spawn-of-kyuss-mpmm

Spawn of Kyuss

Source: Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse p. 225, Volo’s Guide to Monsters p. 192

Kyuss was a high priest of Orcus who plundered corpses from necropolises to create the first spawn of Kyuss. Even centuries after Kyuss’s death, his malign disciples continue performing the horrific rites he perfected.

From a distance or in poor light, a spawn of Kyuss looks like an ordinary zombie. As it comes into clearer view, however, the scores of little green worms crawling in and out of it become visible. These worms jump onto nearby Humanoids and burrow into their flesh. A worm that penetrates a Humanoid body makes its way to the creature’s brain. Once inside the brain, the worm kills its host and animates the corpse, transforming it into a spawn of Kyuss, which breeds more worms.

Spawn of Kyuss are expressions of Orcus’s intent to replace all life with undeath. Left to its own devices, a solitary spawn of Kyuss travels aimlessly. If it stumbles across a living creature, the spawn attacks with the sole intent of creating more spawn. Whether spawn are dispersed or clustered, they reproduce exponentially if nothing stops them.

title: Spawn of Kyuss
![](Mechanics/CLI/bestiary/undead/token/spawn-of-kyuss-mpmm.webp#token)
*Medium undead, Typically  Chaotic Evil*
 
- **Armor Class** 10 
- **Hit Points** 76 (`9d8 + 36`) 
- **Speed** 30 ft.
 
|STR|DEX|CON|INT|WIS|CHA|
|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
|16 (+3)|11 (+0)|18 (+4)| 5 (-3)| 7 (-2)| 3 (-4)|
 
- **Proficiency Bonus** +3
- **Saving Throws** Wisdom +1
- **Skills** ⏤
- **Senses** [darkvision](Mechanics/CLI/rules/senses.md#Darkvision) 60 ft., passive Perception 8
- **Damage Immunities** poison
- **Condition Immunities** [exhaustion](Mechanics/CLI/rules/conditions.md#Exhaustion), [poisoned](Mechanics/CLI/rules/conditions.md#Poisoned)
- **Languages** understands the languages it knew in life but can't speak
- **Challenge** 5
 
## Traits
 
***Regeneration.*** The spawn of Kyuss regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point and isn't in sunlight or a body of running water. If the spawn takes acid, fire, or radiant damage, this trait doesn't function at the start of the spawn's next turn. The spawn is destroyed only if it starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn't regenerate.
 
***Worms.*** If the spawn of Kyuss is targeted by an effect that cures disease or removes a curse, all the worms infesting it wither away, and it loses its Burrowing Worm action.
 
***Unusual Nature.*** The spawn of Kyuss requires no air, food, drink, or sleep.
 
## Actions
 
***Multiattack.*** The spawn of Kyuss makes two Claw attacks, and it uses Burrowing Worm.
 
***Claw.*** *Melee Weapon Attack:* `+6` to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. *Hit:* 6 (`1d6 + 3`) slashing damage plus 7 (`2d6`) necrotic damage.
 
***Burrowing Worm.*** A worm launches from the spawn of Kyuss at one Humanoid that the spawn can see within 10 feet of it. The worm latches onto the target's skin unless the target succeeds on a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw. The worm is a Tiny Undead with AC 6, 1 hit point, a 2 (-4) in every ability score, and a speed of 1 foot. While on the target's skin, the worm can be killed by normal means or scraped off using an action (the spawn can use Burrowing Worm to launch a scraped-off worm at a Humanoid it can see within 10 feet of the worm). Otherwise, the worm burrows under the target's skin at the end of the target's next turn, dealing 1 piercing damage to it. At the end of each of its turns thereafter, the target takes 7 (`2d6`) necrotic damage per worm infesting it (maximum of `10d6`), and if it drops to 0 hit points, it dies and then rises 10 minutes later as a spawn of Kyuss. If a worm-infested target is targeted by an effect that cures disease or removes a curse, all the worms infesting it wither away.

Environment

desert, underdark