Agony Beetle

An agony beetle can only attack creatures that are man-sized or smaller. If an agony beetle goes unnoticed it locates the victim’s spinal column, a bilecoated tendril emerges from its snout. The bile anesthetizes the skin so the victim does not feel the tendril enter. The agony beetle attacks its unknowing victim until the tendril penetrates the skin. Once inside the skin, the tendril is inserted into the spine. The victim is suddenly racked with excruciating pain, so intense that the victim can do nothing else but writhe and scream in agony. During this time the beetle psionically absorbs and stores the energy released by the victim. Its innate psionic ability absorbs the victim’s energy that the beetle and it feeds on the pain. The beetle will remain attached even after fully sated, basking in the flow of energy until the victim dies. The beetle cannot be removed by the victim; only another creature may free the individual of the beetle’s deadly attachment. If the victim is alone, he will surely die.

Although the beetle’s primary locomotion is crawling, the creature’s small wings allow short distance flight (up to 6’). The six folded, hooked legs also enable the creature to jump 3’ vertically. Agony beetles tend to live near water sources where they hope to encounter prey. A pain-devouring creature, the agony beetle never ingests solid food for sustenance, only an occasional sip of water. They will not hesitate to attack members of their own species, but are often no match for other insects more evolved for combat

Old stories claim that agony beetles originally escaped from a sorcerer-king’s torture chamber. It is more likely that they were (and are) drawn there for obvious reasons. They are not edible and serve only the darkest needs. Halflings sometimes use the beetles in slings and throw them into trespassers’ clothing; it shortens the hunt without harming the meal.