Monster Mondays: The Gold-Bug

Monster Mondays: The Gold-Bug           

By Frank Gori

Edgar Allen Poe was one of the first authors to pique my interest in literature. The dark tales that built tension and straddled the line between supernatural occurrence and the fragility of human psyche was a lure I couldn’t resist as an impressionable youth.

Today’s monster is from one of his lesser known tales The Gold-Bug which tells a tale of a man who becomes obsessed with treasure after being bitten by a golden colored scarab. The idea of poison imprinting a location with treasure in cryptology is interesting to work with.

 

 

Gold Scarab Beetle CR 6 XP 2,400 N Large vermin Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0 DEFENSE AC 20, touch 10, flat-footed 19 (+1 Dex, +10 natural, –1 size) hp 67 (9d8+27) Fort +9, Ref +4, Will +3 Immune acid, disease, mind-affecting effects, paralysis OFFENSE Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft., fly 20 ft. (average) Melee bite +10 (1d8+8 plus poison) Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft. STATISTICS Str 21, Dex 12, Con 16, Int –, Wis 10, Cha 1 Base Atk +6; CMB +13; CMD 24 (32 vs. trip) Skills Climb +14, Fly –1 SPECIAL ABILITIES Poison (Su) A scarab beetle injects a strange poison on its bite. The initial effect is 1d4 wisdom damage Fort DC 19. The secondary effect has an onset is 1D4 days after any successful bite attack, victim will be given a dream like vision of treasure with clues to where it may be located. The clues can be interpreted with a successful knowledge local check of 15 or better and will actually lead victims to a location which is always the location of a giant fly trap The Fort save halves the wisdom damage and negates the hallucinary effect. Those having the vision are not compelled to act on it but it often seems to be divinely inspired and should be presented as such.

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate swamps
Organization solitary or swarm (3–9)
Treasure none

These massive beetles share meals with giant fly traps which provide shelter and partly digest the food. The beetles are immune to acid and can hold their breath with a self contained air bubble for days at a time.