Lore
The Cluster Crab is a large crab the size of a person. It is made of stone and adorns its shell with the gemstones it finds while burrowing through the ground it calls home. The Cluster Crab is native to the Plane of Earth, but it can be found within the Material Plane through past summons and portals.
Elemental Evolution: Sometimes creatures from outside the Elemental Planes find themselves within them. Most perish, others adapt and some, like the Cluster Crab, evolve. The Cluster Crab originated from a cast of giant crabs that traveled into the Plane of Earth through a random portal. Through their ability to adapt they eventually stayed long enough to evolve into the form they are seen as today.
Beast Lineage: Despite being an elemental now, the Cluster Crab was once a beast and that can be seen in some of its characteristics. This can be seen with the Cluster Crab’s need for food, which has changed to rocks after evolving. This lineage can also be seen in the Cluster Crab still needing to rest unlike other earth elementals. The Cluster Crab has also maintained a migration pattern for mating season.
Feedback
I try to playtest every monster before I post them, but I am just one person. So, something that works at my table may not at others. If you feel inclined fill out the form below on how the monster worked for you. I am glad for any feedback.
I plan on using the feedback the fix the statblocks so that I can either repost them or put them in a down the line product for sale.