Blex, Vexing Pest by

/* Background */
  .phb{ background-image: url('https://gmbinder.com/images/KN1O92T.png') }
  .phb{ background-size: cover }

/* Notes */
  .phb section blockquote {background-color: #cae5de}
  .phb hr + section blockquote tr:nth-child(odd) td {background-color: transparent;}

/* Tables */
  table tr:nth-child(odd) td {background-color: #cccccc}

/* Footer */
  .phb .pageNumber {color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5)}
  .phb .footnote {color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5)}
  .phb:nth-child(odd):after{ 
    content          : '';
    position         : absolute;
    bottom           : -3px;
    left             : 10px;
    z-index          : -1;
    height           : 336px;
    width            : 100%;
    background-image : url('https://gmbinder.com/images/p7wvb4z.png');
    background-size  : cover;
}

.phb:nth-child(even):after{ 
    content          : '';
    position         : absolute;
    bottom           : -3px;
    left             : -10px;
    z-index          : -1;
    height           : 336px;
    width            : 100%;
    background-image : url('https://gmbinder.com/images/p7wvb4z.png');
    background-size  : cover;
    transform: scaleX(-1)
}

/* Page Number */
.phb .pageNumber{
    position   : absolute;
    bottom     : 30px;
    width      : 50px;
    text-align : center;
}
.phb:nth-child(even) .pageNumber{
    left      : 12px;
}
.phb:nth-child(odd) .pageNumber{
    right      : 12px;
}

.phb .pageNumber.auto{
    position   : absolute;
    bottom     : 41px;
    width      : 50px;
    text-align : center;
}
.phb:nth-child(even) .pageNumber.auto{
    left      : 12px;
}
.phb:nth-child(odd) .pageNumber.auto{
    right      : 12px;
}

</style>

## Blex, Vexing Pest

The life of a Witherbloom pest is pleasant but short. Raised by the students, pests are treated with great care and kindness — until their lifeforce is inevitably consumed in the casting of a powerful spell. After seeing many of his fellow pests taken from their enclosures and never returned, Blex plotted his escape.

In a show of atypical restraint and intelligence for a pest, Blex hid some of his food — live, squirming insects — until it was his time to be taken. The poor student who reached into his cage received a face full of centipedes, and Blex vanished into the undergrowth of the bayou.

As a form of hazing, new Witherbloom students are told a pest escaped and it is their job to retrieve it. Few students manage to locate Blex, but those who do are shocked by the belching, overgrown creature before them.

<img src='https://watercolors.giantsoup.com/xgte/xgte_bottom/0008.png'
     style='position:absolute; bottom:-20px; left:0px; width:816px' />

___
> ## Blex, Vexing Pest
>*Small Monstrosity, Unaligned*
> ___
> - **Armor Class** 13  (natural armor)
> - **Hit Points** 44 (8d4 + 24)
> - **Speed** 30 ft.
>___
>| STR     | DEX     | CON     | INT     | WIS     | CHA     |
>|:-------:|:-------:|:-------:|:-------:|:-------:|:-------:|
>| 15 (+2) | 12 (+1) | 17 (+3) | 7 (-2) | 13 (+1) | 4 (-3) |
>___
> - **Skills** Perception +3
> - **Senses** darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
> - **Languages** understands Common but can't speak
> - **Challenge** 3 (700 XP)  <font color="#fff8cd">_______</font> **Proficiency Bonus** +2
> ___
>
> ***Infestation (1/Day).*** Blex can cast *infestation*, requiring no spell components and using Intelligence as the spellcasting ability.
>
> ***Regeneration.*** Blex regains 10 hit points at the start of his turn if he has at least 1 hit point. If Blex takes fire damage, this trait doesn't function at the start of his next turn.
>
> ***Spiny Hide.*** At the start of each of his turns, Blex deals 10 (4d4) piercing damage to any creature grappling him or that he is grappling.
>
> ### Actions
> ***Multiattack.*** Blex makes one Bite attack and one Claw attack.
>
> ***Bite.*** *Melee Weapon Attack:* +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. *Hit:* 12 (4d4 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 12). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and Blex can't bite another target.
>
> ***Claw.*** *Melee Weapon Attack:* +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. *Hit:* 9 (2d6 + 2) slashing damage.