What’s not to love about the ankheg? Shadowdark describes the creature as “horse-sized, rust-brown insects” that “burrow vast, underground warrens into the bedrock.” Their primary weapon is their fierce bite, but they can spray acid in both Shadowdark and 5e. There is little I can write that has not been written in this amazing deep dive! That link is a must-read for all ankheg enthusiasts!
Encounter Seed: The party hears cries for help while in a settlement. If they go to the scene, they find several citizens on the edge of a sinkhole looking on helplessly as four villagers are trapped inside. Soon, there are screams. The crowd watches in horror as the cause of the sinkholes, two ankhegs, come into view in the hole with the citizens.
Encounter Seed: As the party sits around their campfire, they hear noises as three ankhegs emerge from the bushes. A fourth comes up from a burrow just under the fire. [Mechanics: The fire will be snuffed out, falling into the ankheg burrow, but the ankheg will take 1d6 points of damage from the flames].
Encounter Seed: In a dungeon, the party comes upon a room where nine goblins stand at the edge of a pit, placing bets on something…but what? Closer inspection will reveal a tenth goblin riding on the back of an ankheg in the pit. She is hanging on for dear life. There are four more ankhegs kept in pins near the pit.
Adventure Seed: Locals reported seeing a cave upon the hillside. They were sure the small cave was not there before. This happened on the same day that a local shepherd went missing. Anyone who explores within will find winding caves and the ankhegs who call the burrow system home.
Adventure Seed: The village alchemist is short on supplies. He is willing to pay someone to fetch him some yellow gnome-hat mushrooms, pollen from a fang flower, and two vials of ankheg acid.
Ridiculous Adventure Seed: The local zoo is ready for a new exhibit! They need someone to go (several miles or hexes) into the wilderness and return with one, ideally two, live and healthy ankhegs.
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