chaotic evil Armor Class 12 Hit Points 13 (3d4 + 6) Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft., fly 30 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 7 (-2) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 7 (-2) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) Senses Passive Perception 11 Challenge M3 (140 XP) Wound Intrusion A creature that starts its turn in the space of one or more ekolid nymphs must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 3 (1d6) piercing damage and is infected with Ekolid Parasitism, and one ekolid nymph in its space is removed from play. Minion. If the creature takes damage from an attack or as the result of a failed saving throw, its hit points are reduced to 0. If the creature takes damage from another effect, it dies if the damage equals or exceeds its hit point maximum, otherwise it takes no damage. Actions Lacerating Collision (Group Attack). Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 piercing damage. This attack is made at advantage if each creature that contributed to it moved at least 20 feet this turn. Cannibalize. The ekolid kills and devours a Small or smaller creature with the Minion trait in its space. Then, if the ekolid has killed two or more creatures this way in the last minute, it may form a coccoon around itself, increasing its AC to 18 until the beginning of its next turn. At the beginning of its next turn, the ekolid emerges from its coccoon transformed as an Ekolid Carnifex with full hit points. Ekolid Carnifex Small fiend (demon), chaotic evil Armor Class 15 (Natural Armor) Hit Points 77 (14d6 + 28) Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft., fly 60 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 8 (-1) 16 (+3) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 18 (+4) 13 (+1) Damage Resistances Cold, Lightning Damage Immunities Poison Condition Immunities Poisoned Senses Truesight 120 ft., Passive Perception 14 Languages Abyssal, Telepathy 120 ft. Challenge 3 (700 XP) Form of Madness. A non-obyrith creature that starts its turn within 60 feet of the ekolid and can see it must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or automatically fail Intelligence checks and saving throws to maintain Concentration, as it feels parasites squirming within its flesh. A creature may repeat this saving throw as an Action, ending the effect and becoming immune to it for 24 hours on a success. Magic Resistance. The ekolid has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. Actions Multiattack. The ekolid makes five attacks with its Stinging Flurry. Stinging Flurry. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage. Exultant Chitter (Recharge 5-6). Each creature within 30 feet that can hear the ekolid and is infected with Ekolid Parasitism takes 7 (2d6) piercing damage, then must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the disease ends for the creature and it spawns an Ekolid Nymph in its space. Bonus Actions Implant Egg. One creature the ekolid hit with its Stinging Flurry this turn must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be infected with Ekolid Parasitism. A target hit with three or more Stinging Flurry attacks this turn makes this save at disadvantage. Screeching Choir. The ekolid lets out a discordant wail. Each creature within 30 feet that can hear it and is Concentrating must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or lose Concentration.
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