Swarmhost (3.5e Template)

Swarmhost
Summary::Swarmhost creatures are the unlucky whose bodies have become inhabited by a swarm, whose unnatural link now replaces their vital organs and life force.

Swarmhosts are terrible things, the result of a creature whose insides have been partially or wholly devoured by a swarm, leaving a shell of a being animated by a host of vibrating bunched up swarming animals within. Many suspect it is similar to a worm that walks, though they are not as powerful. It is uncertain just how they are created, as they seem to spring up sometimes by accident and when on purpose, their notes always seem lost to time.

The hosts of these swarms are "reborn" with vague and foggy memories of their past lives, their wills now dominated by the needs of the swarms within and a ruthlessness that comes even from normally neutral or mindless beings. Like a ghost, they seem to wander their old haunts in attempts to achieve some unmet goal in life. In spite of all this the swarmhosts need not be undead, nor do they need to live at all. Tales have told of construct swarmhosts who, after being abandoned and left to rot in the elements, became a nest to other animals.

Creating a Swarmhost
This is an inherited template which can be applied to any corporeal creature.

Size and Type
As base creature.

Armor Class
Swarmhosts gain a +2 circumstance bonus to AC due to the aid of the swarm effectively always aiding another.

Attack
Swarmhosts gain a +2 circumstance bonus to attack rolls due to the aid of the swarm effectively always aiding another.

Special Attacks
Generate Swarm : As a standard action a swarmhost can generate the same type of swarm as its host swarm. It can maintain a number of swarms whose CR equals their ECL or less. For example a CR 13 swarmhost can have up to three centipede swarms active at any one time. The swarms must remain within 1 mile of the swarmhost or it loses control of them. It may dismiss and scatter one or more generated swarms as a standard action. It may use this ability at will.

Speak with Kind : It may speak to the same type of creature as its host swarm, even if said creature is mindless.

Special Qualities
Hinder Weapons : The swarmhost takes half damage from all physical sources.

Host Swarm : The swarmhost is host to any swarm with a CR equal to their HD or less. It has no function on its own, but to determine the nature of the swamhost's other powers. The swarmhost gains the sensory abilities of their host swarm, such as darkvision, low-light vision, tremorsense, and the like.

Immunities : The swarmhost is immune to disease, paralysis, petrification, poison, polymorph, and stunning. It is immune to mind-affecting effects if its host swarm is also immune to mind-affecting effects. It is also immune to critical hits and precision damage, and never takes swarm damage or a swarm's distraction ability.

Rejuvenate : If a swarmhost is slain, it bursts into its host swarm. This swarm will immediately attempt to flee, and is clearly a different color or appearance from a normal swarm of its kind. It possesses the swarmhost's mental ability scores, and has only purpose: to escape to a safe spot. Once in a safe spot it can begin regenerating the swarmhost's body, a process which takes 1d10 days or until it has managed to eat a number of HD of other creatures to equal the HD of the swarmhost. For example, a 13 HD swarmhost can be regenerated to full health by having its host swarm devour 13 HD in other creatures. A swarmhost will rejuvenate forever unless each one of its host swarm creatures has been eliminated.

Swarm Aura : Creatures within 5 ft of the swarmhost act as if exposed to its host swarm. The DC for its swarm's effects are 10 + 1/2 the swarmhost's HD + Con modifier.

Swarm Sense : As a standard action (duration of concentration) a swarmhost can place his senses within any swarm of the same type as his host swarm within 1 mile and both sense what it is sensing, and communicate with it. If it is one of its swarms (such as via generate swarm) the swarm always obeys any commands given.

Swarm Shield : The swarmhost can have its swarm generate a swirling shield of creatures about it. It provides total concealment (50% miss chance), though it does not bother the swarmhost's own vision. It also effectively grants the swarmhost's HD in temporary hp each round as they form an ablative barrier. However the swarmhost moves at half speed, and gains a swarm's vulnerability to area of effect attacks while the swarm shield is active. It may toggle it on or off as a move action.

Abilities
+8 Constitution, -2 Intelligence, -4 Charisma

Environment
As base creature.

Organization
Solitary or with other swarms, as they no longer relate to their original kin (if any).

Challenge Rating
CR::+2

Treasure
As base creature.

Alignment
Any Evil.

Advancement
As base creature.

Level Adjustment
+Level Adjustment::--