[Monster] Flarab Beetle

Illustration copyright Alex Babakitis - used with permission - http://babakitis.com/

Flarab Beetle : HD 4; AC 2 [17]; Atk 2 pincers (front 1d10/back 1d6); Move 12; Save 13; CL/XP 6/400; Special: Spittle

The flarab beetle is a native of the elemental plane of fire, but it can frequently be found underground, especially near molten magma.

The beast has a hot, sticky lava-like spittle that it can use effectively as a weapon.  3/day the flarab beetle can spray a 10' wide cone of spittle, up to 15' distant.  The spittle is activated by air and acts similar to heat metal with the exception that anything covered in the stuff is affected by the heat.  For each round, consider the following chart --

• Round 1: The spittle is heating up, no damage but uncomfortable
• Round 2: 1d4 points of damage; save or be blistered from the heat
• Round 3-5: 1d4+1 points of damage; save or be blistered and overwhelmed by the heat for 1d8 rounds
• Round 6: 1d4 points of damage
• Round 7: Cooling down, hot to the touch

The target can prevent damage by immersing themselves in water.  A large body of water (lake, pool, river) will be sufficient to counteract the damage and wash the spittle off in 1d4 rounds.  Soaking oneself with water from a waterskin (or similar) will cancel the damage for that round only.  

It is said that the eye of the flarab beetle is much prized by wizards for the creation of wands of fireballs.