🐛 Monster Spotlight: The Sandstrider

Behind the Die by Charlie Stayton

“Beware the ground beneath your feet — the Steppes hunger too.”

The Sandstrider is a colossal insectoid predator that lurks beneath the grasses of the Endless Steppes. Its armored body blends seamlessly with the soil, and its long barbed legs erupt suddenly to snare prey.

Lore & Description

• Appearance: A mix between a giant mantis and centipede, with a chitinous amber shell and legs like jagged scythes.

• Behavior: Ambush predator, lying in wait for vibrations of herds or caravans.

• Legends: Steppe shamans tell stories of Sandstriders as the “teeth of the earth,” born when blood of ancient titans soaked into the soil.

Hooks

1. A caravan route has been abandoned because a Sandstrider nest stalks the area.

2. A nomadic tribe offers a reward for the carapace of one, which they believe can be forged into protective armor.

3. A wounded Sandstrider surfaces near the Singing Stones, disrupting their magic.

Stat Block (D&D 5E, CR 7)

• Sandstrider – Huge Monstrosity (Unaligned)

• AC 16 (natural armor) | HP 115 (11d12+44) | Speed 40 ft., burrow 30 ft.

• STR 20, DEX 14, CON 18, INT 3, WIS 12, CHA 6

• Abilities:

  • Burrow Ambush: Can erupt from beneath the ground, surprising creatures within 20 ft. (DC 15 Perception to avoid).

  • Grasping Legs: On a hit, grapples target (escape DC 15).

  • Chitinous Plating: Resistance to nonmagical piercing and slashing damage.

How to Use It

Sandstriders work best as roaming threats during travel — turning otherwise safe plains into deadly hunting grounds.