GITP Monster Competition XIX - Creepy Crawlies (Voting Opened)

[Cespenar]

Bardfly

Tiny Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 1/2d10 (3 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 10 ft. (2 squares), fly 60 ft. (good)
Armor Class: 16 (+2 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural), touch 15, flatfooted 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/-12
Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d4-5)
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d4-5)
Space/Reach: 2-1/2 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks:
Special Qualities: Windsong, harmony, jet, vermin traits
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 1, Dex 16, Con 10, Int -, Wis 12, Cha 12
Skills: Hide +15, Spot +5, Move Silently -1
Feats: Weapon Finesse (B)
Environment: Temperate forests
Organization: Duo (2), band (3-9), or orchestra (10-30)
Challenge Rating: 1
Advancement: 1 HD (Tiny), 2-4 HD (Small)
Level Adjustment: --

This creature looks like a somewhat big dragonfly, but with larger-than-normal wings, and a crooked body. Closer inspection reveals the tiny and overly intricate designs on its thin and transparent wings, which are in fact holes and openings of numerous size and types. As it flies off, weird sounds come from it, those that are unfitting of a bug. They almost resemble music, though somewhat incomplete, coming as if from a wind instrument. As you gaze after it, several such creatures enter your sight, flying in the direction as the first one, singing similar tunes, but from different tones, complementing the song.

Bardflies, or musicians of the wild world as one might say, are a marvel of nature. Their wings are full of intricate openings of diminutive size, which produce different notes as the wind whistles through them during flight. They can change the notes that are played by adjusting their flight speed, but ironically, their sensory devices aren’t advanced enough to hear their own sounds. How do such mindless bugs create such beautiful music, had been a mystery to many scholars throughout the lands.

Combat

Bardflies are cowardly and delicate creatures, which avoid combat at all costs. If encountered hostility in their own region, Bardflies tend to use their Windsong ability to calm or stall the intruders, gaining time for their kin to move away. In dire situations, they use their Jet ability to quickly flee.

Jet (Ex): As a swift action, the Bardfly may move at it’s base flight speed in a direct line. It can use this ability every 1d4+1 rounds.

Windsong (Su): The wind passing through the Bardfly’s wings turns into beautiful sounds, which grow more alike songs as the Bardfly gains speed through the air, taking different tones and qualities. The effect can be determined by how much the Bardfly has traveled by flight in its round, and are effective in a 60’ radius along the Bardfly’s path. A will save of 10 + Bardfly’s HD still allows the subjects to hear/enjoy the music, but negates the effects. These are mind-affecting sonic effects.

{table=head]Distance flown | Effect
0 - 20 ft. | Harmless sounds, akin to those of a Ghost Sounds spell
20 - 40 ft. | Subjects fascinated for 1d4 rounds
40 - 80 ft. | Calm Emotions, as the spell
80 - 120 ft. | Remove Fear and Good Hope, as the spells
Jet ability used* | Fortitude save instead, subjects deafened and receive 1 point of sonic damage[/table]
*The effect from the Jet ability overrides any other Windsong effects that may occur in that round.

Harmony (Su): If two or more Bardflies use the same effect of the Windsong ability in the same round within a 60’ radius, the DC of those effects increase by 1 for each such additional Bardfly.

Skills: Bardflies have a +4 racial bonus to Hide and Spot checks, and a -4 racial penalty to Move Silently checks.

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Lore

DC 10: Bardflies are insects that produce odd sounds as they fly.
DC 15: The brilliant music that they produce comes from their wing design, and can have beneficial effects on the listener.
DC 20: When afraid or threatened, they may swiftly propel themselves through the air, creating a small sonic blast that may deafen those nearby.