A single burrspur stands around a foot tall and resembles a leafy melon at first glance. Across its bister surface jut dozens of hooked thorns. Within its mustard leaves hide beady black eyes and a wide mouth full of fang-like spines. A trio of squat stumps serve as legs. Alone, such a plant might appear comical despite its carnivorous, mobile nature. One rarely encounters a solitary burrspur, however. Dozens of the chewing, rending pods roll and bounce against one another whenever they form a swarm. The tide of sallow, gnawing doom pulls down and devours whatever meat it comes across, all while spewing obscenities when their gobs aren't full of flesh.

Well-Tended Killers. The first burrspur was the work of an artificer who was also an accomplished horticulturist. He harbored little desire to create simple homunculi like his peers. Instead, he delved deep into plant-based alchemy and designed all manner of uncanny, hybrid plants to serve his needs. The burrspur was designed to be something akin to an attack dog. At first, the artificer was disappointed that it turned out so small but came to realize it made up for it in viciousness and intelligence. He began doting on the thing, feeding it adventurers' bits and other food waste. From its creator the burrspur learned all the colorful phrases in common one could imagine, for the horticulturist was a salty soul.

One spring the artificer lost track of the burrspur for several days. He was beside himself with worry until he found another germinating in his vast gardens… then another… then a dozen… then several dozen. Gleefully he watered them all with all the gore they could want. Of course, it was never enough. Once the plants pulled themselves from the blood-soaked soil there were just too many mouths to feed and not enough artificer to go around. Now the burrspur swarm rolls across the land, consuming everything in its wake.

Burrspur Swarm

Huge swarm of Tiny plants, Neutral evil

Armor Class 11

Hit Points 157 (15d12 + 60)

Speed 40ft

Burrow 40ft

Climb 20ft

Str 20 Dex 12 Con 18 Int 6 Wis 9 Cha 7

Saving Throws Str +9, Con +8

Skills Perception Perception +3

Damage Vulnerabilities necrotic

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, poison, slashing

Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, stunned

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13

Languages Synth

Challenge 10 (5900)

Living Brier.

The area that the burrspur swarm occupies becomes difficult terrain. When a creature moves into or within the area, it takes 2d4 piercing damage for every 5 feet it travels

Siege Monster.

The burrspur swarm deals double damage to objects and structures.

Swarm.

The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny plant. The swarm can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points..

Actions

Multiattack

The burrspur swarm makes 4 bites attacks as one action.

Bites (swarm has more than half HP.)

Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 0ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8+ 5) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 17 Strength save or be pulled down into the chewing plants and become Prone.

Bites (swarm has less than half HP).

Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 0ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8+ 5) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength save or be pulled down into the chewing plants and become Prone.

Coughing Spores (Recharge 5-6).

The burrspur swarm pops irritating chaff into the air around it. All creatures within a space the burrspur occupies or within 5ft of the burrspur swarm must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution save or be Poisoned until the end of its next turn.

Legendary Actions

The monster can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The monster regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn

Bite (1 point).

The burrspur swarm makes a bites attack.

Crowd Surf (1 point).

The burrspur swarm targets one creature within squares it occupies. That creature must succeed on a DC 17 Strength Save or be knocked Prone. If the creature is knocked Prone in this way, or is already Prone, the burrspur swarm may move it to any square it occupies that does not have a different creature in it.

Ball of Teeth (2 points).

The burrspur swarm comes together into a Large sized ball with their mouths facing outward and moves 30ft in a straight line. All creatures the ball passes over must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity save or take (18) 4d8 piercing damage and be knocked Prone.

At the end of its movement, the burrspur swarm becomes a Huge sized swarm again. This movement does not provoke Opportunity attacks.

Spore (2 points).

The burrspur swarm uses its Coughing Spores action, if available