Stirge Swarm

Medium swarm of Tiny monstrosities, unaligned

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Armor Class 14 (swarm of bodies)
Hit Points 85 (10d8 + 40)
Speed 10 ft., fly 40 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
6 (−2)	16 (+3)	18 (+4)	2 (−4)	10 (+0)	4 (−3)

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Saving Throws Dex +5, Con +6
Skills Perception +2, Stealth +5
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Damage Immunities psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained, stunned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages —
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3

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Traits

Swarm Form. The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny stirge. The swarm can’t regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.

Blood Frenzy. The swarm has advantage on attack rolls against a creature that doesn’t have all its hit points.

Horrid Buzz. Any creature that starts its turn within 10 feet of the swarm must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened until the start of its next turn. On a success, the creature is immune to this effect for 24 hours.

Blood Magic (Recharge 5–6). When engorged on blood, the swarm exudes necrotic energy, fueling devastating attacks or bursts of life-draining power.

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Actions

Multiattack. The swarm makes two Blood Drain attacks.

Blood Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature in the swarm’s space. Hit: 13 (3d6 + 3) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or begin bleeding. On a failed save, the target loses 5 (1d10) hit points at the start of each of its turns. The bleeding ends if the target regains hit points or if a creature uses an action to staunch the wound.

Necrotic Burst (Blood Magic). The swarm shrieks with necrotic force. Each creature within 15 feet must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 21 (6d6) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success. The swarm takes 10 damage when it uses this ability as its own vitality burns away.

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Reactions

Frenzied Scatter. When the swarm takes damage from an area effect (such as fireball), it can use its reaction to halve the damage it takes by scattering and reforming.

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Legendary Actions

The Stirge Swarm can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature’s turn.

• Buzzing Assault. The swarm moves up to half its flying speed and makes a Blood Drain attack.
• Smothering Cloud. The swarm expands outward, heavily obscuring its space until the start of its next turn. Creatures inside must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or begin suffocating until they exit the swarm’s area.
• Blood Surge (Costs 2 Actions). The swarm regains 15 hit points by consuming stored blood; a crimson mist seeps from its bodies.

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Combat Tactics

A stirge swarm lies in wait on ceilings, treetops, or cavern walls, then engulfs prey in a sudden wave of wings. It targets wounded foes first, exploiting Blood Frenzy, and will scatter with Frenzied Scatter when faced with destructive magic. Once partially fed, the swarm often unleashes Necrotic Burst to break enemy lines before reforming around stragglers. It fights without fear, retreating only when heavily depleted, driven by an unending hunger for blood.

Stirge Swarm

Even an animal-level of intelligence is enough for a creature to know there is safety in numbers!

Stirge Swarm CR 6

XP 2,400
N Tiny magical beast (swarm)
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +11

DEFENSE

AC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 12 (+4 Dex, +2 size)
hp 78 (12d10 plus 12)
Fort +8; Ref +14; Will +5

OFFENSE

Speed 10 ft., fly 40 ft. (average)
Melee swarm (3d6 plus blood drain)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks blood drain (1d6 Constitution), distraction (DC 16)

STATISTICS

Str 3, Dex 19, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 6
Base Atk +12; CMB —; CMD —
Feats Improved Initiative, Improved Lightning Reflexes, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Perception), Skill Focus (Stealth), Toughness
Skills Fly +17, Perception +11, Stealth +20
SQ diseased

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Diseased (Ex)

Any creature subjected to a stirge’s blood drain attack has a 10% chance of being exposed to filth fever, blinding sickness, or a similar disease. Once this check is made, the victim can no longer be infected by this particular stirge, though attacks by different stirges are resolved normally and may result in multiple illnesses.

ECOLOGY

Environment underground or temperate and warm swamps
Organization solitary, colony (2–4), flock (5–8), storm (9–14), or swarm (15–40)
Treasure none

Stirges are vicious, blood-drinking swamp pests that prey on wild animals, livestock, and unwary travelers. While weak individually, swarms of the creatures are capable of draining a man dry in minutes, leaving only a desiccated husk in their wake.

Closer to mammals than insects, stirges carry their bodies through the air on four fleshy wings, searching out warm-blooded prey. They are fond of hiding near watering holes and waiting for travelers to drop their guard, then swooping out to attach and drink their fill by thrusting their long feeding tubes into unprotected veins. After feeding they flap heavily off into the mud and reeds to lay their eggs and rest until hunger drives them to hunt again.

Stirges are usually 1 foot long, with a wingspan of twice that, and weigh just under a pound. Their coloration is rust-red or reddish-brown with a dirty yellow underbelly, though stirges that have not fed in some time are often pale pink, their color deepening as they gorge.Section 15: Copyright Notice

Rappan Athuk Copyright 2012 Bill Webb, Frog God Games