Brood Mother

Huge monstrosity, chaotic evil

The brood mother is a nightmare given eight legs and a womb. These massive, spider-like horrors nest in the deep places of Aethara --- abandoned mines, collapsed sewer networks, the root cellars beneath ruined settlements --- and fill their lairs with a nightmarish web of egg sacs, paralyzed prey, and the skittering bodies of their countless offspring. A brood mother's body is roughly twelve feet across, covered in coarse black hair that secretes a caustic oil. Its abdomen is grossly distended with eggs, and it is perpetually pregnant, perpetually hungry, and perpetually producing more of its kind.

Armor Class:16 (natural armor)

Hit Points:152 (16d12 + 48)

Speed:30 ft, climb 30 ft

Challenge:CR 12

STR

20 (+5)

DEX

14 (+2)

CON

17 (+3)

INT

8 (-1)

WIS

14 (+2)

CHA

6 (-2)

Saving Throws:CON +7, WIS +6

Skills:Perception +6, Stealth +6

Damage Resistances:Poison

Senses:Blindsight 30 ft, darkvision 120 ft, tremorsense 60 ft, passive Perception 16

Fear Check:DC 16 Wisdom save when first encountered.

Traits

Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If the brood mother fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Spider Climb. The brood mother can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing an ability check.

Web Walker. The brood mother ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.

Spawn Broodlings. At the start of the brood mother's turn, if it has taken damage since its last turn, 1d4 broodlings emerge from its egg sacs (use **Giant Spider** statistics with half HP: AC 14, HP 13, bite +5 to hit, 1d8+3 piercing plus DC 11 CON save or 2d8 poison). Broodlings act on the brood mother's initiative count - 5.

Actions

Multiattack. The brood mother makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its legs.

Bite. Melee: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) poison damage. The target must succeed on a DC 15 CON save or be poisoned for 1 minute. While poisoned, the target is also paralyzed. The target can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns.

Leg Slam. Melee: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage.

Web Spray (Recharge 5-6). The brood mother sprays webbing in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in the area must succeed on a DC 15 DEX save or be restrained. A restrained creature can use its action to make a DC 15 STR check, freeing itself on a success. The webbing can also be attacked (AC 12, HP 15, vulnerability to fire, immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).

Ovipositor (1/Day). The brood mother targets one creature that is paralyzed, unconscious, or restrained within 5 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 15 CON save or be implanted with eggs. An implanted creature is unaware of the eggs for 24 hours, after which it takes 3 (1d6) necrotic damage at the start of each long rest as the eggs develop. After 72 hours, the eggs hatch and the host takes 22 (4d10) necrotic damage as broodlings tear their way out. *Lesser Restoration*, *Protection from Poison*, or similar magic destroys the eggs before they hatch.

Detect. The brood mother makes a Perception check.

Leg Strike. The brood mother makes one leg slam attack.

Summon Broodlings (Costs 2). 1d4 broodlings emerge from nearby egg sacs and join the fight, acting on the brood mother's initiative count - 5.