Ankheg

Acid. Since its mouth is not designed to rip and tear meat, its mandibles crush its prey and secrete a digestive enzyme causing on additional 1d4 points per attack (or per round, if grabbed) until the prey is completely dissolved.

Grab. (minor) As a minor action, an ankheg that successfully bites may attempt to grab (grapple, although with no additional immediate damage) if the creature bitten is 50% smaller or less. Once the ankheg has grabbed it's prey, it can use a major action to chew it (automatically doing bite and acid damage) or it can use a major action to move, dragging it's prey along (at half speed for Man-sized prey or normal speed for smaller prey).

Mindless. This creature is immune to mind-affecting magic. Mindless creatures make saving throws as if they were half of their listed hit dice with the exception of poison or death magic saves. The creature will use tactics instinctively, normally attacking the nearest opponent (or if several, one picked at random). Unless attacked by more than one opponent, it then attacks the same creature until it's prey drops—then it uses one round of coup de grace attacks before beginning to consume it (unless the description notes a different behavior). Otherwise, a mindless creature will attack the same opponent until it is damaged in melee by another opponent. The creature will then attack the opponent that last damaged it until it drops as noted above. Mindless creatures will only attack those not in melee unless all creatures in melee have dropped and are not moving. If a mindless creature has a special attack not related to it's melee weapons, it will use that attack if it rolls under 51% in any new round unless the description of the creature notes otherwise. Area attacks will target melee range creatures first and any creatures outside of melee range will be incidental (simplest placement to hit melee combatants or, if necessary, random placement of the ability). Some mindless creatures will have a preference in terms of prey (for example, attacking smaller creatures first) and this must be assessed when determining the creature's actions. Mindless creatures do not use regular rules for morale. A mindless creature always has a flat 50% for morale and begins checking for morale once it has reached under 50% of its hit points in damage unless the description states otherwise. A mindless creature cannot communicate with creatures not of it's type (and even then only at a very basic level; e.g. Threat Perceived, Food, etc.), has no languages, and has an Intelligence Rating of "Non-" (effectively "0").

Squirt Acid. (major, 1 segment) If sorely pressed in battle, it is able to squirt its digestive acids in a line out to 30 feet once per six hours. However when it does this, it cannot digest anything for the same length of time, so it usually will bite. All creatures caught in the line of acid must make a Dexterity save vs. Breath or take 8d4 acid damage (save for half).

The ankheg burrows through the earth like an earthworm, preferring soil rich in minerals and organic matter. Thus it will usually be found in forests and choice agricultural land. This causes farmers great consternation, since the ankheg likes to supplement its earthly diet of soil with a bit of fresh meat, human or otherwise.

The ankheg’s favorite method of attacking is lying 5-10 feet underneath the ground until its antenna detects a likely victim passing overhead. Then it burrows out directly underneath the prey and grabs it. Depending on the circumstance, the ankheg may receive a cover bonus to armor class when attacking while partially buried.

Clusters of ankhegs share the same territory but do not cooperate. If several attack, each tries to grab a different foe. If there aren’t enough targets, two might grab the same creature in a grim tug-of-war.

As it burrows through earth, the ankheg leaves a narrow, partially collapsed tunnel in its wake. In these tunnels, one might find the remnants of molted ankheg chitin, hatched ankheg eggs, or the grisly remains of ankheg victims, including coins or other treasures scattered during the creature's attack.

Ankhegs of different sizes exist, typically from 3 to 8 hit dice and 10 to 20 feet long. Attack damage related to it's bite or acid does not normally change due to size within the stated range nor does armor class (although size will affect XP, "to hit" chances, and saving throws). Ankhegs smaller than 5 hit dice cannot grab prey unless it's Smaller then Man-sized.

Typical Description. A huge segmented insect with slender legs, each ending in a sharp claw, emerges from the ground in a burst of rock and dirt. A tough, chitinous brown shell covers its entire body with a pinkish underside, and glistening black eyes stare out from above powerful mandibles.

ENCOUNTERS

Level IV. (II.-VI.)

Frequency. Rare; In Lair 15%

Number Appearing. 1-6 (Level IV. 1d3)

Environment. Temperate/sub-tropical, inhabited and/or patrolled areas (plain, scrub, forest, hills)

Treasure Type. C

Experience. 5 HD. XP 350 (or 240+5 per h.p.)