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Scouring Gatekeeper




The scouring gatekeeper is an unholy fusion of insect and man that is vaguely reminiscent of either a centaur or a chimera. The central part of its body resembles an ankheg with a desert brown shell. Where a head should be, the chitin blossoms into a chiselled human torso, arms and head. These limbs are covered with chitin plates of the same hue arranged like a muscle curious and tall helmet. From under the creature’s ‘mask’ hangs a mass of course, insectoid hairs easily mistaken for a beard. The gate keeper’s back end sports a sinnous tail with a mandible framed mouth full of human teeth. Lastly, the anathema carries a corroded bident, the points of which are framed from its shedding. Some have markings of smeared offal on their sides to denote their place in a haphazard hierarchy.


Grotesque Guard. As The Pariah hold solidifies over a city, it is not only the downtrodden and mad who fall under his influence. Inevitably, whatever military is mustered to try and contain the plague-ridden masses become infected by them. Fleas, ticks and other burrowing bugs are drawn to these brutes. Nesting within their skin, the insects’ toxin steadily replace their blood and as the spiritual corruption takes hold, the guard enters a pupal state. What emerges is a scouring gatekeeper. These vigilant aberrations protect the fallen-city’s walls and enforce the insane will and whims of the Pariah.


Scouring Gatekeeper

Large aberration, chaotic neutral

 Armor Class 16 (natural armor)

Hit Points 104 (11d10 + 44)

 Speed 30ft

Climb 30ft

Str 21 Dex 12 Con 18 Int 9 Wis 15 Cha 7

Skills Perception +5

Senses Damage Resistances acid, necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacksremorsense 30 ft., passive Perception 11

Damage Immunities poison

Condition Immunities darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 10 ft., passive Perception 15

Languages Common, Deep Speech

Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)

Gate Keep.

Whenever the scouring gatekeeper hits a creature with an opportunity attack, its speed drops to 0 for the rest of the turn. This stops any movement they may have been taking. In addition, creatures within its reach provoke opportunity attacks even if they took the Disengage action.

Innate Spellcasting (1/Day).

The scouring gatekeeper can innately cast Insect Plague (spell save DC 13), requiring no material components. Its innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom.

Venomous Physick.

Whenever the scouring gatekeeper is subjected to poison damage, it takes no damage and instead regains a number of Hit Points equal to the poison damage dealt.

Actions

Multiattack.

The scouring gatekeeper can make 1 antennae, 1 bident, and 1 bidet attack as one action.

Antenna.

Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d6) slashing damage. If the target is a creature, it also loses 10ft of movement for the next minute. This effect is cumulative. If the creature's movement is reduced to 0 in this way, it is also paralyzed for the next minute.


Creatures that are immune to poison damage are immune to this secondary effect.

Bite.

Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8+5) piercing damage and 7 (2d6) poison damage

Bident.

Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d12+3) piercing damage.

Noxious Spew(Recharge 6).

The insect head at the end of the scouring gatekeeper's tail vomits a 20ft cone of burning, contaminated bile. All targets within the area of effect must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity save or take 13 (4d6) acid damage and 13 (4d6 poison damage), half as much on success.

Optional Rule: Spiritual Infestation

After fighting a scouring gatekeeper, a creature must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution save or contract Spiritual Infestion. While inflicted with the disease, the creature takes 1d6 psychic damage any time they gain Disadvantage as their anxiety and doubts manifest as biting, spectral insects. This disease can be removed by either Lesser Restoration or Remove curse.


If a creature is reduced to while infected with a Spiritual Infestaion, they spawn a swarm of insects in their square that is hostile to all other creatures.

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