Runarcana

Part 4 · Monsters & Creatures

Powder Monkey

“Ah, those little furballs aren’t so bad. Here’s a tip: they love fireworks. Just attack the enemy’s gunpowder stores and let the monkeys do the rest.” – Miss Fortune

Explosive Monkeys are small elemental creatures with a simian shape and chaotic behavior that love explosions and gunpowder, even appearing to be made of clouds of gunpowder to those who deal with them directly. Because of their nature, the monkeys can be a great help to firearm shooters, reloading their weapons independently, driven by their desire to see more and more shots and explosions.

As it turns out, Captain Sarah Fortune is one of the few people who have been able to form a peaceful and friendly relationship with these creatures, keeping some of them among her crew.

The only known way to “control” these creatures is through a special item directly bound to them, the Monkey Idol:

Explosive Monkey Statblock

Explosive Monkey

CategoryMinion
CR1

Elemental - Beast, Tiny

HP4 (2d4)
AC13
DR
Proficiency+2
Initiative+1
Attributes
STR: 2-4
DEX: 12+1
CON: 100
INT: 4-3
WIS: 12+1
CHA: 6-2
Additional
Senses
Passive perception 13
Speed
30 feet of walking and 30 feet of climbing
Skills
Perception +3
Languages
Elemental
Experience
Collective12
Individual4

Saving Throws: Dexterity +5

Elemental Camouflage. The Explosive Monkey can't be seen by most creatures, being invisible to them; creatures with truesight can only see it as a blur.

Disposable. The Explosive Monkey takes double damage from effects and spells that deal damage based on a failed saving throw, and even if it succeeds on the saving throw, it takes full damage instead of only half.

Quickness. The Explosive Monkey can use the Disengage or Dodge action as a bonus action.

Bite. Melee Natural Weapon Attack, -2 to hit, 5 ft. reach, one target. On a hit, deals 2 (4d2-4) Bludgeoning damage.

Self-Destruction. When in danger, an explosive monkey can destroy itself, generating an explosion within a 15-foot radius; creatures in that area must make a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes twice the Monkey's remaining hit points as Fire damage, or only half on a success. When doing so, a monkey returns to a Monkey Idol.

Runic Pulse: Agate Pulse (1d4 Bludgeoning, Fire)