Yoke Beetle
Fiend · Crown of Domination
T1d4Minor
Black, chitinous beetles the size of a human fist with mandibles shaped like manacles, Yoke Beetles inject enslavement pheromones that mark victims, then herd them in precise military formation toward the lairs of more powerful Domination creatures.
Tier 1 · Role Minor · Pool Vigor 1 (+1 overflow) · AC 11 · ATK +3 · Save DC 11 · Dmg 1 (flat)
| Stat | Score | Mod | Die |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body | 14 | - | - |
| Mind | 4 | - | - |
| Sense | 12 | - | - |
| Heart | 12 | - | - |
| Cunning | 8 | - | - |
| Fate | 12 | - | - |
A Minor has no attribute mechanics: the scores describe the creature, they do not roll.
Passives
Enslavement Pheromone
A creature bitten by a Yoke Beetle is marked for 3 days. Other beetles will not attack a marked creature; they follow at 10 ft, clicking in unison, and swarm any marked creature that tries to sleep; the sleeper takes 1 Vigor damage and gets no rest. A cleansing rite or full submersion in vinegar scours the mark.
Mindless
Identical components of a system. Does not flee at 0 Vigor; fights until destroyed.
Maneuvers
Formation Herd
When 6 or more beetles surround a creature, they close in geometric formation. The target makes a Body save (DC 11) or is driven 10 ft in a direction of the beetles' choosing.
Tactics
GM tactics
Yoke Beetles do not fight to kill. They bite, mark, and herd. They prevent sleep and drive marked targets toward larger Domination creatures. The clicking never stops. They are tireless, identical components of a system designed to control movement and deny rest.
Running it
Rules
- Vigor equal to Tier, with an overflow of the same size behind it: 1, then 1 more. Neither half regenerates.
- A hit deals a flat 1, no roll. A crit (natural 20 only) rolls d4 and never lands below 1.
- 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 2 kills it outright, and a single blow of 2 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.