Alchemical Beetle

The Cannith workshop was bound to be guarded, but Vode didn't see any iron defenders or golems in the hallways. It was strange, but perhaps a sign of good luck. He got to the storage room that held the crown he was hired to steal. As he took the first step inside, the ground between his feet began to shift and an iron beetle the size of a small dog, rose and bit deeply into his ankle. And if that wasn't enough, the damned thing began to pump alchemical fire, straight into the wound. As Vode kicked the thing off and was ready to bash in its metal hide, he noticed that this steel insect wasn't alone. The floor was covered with them.

Alchemy Beetle

CR 2

XP: 600

N Small Construct

Init: +0; Senses: Darkvision 60 ft, low-light; Perception +2

DEFENSE:

AC: 15, Touch 11, Flat-Footed 15 (+1 size, +4 natural)

HP: 26 (3d10+10)

Fort: +1; Ref: +1; Will: +2

Immune: construct traits

OFFENSE:

Speed: 40 ft.

Melee: Bite +4 (1d3+1 plus 1d6 energy damage), 2 claws -2 (1d4)

Space: 5 ft.; Reach: 5 ft.

STATISTICS:

Str 13, Dex 10, Con -, Int -, Wis 14, Chr 1

Base Atk: +3; CMB: +3; CMD: 13

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

Alchemical Damage (Ex): Alchemy beetles are constructed with a reservoir of 100 doses of either acid, Alchemist Fire (fire), Bottled Lightning (electriciity) or Liquid Ice (cold). The alchemy beetle's bite attack does 1d6 of non-magical energy energy damage per successful attack by expending one of these doses. When the reservoir is empty, the alchemy beettle looses the additional energy damage. An alchemical beetle's reservoir cannot be refilled.

Alchemical Destruction (Ex): If an alchemy beetle is destroyed with at least one dose in its reservoir, it explodes, dealing 3d6 points of damage of the appropriate energy type to all creatures within a 10 foot radius. A successful Reflex save, DC 11, halves this damage. If there are no doses left, then a destroyed alchemical beetle does not exploded when destroyed. The saving throw DC is Constitution based.

ECOLOGY:

Environment: Any

Organization: Solitary

Treasure: None

Role: None

Source: SoX, pg. 74

Construction:

Alchemical beetles are relatively easy to construct, as far as constructs are concerned. The problem is no one has figured out how to refill an alchemical beetle without it exploding. The iron frame and reservoir is worth 1,000 gp. When an alchemical beetle is created, part of the cost of making it is getting 2,000 gp worth the alchemical liquid chosen for its energy type; acid, Alchemist Fire (fire), Bottled Lightning (electriciity) or Liquid Ice (cold). One chosen, this cannot be changed and an alchemical beetle cannot mix alchemical liquids.

Caster Level: 5th; Price: 7,000 gp

Requirements: Craft Construct, Masterwork Transformation; Skill: Craft (blacksmithing) DC 15; Cost: 4,000 gp.