The Vorpal Tribble
2008-09-12, 11:56 AM
Scourge Beetle Swarm
Diminutive Vermin (extraplanar, swarm)
Hit Dice: 13d8+13 (71 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), burrow 20 feet., climb 20 ft.
Armor Class: 18 (+1 dex, +3 natural, +4 size), touch 15, flat-footed 17
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/-
Attack: Swarm (3d6)
Full Attack: Swarm (3d6)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Distraction, famine, scourge
Special Qualities: Await the unworthy, blindsight 120 ft., darkvision, immunity to weapon damage, swarm traits, tremorsense 60 ft., vermin traits
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +7
Abilities: Str 1, Dex 13, Con 12, Int -, Wis 16, Cha 1
Skills: -
Feats: -
Environment: Any land or underground
Organization: Swarm, Scourge (3-6 swarms), Plague (10+ swarms)
Challenge Rating: 7
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -
Scourge beetles, despite their name, are very unassuming insects that could fit in the palm of your hand. They have a streamlined, dark-brown carapace and no apparent eyes. Despite their strong shell they are very flexible and can curl and bend with ease. They move with great hyperactivity, speeding forward almost as fast as a man and burst into frantic motion over a meal.
Scourge beetles are sent as a punishment upon entire lands by dark deities to punish unbelievers or those who would thwart them. They quickly devour and multiply until little is left alive. When everything is consumed they then sleep until awakened by the presence of newcomers.
Combat
Scourge beetles use their tremorsense to follow creatures from underfoot, pouring out once they reach them to quickly devour every organic scrap.
Await the Unworthy (Ex): A scourge beetle has such high energy needs that they would starve in 4 days without nourishment. If such would happen they do not die but instead bury underground and go dormant indefinitely. They remain this way until awakened by the approach of potential food.
Blindsight (Ex): Scourge beetles can “see” by emitting high-frequency sounds, inaudible to most other creatures, that allow them to locate objects and creatures within 120 feet. A silence spell negates this and forces the swarm to rely on its vision, which is approximately half as good as a human’s.
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature vulnerable to a scourge beetle's swarm damage that begins its turn with a swarm in its square is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 17) negates the effect. Spellcasting or concentrating on spells within the area of a swarm requires a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level). Using skills that involve patience and concentration requires a DC 20 Concentration check.
Famine (Ex): Scourge beetles can decimate crops with ease. While moving at their base speed while burrowing they can effectively decimate all non-tree plants in any square they occupy by devouring their root systems. The plant dies 24 hours later.
Scourge (Ex): Disease-swarm; Fortitude DC 17, incubation period one day, damage 1d6 Constitution. This damage continues every hour as the beetle eggs hatch and begin to gourge and grow. If the victim dies a new swarm of scourge beetles emerges. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Skills: Scourge beetles have a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks. They can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or threatened.
Diminutive Vermin (extraplanar, swarm)
Hit Dice: 13d8+13 (71 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), burrow 20 feet., climb 20 ft.
Armor Class: 18 (+1 dex, +3 natural, +4 size), touch 15, flat-footed 17
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/-
Attack: Swarm (3d6)
Full Attack: Swarm (3d6)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Distraction, famine, scourge
Special Qualities: Await the unworthy, blindsight 120 ft., darkvision, immunity to weapon damage, swarm traits, tremorsense 60 ft., vermin traits
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +7
Abilities: Str 1, Dex 13, Con 12, Int -, Wis 16, Cha 1
Skills: -
Feats: -
Environment: Any land or underground
Organization: Swarm, Scourge (3-6 swarms), Plague (10+ swarms)
Challenge Rating: 7
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -
Scourge beetles, despite their name, are very unassuming insects that could fit in the palm of your hand. They have a streamlined, dark-brown carapace and no apparent eyes. Despite their strong shell they are very flexible and can curl and bend with ease. They move with great hyperactivity, speeding forward almost as fast as a man and burst into frantic motion over a meal.
Scourge beetles are sent as a punishment upon entire lands by dark deities to punish unbelievers or those who would thwart them. They quickly devour and multiply until little is left alive. When everything is consumed they then sleep until awakened by the presence of newcomers.
Combat
Scourge beetles use their tremorsense to follow creatures from underfoot, pouring out once they reach them to quickly devour every organic scrap.
Await the Unworthy (Ex): A scourge beetle has such high energy needs that they would starve in 4 days without nourishment. If such would happen they do not die but instead bury underground and go dormant indefinitely. They remain this way until awakened by the approach of potential food.
Blindsight (Ex): Scourge beetles can “see” by emitting high-frequency sounds, inaudible to most other creatures, that allow them to locate objects and creatures within 120 feet. A silence spell negates this and forces the swarm to rely on its vision, which is approximately half as good as a human’s.
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature vulnerable to a scourge beetle's swarm damage that begins its turn with a swarm in its square is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 17) negates the effect. Spellcasting or concentrating on spells within the area of a swarm requires a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level). Using skills that involve patience and concentration requires a DC 20 Concentration check.
Famine (Ex): Scourge beetles can decimate crops with ease. While moving at their base speed while burrowing they can effectively decimate all non-tree plants in any square they occupy by devouring their root systems. The plant dies 24 hours later.
Scourge (Ex): Disease-swarm; Fortitude DC 17, incubation period one day, damage 1d6 Constitution. This damage continues every hour as the beetle eggs hatch and begin to gourge and grow. If the victim dies a new swarm of scourge beetles emerges. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Skills: Scourge beetles have a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks. They can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or threatened.