There are three things that abandoned mines are full of: old tools, loot, and monsters. Your party decided to clear out a local one supposedly containing all three. Of course, treasure hunters who went in never came out. You've yet to figure out why. Sure, you've run across old, eaten carcasses and rusting tools but after hours of looking around no loot or monsters. Maybe your luck was changing though, as a corroded cart creaked into view at the edge of the torchlight. Loaded with glittering ore, something had to have pushed it but nothing is near it now. The party fanned out, approaching the abandoned cart and searching for whatever propelled it. Suddenly, the cart rocketed forward of its own volition, growing teeth and eyes as it jumped off the tracks, slammed into the wizard, and started spitting rocks at the rogue! The truth's unfolded, now it's time to roll initiative.

The skip mimic was fostered by miners who discovered the mimic polyp abandoned in their mine. They took to the strange creature despite its dangerous nature because it was willing to put in the work. Not only did it have a strong back, as it were, but it also kept them protected from the occasional bandit or wandering monster. In turn, they snuck extra food from their lunches to 'Skip' as they nicknamed it. Eventually, Skip settled on the shape of a mining cart and was pleased as pie to work alongside its family day in and day out. Then, the mine boss came. Skip wasn't sure why a fight broke out between the workers and the boss's men, but it knew who's side it was on. With the mimic's help, the workers won the day and began smuggling Skip's spawn to other mines to help with 'labor negotiations'. Thus skip mimics have spread far and wide.. but they don't always have other's interests at heart.

Skip Mimic

Medium undead (shapechanger), neutral

Armor Class 16 (natural armor)

65 (10d8 + 20)

Speed 15 ft

Str 18 Dex 14 Con 15 Int 8 Wis 13 Cha 8

Skills Stealth +6

Damage Immunities acid

Condition Immunities prone

Sensesdarkvision 60 ft, passive Perception 13

Languages -

Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Shapechanger.

The mimic can use its action to polymorph into a mining cart 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 14). Ability checks made to escape this grapple have disadvantage.

False Appearance (Object Form Only).

While the mimic remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an ordinary mining cart.

Grappler.

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

Heavy Duty.

The mimic counts as one size larger when determining its carrying capacity and the weight it can push, drag, or lift.

Labyrinthine Recall.

The mimic can perfectly recall any path it has traveled.

Off the Rails (Object Form Only).

If the mimic moves at least 20 ft. straight toward a target and then hits it with a Bite attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 9(2d8) damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Actions

Pseudopod.

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage. If the mimic is in object form, the target is subjected to its Adhesive trait.

Bite.

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) acid damage.

Spit Rock (Object Form Only).

Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 15/30 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10+4) bludgeoning damage.

Reactions

Momentum.

If the mimic has moved this turn, it can use its bonus action to Dash.