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Ore LouseCreature 5

Medium​Amphibious​Beast​Water​
Source Pathfinder Rage of Elements
Perception +14 (darkvision, wavesense (imprecise) 120 feet, metal scent 30 feet)
Languages none
Skills Athletics +12
Str +1, Dex +4, Con +2, Int -2, Wis +3, Cha +0
AC 22; Fort +13; Reflex +15; Will +10;
HP 60
Speed 35 feet (swim 60 feet)
Mandibles One Action +14 (+9, +4) to hit (finesse) 2d8+4 Piercing
Leg One Action +14 (+9, +4) to hit (finesse, reach 10) 2d8+4 Bludgeoning
Oxidizing Spit One Action +14 (+9, +4) to hit 2d8 Acid
Metal Scent

An ore louse can smell metal as a precise sense.

Consume Living Metal One Action (manipulate)

Requirements The ore louse is adjacent to a creature that died within the last hour and had the metal trait or was another ore louse

Effect An ore louse can replenish its health by eating the remains of its kin or a once-living metal creature. The ore louse feasts upon the corpse, regaining 3d6 healing Hit Points. The ore louse can regain Hit Points from a given corpse only once.

Metal Snack

An ore louse gains 5 temporary Hit Points each time its mandibles Strike either damages or breaks a metal item using its rust ability, or if it hits a creature that has the metal trait or is made of metal.

Rust

An ore louse's Strikes causes metal to rapidly rust and corrode. If it succeeds at a mandibles or oxidizing spit Strike, the ore louse deals 3d6 untyped damage (or double damage on a critical hit) to a metal item the target is wearing or holding, ignoring its Hardness. If the ore louse hits an unattended metal item, the item takes this damage automatically. If a creature uses the Shield Block reaction with a metal shield against the attacks, the shield is automatically broken, but no other item is rusted on that attack.

Water Stride

The ore louse can stand and move on the surface of water or other liquids without falling through. The ore louse can go underwater if it wishes, but it must Swim to do so.

Ore lice are six-legged insectile creatures that roost either just beneath or above the water's surface. They're highly territorial toward both strangers and each other, able to detect an intruder through the ripples in the water. Due to their diet, ore lice have incredibly tough chitin that's infused with metal. Cannibalism between ore lice is common when they're unable to locate other prey.

Though there are far more suitable environments for ore lice bordering the Plane of Air, the creatures are often found where the Plane of Earth meets the Plane of Water. This was a mystery that puzzled many—until the Plane of Metal returned between the Planes of Earth and Water. Planar researchers realized that ore lice must have hunted here before the planar schism. On the Plane of Metal, ore lice often appear in horror stories chasing down metal elementals and ferociously devouring them. Their connection to Ferrumnestra adds to their infamy.

Traits

Common

Anything that doesn't list another rarity trait (uncommon, rare, or unique) automatically has the common trait. This rarity indicates that an ability, item, or spell is available to all players who meet the prerequisites for it. A creature of this rarity is generally known and can be summoned with the appropriate summon spell.

Amphibious

An amphibious creature can breathe in water and in air, even outside of its preferred environment, usually indefinitely but at least for hours. These creatures often have a swim Speed. Their bludgeoning and slashing unarmed Strikes don't take the usual –2 penalty for being underwater.

Beast

A creature similar to an animal but with an Intelligence modifier of –3 or higher is usually a beast. Unlike an animal, a beast might be able to speak and reason.

Water

Effects with the water trait either manipulate or conjure water. Those that manipulate water have no effect in an area without water. Creatures with this trait consist primarily of water or have a connection to magical water.