Carnivorous Grubs

One of the most commonly encountered types of genetic mutation in the wastelands is gigantism. Many species, particularly those of insects, were affected by this mutation and are many times larger than their original ancestors.

One particular type of beetle benefited from this mutation, but also suffered a serious drawback. Originally known as the common Larder Beetle, the creature remained only at the larva stage, instead of eventually entering a pupa state, it stayed in grub form. The larva or grub grew to massive sizes, some being as long as foot and weighing around two pounds.

As if the common Mire Lurker was not bad enough, it turns out that there are massive armored monsters who are the mother of all these creatures. The Queen is so large it can easily strike fear into the most stalwart explorers of the wastelands and can easily rip through most creatures it encounters.

The monster is easily thirty feet in height and weighs in at around 20 tons, all of it nearly impenetrable armor. When engaged in combat, the creature is completely immune to all non-energy based attacks, shrugging off hits with the ease, which often causes foes to flee, as it seems to be a nearly impossible to stop killing machine. Even those who run away find that the creature is still deadly, being able to shoot a caustic poison up to five hundred feet. The poison is class six and has a deadly added component – it is acid. The acid burns for 4d8 points of damage a round, reducing by 1d8 per round until it no longer affects the target. Anything caught in the acid must make a saving throw each round against acid or suffer 1d3 points of condition levels of damage.

Anyone unlucky enough to be in the creatures bite distance will be swallowed whole on a 16-20. When this happens, the hapless creature suffers 6d6 points of damage per round from acid (and items must save, see above). The only way to escape is to cut through the incredibly tough stomach lining and to freedom. This requires at least 100 points of damage and an edged weapon. It is the only time that such weapons will work against the creature.

To make matters worse, the creature is always attended by 4d6 hatchlings. These have only 1 hit dice, AC of 6 and can bite for 1d4 points of damage. They are much faster than the queen, moving at 150’ (50’) and can easily chase down prey that has somehow managed to elude the queen.

The creature is likewise immune to all poisons of class six and lower, and cannot be harmed by sonic-based attacks. Any sonic attacks are automatically re-directed in a random direction, which can make it very dangerous to anyone nearby.

The best way to deal with the creature if the victim is incapable of running (or foolhardy enough to fight), is explosives, energy weapons, and toxic weapons (except poison, see above).

Explosives will damage the creature’s shell, and for every 25 points of damage, the creature’s AC drops by +1. Once the shell has been damaged to the point it is considered AC 5 or worse, then physical attacks will actually harm the monster.

Mutations Aberrant form (natural weapons), gigantism, immunity (physical attacks, sonics), toxic weapon.

Source: Fallout 4 (2015)

No. Enc: 1
Alignment:  Neutral
Movement: 90’ (30’)
AC: 0
HD: 50
Attacks: 2 claws, 1 bite, poison / acid spit.
Damage: 6d6 / 6d6, 8d10, class 6 & 4d8
Save: L20
Morale: 11
Hoard Class: None

No. Enc: 3d10
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 60’ (20’)
AC: 6
HD: 4 hit points
Attack: 1 bite
Damage: 1d4
Save: L1
Morale: 6
Hoard Class: Incidental