The Bee-Holder
You've heard of their more famous and legally distinct cousin, but not many have seen the mighty bee-holder. As the name implies, a bee-holder is a creature that contains bees. A lot of bees. Too many bees, if you ask me.
A bee-holder retains a symbiotic relationship with the bees inside it, using them to defend itself as well as hunt for unsuspecting prey. Researchers are unsure why they so closely resemble other aberrations, despite sharing little to no actual genetic heritage. I guess sometimes magic just be like that.
In any case, the bee-holder is a sought after prize for parties of skilled hunters, as the honey one can harvest from a bee-holder's innards is said to be one of the sweetest and most delicious substances on the Material Plane. Of course, killing a bee-holder and collecting the honey is not easy. You know. Because of all the bees.
Bees, man... they're crazy. Don't mess with 'em.
( The bee-holder appears in the webcomic ORKZ by @SweetoothMakes. Check it out on Reddit's r/ORKZcomic! )
Bee-Holder
Large aberration, chaotic neutral
- Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
- Hit Points 181 (17d10 + 68)
- Speed 0 ft., fly 20 ft. (hover)
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 8 (-1) 12 (+1) 8 (-1)
- Saving Throws Wis +5
- Damage Resistances piercing from non-magical attacks, poison
- Condition Immunities poisoned, prone
- Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 11
- Languages Deep Speech, Undercommon
- Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)
Plan Bee. When the bee-holder dies, the remaining bees under its control become enraged from the loss of their hive. They congregate into one 20 ft. radius swarm centered around the corpse. Any small or larger creature that ends its turn within the radius must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw. A creature takes 14 (4d6) piercing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The swarm disperses after 1d4 hours.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (4d6+2) piercing damage.
Bee Afraid. The bee-holder unhinges its jaw and releases a massive swarm of angry bees from its gut, which continuously fill a 60 ft. sphere around its body. The bees spread around corners, and turn the area they occupy lightly obscured. Each creature of the bee-holder's choice that starts its turn within the swarm must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened by the bee-holder for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the bee-holder's Bee Afraid for the next 24 hours.
Bee Breath (Recharge 5–6). The bee-holder exhales bees in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw, taking 56 (16d6) piercing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Deploy Swarms (1/day). The bee-holder spits up smaller swarms which are able to act on their own. 2d4 swarms of wasps appear in spaces adjacent to the bee-holder, which the bee-holder can command telepathically as a free action.