For those of you who’ve been following along with the blog, you probably noticed that I’ve been working on a mini-project with the amazing, awesome Bert Verwaest of Crosshead Studios on his Metalhead project. I absolutely love Bert’s vision and style, so I’m glad to help out with all the mechanical know-how to help bring this fantastic world to life.
Today, we’re bringing to life some of the nasty, low-level squishies of that world known as dregs.
What are dregs?
Dregs are creations made by Titans, who, like the Gods, have the ability to mold flesh into beings. However, Titans do not possess the ability to create life from nothing, so they use the discarded bodies of damned souls of the underworld to experiment with. Anything they create has to remain in the underworld; therefore, the soul that is trapped within a creation cannot return to the world of the living.
Dregs are the lowest form of Titan-made creation. In other words, dregs are things a Titan child could create. Created with leftover flesh and body parts, dregs are made to perform simple “manual labor.” Dregs have no known form of communication. But if you listen close enough, you can hear the tortured cries of the damned soul wailing from within these loathsome shells.
What are dreg workers?
Dreg workers were created for physical labor, doing anything from manning a forge to transporting goods. They are headless beings that have six arms and have perfect coordination using them all, focused on nothing else.
Dreg Worker
Medium monstrosity, neutral evil
Armor Class 10
Hit Points 16 (3d8 + 3)
Speed 30 ft.
Abilities Str 12 (+1), Dex 11 (+0), Con 12 (+1), Int 5 (-3), Wis 8 (-1), Cha 7 (-2)
Skills Athletics +5
Condition Immunities blinded
Senses blindsight 10 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception 9
Languages –
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
Arm Gallop. The dreg worker can drop and run on its arms in order to move quickly. As long as the dreg is not carrying anything in its arms, it can take the Dash action as a bonus action on each of its turns.
Death Burst. When the dreg dies, it explodes in a burst of released souls. Each creature within 5 feet of it must make a DC 11 saving throw, taking 7 (2d6) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Actions
Multiattack. The dreg worker makes three attacks with its fists.
Fist. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, one target, reach 5 ft. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, instead of dealing damage, the dreg worker can choose to grapple the creature instead (escape DC 15).
More to come!
Again, big shoutout to Bert of Crosshead for this awesome monster concept. We’re working on a few more cool critters to complement this freaky creature, so stay on the lookout for that.
See you soon!
Art by Crosshead Studios.