Stranded in a desert after consuming the caravan that was carting it, the first of this mimic breed wasn't sure how to survive. It only knew it was sick of starving and helplessly salivated at the thought of food. Then it noticed, creatures strayed to any body of water to drink so it did what its kind does best, adapted. Now, Benthic mimics plague not just the dunes, but swamps and forests as well, devouring those looking to slay their thirst. There are rumors of some of these species being as large as full-fledge oases, lakes... even seas.

Benthic Mimic

Large monstrosity (shapechanger), neutral

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)

Hit Points 93 (11d10 + 33)

Speed 15 ft

Str 18 Dex 12 Con 16 Int 5 Wis 15 Cha 8

Skills Stealth +6 Damage Immunities acid

Condition Immunities prone

Sensesdarkvision 60 ft, passive Perception 12

Languages understands All but cannot speak

Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

Shapechanger.

The mimic can use its action to polymorph into a pond basin or back into its true, amorphous form. Its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.

Adhesive (Object Form Only).

The mimic adheres to anything that touches it. A Huge or smaller creature adhered to the mimic is also grappled by it (escape DC 15). Ability checks made to escape this grapple have disadvantage.

Amphibious.

The mimic can breathe air and water.

False Appearance (Object Form Only)

While the mimic remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an ordinary pond basin

Grappler.

The mimic has advantage on attack rolls against any creature grappled by it.

Salivate (Object Form Only).

The mimic creates a pool of its saliva to fill its basin within 1 minute of using its shapechanger ability. This saliva functions more or less as water, though most find its taste a bit salty. If a creature drinks at least 1 mug full of saliva, the mimic knows its exact location within 500ft for the next 24 hours. In addition, the mimic deals an additional 3(1d6) bludgeoning damage on all attacks against that creature for the same time period.

If a creature drinks a waterskin worth of the saliva, in addition to the above effects, the creature gains vulnerability to acid damage for the next hour.

Actions

Multiattack.

The mimic makes two pseudopod attacks.

Pseudopod.

Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d12 + 4) bludgeoning damage. If the mimic is in object form, the target is subjected to its Adhesive trait.

Bite.

Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 9 (2d8) acid damage.

Pond Scum.

Ranged Spell Attack: +5 to hit, range 60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8+2) bludgeoning damage. In addition, at the end of each its turns for the next minute, the creature must succeed on a DC 13 Consitution save or take 4(1d8) acid damage. A creature may use a waterskin's worth of liquid and its action to clean off the scum and end this effect early. If a creature uses a waterskin's worth of the mimic's saliva, it instead gains disadvantage on this save instead.