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

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