Fantasy Monster: Big Bell Beetle

You can now support Shaper Of Worlds on Patreon.

Big Bell Beetle

An enormous beetle covered in shiny and smooth chitinous shell, with too many legs, and too many antennae.

CR 12; XP 19,200
N Gargantuan Vermin

Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 120 ft.; Perception +24

Defense
AC 27, touch 15, flat-footed 24 (+6 deflection, +3 Dex, +12 natural, –4 size)
hp 19 (22d8+66)
Fort +16; Ref +10; Will +11

Defensive Abilities resonant shell; Resist acid 20, cold 20, electricity 20, fire 20

Offense
Speed 50 ft., burrow 30 ft.

Melee bite +19 (3d6+7), 2 slams +19 (3d6+7)

Space 20 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Special Attacks resounding slam

Statistics
Str 24, Dex 16, Con 16, Int –, Wis 19, Cha 11
Base Atk +16; CMB +27; CMD 44 (56 vs. trip and overrun)

Feats Combat Reflexes^B, Defensive Combat Training^B, Improved Initiative^B

Skills Perception +24; Racial Modifiers +20 Perception

Ecology
Environment underground
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure incidental

Special Abilities

Resonant Shell (Ex) When a big bell beetle is hit with a physical, force, or sonic attack, its shell resonates sending a disruptive sound wave that can be heard echoing for miles underground. All creatures within 60 feet, including constructs and undead, become deafened for 1 round and staggered for 1d4 rounds (a successful DC 21 Fortitude saving throw reduces staggered effect to 1 round). Duration of deafness caused by this ability stacks. The piercing sound also shatters delicate glass and crystal objects unless they succeed Fortitude saving throw. The saving throw DC of this sonic effect is Charisma-based.

Resounding Slam (Ex) A big bell beetle can trigger its resonant shell by hitting a solid wall or a large obstacle as a standard action, or when it bull-rushes a particularly hard opponents, like metal, stone, or wooden constructs.

Big bell beetle is a massive insectoid beast that lives in deep tunnels. It has peculiar, highly durable shell with air sacks underneath that act as resonant cavity, amplifying any blows falling onto its surface into deafening bangs echoing far and wide.

Occasionally, underground settlements might keep a big bell beetle as a living warning gong and a guardian beast.

Eggs of big bell beetles have similar resounding quality when struck, though the pitch is different, prompting the parent to arrive quickly and ferociously attack any intruders.