Bestiary: Giant Fire Beetle
Armor Class: 4
Hit Dice: 1+2 (S)
Move:120′ (40′) / 12″
Attacks: 1 bite
Damage: 2d4
No. Appearing: 1d8 (2d6)
Save As: F1
Morale: 7
Treasure Type: Nil
Intelligence: 0
Alignment: Neutral
XP Value: 15
Monster Type: Lowlife (Common).
Fire beetles are 2.5 foot long creatures often found below ground. They are scavengers and are always on the move looking for more food. They don’t nest except when giving birth. The larger number is for when a fire beetle has recently spawned because the children stick near their mother for several months after being born. There’s a 10% of any encounter with a Giant Fire beetle that it is a mother and her brood. A fire beetle has two glowing glands above its eyes and one near the back of its abdomen. These glands give off light in a 10′ radius.
Terrain: Cavern, Plain, Ruins, Woods.
Treasure
Fire Beetles do not collect treasure.
Harvesting
The glands of a Fire beetle give off light in a 10′ radius and will continue to glow for 1d6 days after they are removed. They are known as components for magic that causes or requires illumination, like a Potion of Light, or Wand of Dancing Lights. A Alchemist or Magic-User will pay 1 silver for a still glowing fire beetle gland; once the light extinguishes, the gland is useless. The exoskeleton is too brittle to be used for anything meaningful and their meat is toxic. Save vs. poison or be incapacitated with illness for 1d12 days if consumed.
