[Cryptworld] The Month Of Things: Carnivorous Swarm

An Insectoid Threat  for Cryptworld

CARNIVOROUS SWARM

STR: 4 (60) --- WPR: NA
DEX: NA --- PER: NA
AGL: 3 (45) --- PCN: 3 (45)
STA: 4 (60) --- PWR: NA
ATT: 1/53% --- WND: 0*
MV:  L 100   F 200 (if applicable)

Experience: 750

A carnivorous swarm is a massive collection of flesh-eating insects driven into a berserk feeding frenzy. A carnivorous swarm can be triggered by any number of factors: exposure to mutagenic toxins or radiation, control by some nefarious outside force, or simply "nature runs amok".  Fortunately, a carnivorous swarm isn't an intelligent force, as the mass moves upon insectile instinct alone. However, due to the nature of the threat, the carnivorous swarm is very difficult to escape or hide from -- and deadly if it engulfs its prey.

The CM should first roll 1d10 to determine what insect makes up the carnivorous swarm. (* denotes flying insects.)

1. Ants
2. Beetles
3. Centipedes
4. Cockroaches
5. Spiders
6. Flies*
7. Locusts*
8. Mantis*
9. Mosquitos*
10. Wasps/Hornets*

Upon first seeing a carnivorous swarm, it will appear as a darkened mass flowing over and engulfing every surface. If the carnivorous swarm is made up of flying insects, it will appear as a quickly moving black cloud. A carnivorous swarm has only one purpose -- to feed upon anything and anyone it encounters. The vermin making up the carnivorous swarm will eat anything -- plant or animal -- swarming over the hapless victim and stripping them down to bones in minutes. (The victim may die quickly of suffocation before being consumed -- if they're lucky.) If a carnivorous swarm is made up of centipedes, spiders, or wasps/hornets, these insects will use their natural poisonous venom to kill their prey. The CM should roll 1d10 to determine the poison lethality of the carnivorous swarm and have the PC roll a poison check upon any successful attack to determine the outcome.

Since the carnivorous swarm is a mass of individual insects, the thing does not take Wound damage from any attack. If a carnivorous swarm is taken to 0 STA, the individual insects making up the swarm will scatter in various directions, losing cohesion and no longer swarming as a mass. A carnivorous swarm takes half-damage from any ranged projectile weapon as well as bladed handheld weapons, and takes full STA damage from any attack made with a bludgeoning weapon, as well as from fire or cold. A land-based carnivorous swarm is unable to cross a body of water, although flying swarms are unaffected. It is left to the CM to determine if the carnivorous swarm takes damage from any water-based attack.