Whether the party needs to take on a powerful Fire Giant, cross a volcano, end the reign of a fire breathing dragon, this Wild Hunt is a great side quest for any adventuring group. The quest giver is likely an adventurer who lost all their gear to Ratfink and wants revenge. Maybe its a alchemist who is looking for the rubies found within Rust Slimes that can be used to make Rust Coating Gel. This creature could be in ruins and destroying the natural beauty or destabilizing the ecosystem. Druids might want this creature banished… some druids might havesummoned it in the first place.
Ratfink is a Rust Slime, which are viscous, sentient oozes. They have a powerful base that is extremely caustic and exactly opposite of an acid. It breaks down metals by oxidizing them and tends to leave flesh alone, however, flesh is not immune to the power of oxidation, nor is a victim’s blood. Being a lithotroph (its diet consists of metals), the Rust Slime consumes weapons and armor. It is not just sentient but prefers to maliciously attack travelers for their gear.
Recall Knowledge – Ooze (Occultism): DC 20
RATFINKCREATURE 2
Skills Intimidate +10, Athletics +8
Str +4, Dex -5, Con +5, Int +1, Wis +0, Cha -1
Motion Sense Ratfink can sense nearby creatures through vibration and air or water movement.
AC 14; Fort +12, Ref +3, Will +5
HP80; Immunities acid, critical hits, mental, metals, precision, unconsious, visual Litothroth Ratfink recovers 10 health per day and 20 health as long as she can consume an adequate amount of metal. Halitosis
Trigger Ratfink’s HP falls below 50%. Effect Ratfink spews rusty solvents in a 10 ft line that deals 2d6 acid damage (DC 15 basic Reflex save). On a success, the creature takes 1d6 acid damage instead. On a critical failure, the damage is doubled.Speed 10 feet, climb 10 feet
Melee
pseudopod +10 (agile, shove, reach 10 feet), Damage 1d6+4 bludgeoning plus 1d4 acidEngulf
DC 19, 2d6 acid, Escape DC 19, Rupture 7Rust Acid Ratfink’s base solvent turns metals into rust. All damage from Ratfink is also dealt to all worn and held items that are made of metal. If a creature is engulfed by Ratfink, the damage to the metal items is doubled.
Ratfink’s Lair
Ratfink is usually found in ancient ruins. Rust Slimes have been scavengers on planes, but here on Tagaceae, she is an apex predator.
Optional Feature: Domain Actions
Domain actions are a homebrew concept taken from Dungeons and Dragons 5e’s “Lair Actions” that can add another dynamic to a fight. There will be another article that explains how domain actions work, but Ratfink’s statblock wouldn’t be complete without including hers, so we are listing them here. Essentially, Ratfink’s domain gets its own turn in the initiative order, and has 3 actions to spend one the below Domain Actions.
Rusty Rain 
Rust acid rains from above, dealing 1d4 acid damage to all creatures within a 100 ft radius of Ratfink (DC 10 basic Reflex save).
Summon Minion 
Ratfink summons one Rust Slime minion. This minion gets its own turn in the initiative order and acts independantly of Ratfink. There cannot be more summoned Rust Slimes on the battlefiled at once than there are player characters in the encounter.
Minion Halitosis 
Ratfink uses Halitosis originating from one of its summoned Rust Slimes and targets the player character nearest to that Rust Slime.
Rust Slimes
Rust Slimes are usually used as minions to Ratfink. However they can be encountered solo or drop from heavy metal structures where they might feast. They would ambush adventurers with the most metal, targeting those in heavy armor or with big steel weapons.
RUST SLIMECREATURE 1
Skills Intimidate +10, Athletics +8
Str +4, Dex -5, Con +5, Int +1, Wis +0, Cha -1
Motion Sense Ratfink can sense nearby creatures through vibration and air or water movement.
AC 12; Fort +12, Ref +3, Will +5
HP20; Immunities acid, critical hits, mental, metals, precision, unconsious, visual
Speed 10 feet, climb 10 feet
Melee
pseudopod +10 (agile, shove), Damage 1d6+2 bludgeoning plus 1d4 acidRust Acid Ratfink’s base solvent turns metals into rust. All damage from Ratfink is also dealt to all worn and held items that are made of metal. If a creature is engulfed by Ratfink, the damage to the metal items is doubled.
Treasure
Ratfink drops 1d4 items when killed. Items made of substances other than metal are reccommended as they would preserve inside the Rust Slime. Ratfink also drops one additional item determined by rolling on the table below.
| 1d4 | Item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ruby Dust |
| 2 | Fractured Ruby |
| 3 | Ruby |
| 4 | Rust Heart Ruby |
Ruby dust or a fractured ruby can be used as reagents to craft Rust Coating Gel. Crafting Rust Coating Gel requires the Magical Crafting skill feat.
The different levels of Rust Coating Gel require different materials from Rust Slimes. Required materials from higher quality Rust Coating Gels can be used to create any of the gels of a lower quality.
Rust Coating GelItem 2+
Activate
Interact
Rust Coating Gel can be applied to one person or object to gain protection from fire and acid for 12 hours.
Type lesser; Level 2; Price 10 gp; Material Ruby Dust
Creatures coated in Rust Coating Gel gain resistance 1 to fire and acid damage, while objects coated in the gel receive immunity to fire and acid damage for the duration.
Type moderate; Level 4; Price 30 gp; Material Fractured Ruby
Creatures coated in Rust Coating Gel gain resistance 2 to fire and acid damage, while objects coated in the gel receive immunity to fire and acid damage for the duration.
Type greater; Level 12; Price 250 gp; Material Ruby
Creatures coated in Rust Coating Gel gain resistance 5 to fire and acid damage, while objects coated in the gel receive immunity to fire and acid damage for the duration.
Type major; Level 17; Price 2,500 gp; Material Rust Heart Ruby
Creatures coated in Rust Coating Gel gain resistance 10 to fire and acid damage, while objects coated in the gel receive immunity to fire and acid damage for the duration.
