Dross Beetle Swarm
Beast · no Crown (Meridian)
T2d6Minor
Seething clouds of thousands of tiny grey beetles that strip light from everything they touch, corroding enchantments, dulling metal, and draining color.
Tier 2 · Role Minor · Pool Vigor 2 (+2 overflow) · AC 10 · ATK +4 · Save DC 13 · Dmg 2 (flat)
| Stat | Score | Mod | Die |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body | 16 | - | - |
| Mind | 4 | - | - |
| Sense | 12 | - | - |
| Heart | 12 | - | - |
| Cunning | 6 | - | - |
| Fate | 14 | - | - |
A Minor has no attribute mechanics: the scores describe the creature, they do not roll.
Passives
Swarm
Resistant to damage from single-target attacks; vulnerable to area effects. Mindless: it never flees and fights until destroyed. Each creature inside the swarm takes 1 Vigor damage at the end of the swarm's turn.
Light Corrosion
Strips light and magic from what it touches. Light sources inside the swarm gutter out, enchantments on carried items are suppressed for 1 round after leaving it, and exposed metal dulls and pits.
Maneuvers
Engulf
The swarm flows over a creature, subjecting it to Swarm and Light Corrosion until it moves out.
Tactics
GM tactics
The dross beetle swarm is drawn to strong light and magic. It engulfs the brightest light source or most magical creature. It cannot be reasoned with and fights until destroyed. Area attacks are the only effective counter.
Running it
Rules
- Vigor equal to Tier, with an overflow of the same size behind it: 2, then 2 more. Neither half regenerates.
- A hit deals a flat 2, no roll. A crit (natural 20 only) rolls d6 and never lands below 2.
- Crits on a natural 20 only.
- Minor: no stat modifiers or dice in play; its scores describe the creature, they do not roll.
- At 0 Vigor it breaks and flees, out of the fight but alive; Fanatics fight on into the overflow instead.
- Total damage reaching 4 kills it outright, and a single blow of 4 or more kills it on the spot.
- Vigor damage is simply damage against a Minor: its whole pool is Vigor.
- Group morale: when its group loses half its number, fled or dead, the rest check morale.
- NPCs never take wounds.