Shaqat Beetle

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Shaqat beetles are natives of the grasslands and mud flats of Athas. In their natural state, they are annoying pests. However, the shaqat beetles encountered in this adventure have been altered by House Shom to carry and transmit cerebral parasites. (Refer to the Complete Psionics Handbook for a description.) Each altered beetle transmits 1d6+6 parasites the first time it successfully hits an opponent in combat or even comes into contact with the exposed skin of the victim.
Shaqat beetles are about 3" across, with long, barbed legs designed to cling to animal hosts. Their mandibles house a powerful proboscis that can pierce a human fingernail, and their carapaces are bright orange with black stripes. An illustration of the beetle appears on page 8 of the Player's Book (Merchant House of Amketch).
==Combat==
Shaqat beetles lurk near paths and watering holes. Their legs can hurl them in a 10 foot leap, and they gain a -2 bonus to surprise when they attack by jumping out of concealment. If a beetle hits, it sets its barbs in the first round, inflicting 1 point of damage. If the beetle is pulled off after its barbs are set, the victim takes 1d4 damage. After its barbs are set, the beetle gains a +4 bonus to attack rolls as it tries to insert its proboscis. A hit inflicts 1 point of damage, and the beetle drains 1 point of blood that round and for the next 1d4+1 rounds following.
The beetle drops off after it is sated, or it can be forced to let go by burning it off. In that case, the victim takes the same damage as the beetle. If killed while it is still attached, the beetle's barbs remain set and must be pulled out.
==Ecology==
Shaqat beetles prey on all other animals. A single beetle is an annoyance, but two or three can easily kill a human being. Most creatures are unable to detach the beetle once it has set its barbs.
==Cerebral Parasites==
These tiny specks are nearly invisible and cannot be attacked by normal means. Each parasite consumes 1 PSP each time a psionic power is used. A psionicist who is infested with 7 parasites uses 7 extra PSPs every time he activates or maintains a power. When a parasite has absorbed 6 points of energy (in other words, the victim has activated or maintained powers 6 times) it divides into two parasites. The only way to get rid of the parasites is by a cure disease spell, or by refraining from using psionic powers for a prolonged period. 
Cerebral parasites can only be detected by the psionic powers of Aura Sight, Life Detection, and Psionic Sense, and magical spells that detect invisible or hidden items.
Category:Creatures
Category:Merchant House of Amketch