Welcome to Monster Mondays! Today we present the Voyager Roach, a space cowboy’s mount of choice… often the last choice.
Voyager Roach CR 2 (XP 600)
This roach-like monstrosity has an onyx-colored carapace and diaphanous wings folded on it’s back. It constantly drools thick, viscous bile.
XP 600
Neutral Medium vermin
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft; Perception +0
DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 11, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +3 natural armor)
hp 25 (4d8+4);
Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +1
Defensive Abilities mindless
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft., fly 40 ft. (poor), limited starflight
Melee bite +5 (1d8+3 plus filth fever)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks filth fever
STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 15, Con 12, Int –, Wis 10, Cha 5
Base Atk +3; CMB +6; CMD 19
Skills Climb +11, Fly -2, Perception +0, Stealth +1
SQ limited starflight, trainable
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Air Bubble (Ex)
While in an air-filled environment, the voyager roach can slowly inflate a bubble of spit, capturing some air inside. If placed upon its back this air bubble can provide breathable air for one Medium or Small rider for one hour. This air bubble provides no protection against any other void dangers.
Filth Fever (Ex)
A voyager roach can inflict filth fever on a successful bite attack.
Injury save Fort DC 13; onset 1d3 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. This save DC is Constitution-based.
Trainable (Ex)
Handle Animal and wild empathy can be used on a voyager roach as if it was a magical beast with 1 Intelligence.
ECOLOGY
Environment space, spaceports
Organization none
Treasure none
Spaceships are expensive. When budgets are tight, an alternative exists; a filthy drooling, egg laying galactic scourge of an alternative. The voyager roach is capable of flying through space itself, riding the solar winds and eddies to moving between planets and moons while carrying a single rider with them. While technically capable of traveling between stars, most roaches die of old age or starvation long before arriving to their new destination.
While the voyager roaches are proficient at traveling intra-system, they are not without their risks. Notorious carriers of diseases, they also lay eggs at what seems to be a constant rate, usually leaving behind swarms of young on every planet and moon that they visit. It is speculated that voyager roaches are the progenitors of all planet born roaches as they rapidly spread their progeny across the galaxy.
Most trained voyager roaches have been fixed to stop the egg laying and fertilization, but such procedures have a high relapse rate and it’s not uncommon for a voyager roach to regain fertility after a few years of inactivity.
Declared a galactic scourge by the Shaman Knights, and highly restricted by the Infinite Star Legion, use of the voyager roach is often frowned upon, illegal, or considered a killing offense depending on system. Despite this the roaches are widely used, often by those who cannot afford or acquire spaceships of their own, or as emergency escape mounts on larger vessels.
Animal Companion
The voyager roach can be taken as an animal companion, vermin companion or mount. Unlike a normal animal companion, it uses vermin Hit Dice to advance. Unlike a normal vermin, a voyager roach can be taught tricks as if it were an animal.
Starting Statistics
Size Medium, Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft., fly 40 ft. (poor); AC +3 natural armor, Attack bite 1d6; Ability Scores Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int –, Wis 10, Cha 5; Special Qualities filth fever, trainable
4th Level Advancement
Size Large, Speed limited starflight, Str +8, Dex -2, Con +4; Special Qualities air bubble.
