Giant fire beetles were nocturnal giant beetles.
Description[]
Giant fire beetles were the smallest of all the giant beetles known to scholars.[4][5] They grew to be about 2 to 2.5 feet (0.61 to 0.76 meters).[3][4]
Abilities[]
These creatures had luminous glands, situated above each eye[3][4][5] and near the abdomen,[4][5] that glowed a red color.[3][4][5] If removed, these glands would continue glowing for several days.[3][4][5] The luminosity of these glands extended outward in a radius of 10 feet (3 meters).[4][5]
Combat[]
Despite being small for giant beetles, these creatures had very powerful mandibles that could cause great injury to any human.[4][5]
History[]
In 1492 DR, a group of troglodytes within the level of Undermountain known as the Troglodyte Warrens had domesticated giant fire beetles and were raising them for food.[6] That same year the Harper agent Ulvira Snowveins was running a pet store in Skullport that offered, among other creatures, giant fire beetles for sale.[7]
Sub-Species[]
- An intelligent variation of giant fire beetles were known to inhabit the celestial planes. These were often sent in answer to a good cleric's summoning spells.[8]
Ecology[]
Diet[]
Giant fire beetles were an omnivorous species of insect[4] and could survive feeding on carrion.[9]
Habitats[]
In the Undermountain level of Arcturiadoom, the fire giant Hrossk lights his way with a lantern of fire beetles.
Giant fire beetles could be found in clusters or colonies in warmer flatlands.[3] They lived both above and below ground.[4][5] A colony of giant fire beetles was built around a giant fire beetle queen, a larger and more powerful variant of the insect.[9]
In the land of Faerûn they could be found in the King's Forest of Cormyr,[10] within Mount Hotenow,[11] and down in the Underdark.[12]
In the East they could be found in the Hordelands and Semphar.[13] In east Zakhara, they could be found in the Grey Jungle.[14] And in the Crowded Sea south of Zakhara, they could be found on the island chain of Nada al-Hazan.[15]
Beyond the Prime Material plane, some were known to inhabit the Elemental Plane of Fire.[16]
Relationships[]
Fire beetles were a favored animal of the deity Moradin and thus would serve him, sometime acting as messengers to his followers.[17]
Usages[]
The luminous glands of the giant fire beetle were prized by adventurers and miners alike.[4][5][3]
Some were known to use their glands as an alternative material component to the spell dancing lights.[18] Their blood was also a material component for the spell infra-invisible.[19]
The inhabitants of Skullport sometimes sought out the larvae of fire beetles to use as a source of illumination.[20]
Notable Fire Beetles[]
- Phredd, a fire beetle that lived within Marigold's Menagerie.[21]
Appendix[]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Comics
Video Games
Board Games
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Reference[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 325. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 30. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 285. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 9. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins (November 2018). Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 155. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins (November 2018). Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 308. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 285. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Black Isle Studios (August 2002). Designed by J.E. Sawyer. Icewind Dale II. Interplay.
- ↑ Random encounters table included in Ed Greenwood (1989). Waterdeep (adventure). (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-88038-757-2.
- ↑ Matt Sernett, Erik Scott de Bie, Ari Marmell (August 2011). Neverwinter Campaign Setting. Edited by Tanis O'Connor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 135. ISBN 0-7869-5814-6.
- ↑ Jeremy Crawford, Mike Mearls, Robert J. Schwalb, Adam Lee, Christopher Perkins, Matt Sernett (November 2017). Xanathar's Guide to Everything. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 26. ISBN 978-0-7869-6612-7.
- ↑ David Cook (August 1990). “Volume II”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), pp. 114, 117. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ Steve Kurtz (1994). Al-Qadim: Cities of Bone: Campaign Guide. (TSR, Inc), p. 16. ISBN 1-56076-847.
- ↑ David Cook (October 1992). “Nada al-Hazan”. In Bill Slavicsek ed. Golden Voyages (TSR, Inc.), p. 2. ISBN 978-1560763314.
- ↑ Monte Cook and William W. Connors (December 7, 1998). The Inner Planes. Edited by Michele Carter and Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 44. ISBN 0-7869-0736-3.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 78. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Vince Garcia (July 1989). “Variety, the Spice of Magic”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #147 (TSR, Inc.), p. 24.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 132. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Joseph C. Wolf (1999). Skullport. (TSR, Inc), p. 13. ISBN 0-7869-1348-7.
- ↑ Nicky Rea (July 1994). “The Living City: The Hand of Mercy and Marigold's Menagerie”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #97 (TSR, Inc.), p. 12.