FB05: The Scorpion's Lair
While winding among the steep slopes and tall stone spires of the rocky desert, your eye catches what looks like a patch of yellow-green grass ahead. In fact, it is more than just a patch of grass, but an entire oasis hidden among these hills. A still-intact, but crumbling stone building -- constructed from the same red rocks that cover the landscape all around you -- sits amid the grass and several palm trees next to the oasis. As you draw closer you note a somewhat large burrow dug underneath the front of the structure, though whether the burrow is still occupied or long-since abandoned is unclear.
The characters have found the oasis that they were sent to re-discover. The Ruby Fish lies in a secret underground level of the monastery here at the oasis, but it will not be easy to acquire. The burrow that has been dug under the front patio of the monastery is the home of two giant scorpions (a mating pair).
The scorpions will be alerted to the presence of the characters via blindsight once they are within 60 ft. of the burrow and view them as food/prey. However, the scorpions will not attack until at least one character is within 40 ft. of the burrow (the maximum distance at which the scorpion can both move and attack). At that point, they will charge out of their burrow and attack the closest available character(s).
If more than one character is within 40 ft. of the burrow, each scorpion will attack a different character. However, if only one character is within range, they will both attempt to attack the same character (if possible). In all cases, each scorpion will focus all three of their attacks on a single character during the first round of combat, attempting to get the quick kill. In subsequent rounds of combat, the scorpion will either split its attack among all characters within melee range or, if there are no characters within melee range, charge the closest character.
Should a scorpion take more than 1/2 of its hit points in damage or be forced to move more than 120 ft. from its lair in order to attack the nearest character, it will retreat back into its burrow instead of attacking (moving and dashing, for 80 ft. of total movement). If injured, it will only attack again if characters attempt to enter the burrow. If retreating based on range, the scorpion(s) will again attack once a character is within 40 ft. of the burrow.
Characters brave enough to venture into the burrow after the scorpions have been killed will find a scattering of skeletons, both human and animal, in the small cave. A Perception skill check, DC 15, will yield 120gp and a silver chain & amulet with an inlaid emerald (250gp value) scattered among the bones/partially hidden in the dirt.
Giant Scorpion Statblock
Giant Scorpion CR: 3 (700 XP)
Large beast, any
Armor Class: 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 52 ( 7d10+14 )
Speed:
40 ft
, burrow: 30 ft
STR
15 +2
DEX
13 +1
CON
15 +2
INT
1 -5
WIS
9 -1
CHA
3 -4
Senses: blindsight 60 ft.
Challenge Rating: 3 (700 XP)
Actions
Multiattack
The scorpion makes three attacks: two with its Claws and one with is Stinger.
Claw
Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d8+2 bludgeoning damage and the target is grappled (escape DC 12). The scorpion has two claws, each of which can grapple only one target.
Stinger
Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d10+2 piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 12 Constitution Saving Throw, taking 4d10 poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Monastery Entrance
The main entrance of the monastery is through a pair of double doors made entirely of a porous white coral, inlaid with a turquoise-colored coral that takes on the design of tall seaweed in the center of each door. It has been roughly one hundred years since these doors have been opened, which has led to them being stuck in place through the build-up of sand and other detritus. A DC 13 Athletics skill check is required to open the doors. They are not locked, just stuck, so lockpicks are ineffective.Experience Point Possibilites
- Defeat the Giant Scorpions -- 1400xp divided among the characters
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