Bloodbreath

A Bloodbreath is a hulking beast that dwells in shallow caves and caverns as well as ancient ruins, lying in wait for its unsuspecting prey or biding time until night falls so they can seek out its next meal. The creature has long, heavy arms that it uses to bludgeon its victims unconscious so it can suck them dry of blood with its needle-like mouth surrounded by small, barbed tentacles.

  It is surprisingly silent for its size and can easily detect vibrations in enclosed spaces such as in its caves, making it nearly impossible to spot first. It's grey skin also blends effortlessly into the stone around it. Outside their den, they use their bioluminescent eyes to substitute their reduced vibration sensitivity in the open air. To the keen observer, this is displayed as two faintly glowing red orbs, though the Bloodbreath isn't foolish and will often close its eyes when its prey gets close, relying on its vibration sensitivity at the closer range before striking.

The Bloodbreath gets its name from the red mist that sometimes wafts from the gills on the sides of its neck. This is, in fact, gaseous blood being ejected from its body after its nutrients have been absorbed. In extreme cases, the Bloodbreath will spray and dense cloud of gaseous blood from its lungs, obscuring its surroundings. This is usually reserved for when the Bloodbreath is about to flee for its life or believes it can take down its prey more easily from within the mist.

Adventurers and delvers are the Bloodbreath's most common victim, lying in wait or stalking their prey deep into the ruins before striking. Few that venture too deep into a cave or ruin without detecting their stalker escape. Some call them the guardians of the ancient world, protecting the knowledge and treasures kept in the depths of ruins from ages past.