Slithering Tracker

Medium Ooze, Chaotic Evil

Armor Class 14

Hit Points 32 (5d8 + 10)

Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Skills Stealth +8

Damage Vulnerabilities cold, fire

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing, from nonmagical attacks

Condition Immunities Blinded, Deafened, Exhaustion, Grappled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Prone, Restrained, Unconscious

Senses blindsight 120 ft., passive Perception 12

Languages understands languages it knew in its previous form but can't speak

Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Traits

Ambusher. In the first round of a combat, the slithering tracker has advantage on attack rolls against any creature it surprised.

Damage Transfer. While grappling a creature, the slithering tracker takes only haIf the damage dealt to it, and the creature it is grappling takes the other half.

False Appearance. While the slithering tracker remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a puddle, unless an observer succeeds on a DC 18 Intelligence (Investigation) check.

Keen Tracker. The slithering tracker has advantage on Wisdom checks to track prey.

Liquid Form. The slithering tracker can enter an enemy's space and stop there. It can also move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.

Spider Climb. The slithering tracker can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Actions

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit:8 (1d10 + 3) bludgeoning damage.

Life Leech. One Large or smaller creature that the slithering tracker can see within 5 feet of it must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 13). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained and unable to breathe unless it can breathe water. In addition, the grappled target takes 16 (3d10) necrotic damage at the start of each of its turns. The slithering tracker can grapple only one target at a time.

Lore

The quest for revenge sometimes leads one to undergo a ritual whereby they transform into a body of semiliquid sentience known as a slithering tracker. Innocuous and insidious at the same time, a tracker flows into places where a normal creature can't go and brings its own brand of watery death down upon its quarry.