Rot grub

Rot grubs were a species of parasitic grubs.

Abilities
If their victims were quick, they could be treated with fire or by cutting them out with a blade. If not, a remove disease spell would be needed to eliminate them before they reached a victim's heart.

History
In 1357 DR, rot grubs could occasionally be found in the sewers beneath Waterdeep.

Ecology
A single swarm of rot grubs was capable of laying over ten thousand eggs on a decaying body before they perished. If these bodies were not burned, then their eggs would hatch after a period of one month.

Diet
Rot grubs were known to feed upon both dead and living flesh.

Habitats
In the forest of Cormanthor, rot grubs were often found in the bark of treants, where they helped combat tube wilt by eating the rotten wood and the fungal infection that caused it.

Outside of Cormanthor, they were most often found in piles of offal or dung, attracted by movement, they would burrow into the nearest moving object and eat whatever they could.

Usages
Some gnolls were known to capture rot grubs and use them to torture their captives in rites to Yeenoghu. Some kobolds would capture them and place them in small, ceramic containers to be thrown at their enemies. And some bugbears were known to use them as additions to their traps or pits to dispose of bodies in.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Halls of the High King • Dungeon #29: "Nymph's Reward" • Dungeon #71: "Dreadful Vestiges" • Dragon+ #12, "The Barber of Silverymoon"