View source for SRD:Hellwasp Swarm

{{OGL Top}}
=HELLWASP SWARM=

{{3.5e Monster Classic
|creature=
|style=
|size=Diminutive |type=Magical Beast |subtypes=Extraplanar, Evil, Swarm
|hd=12d10+27  |hp=93 
|init=+10
|speed=5 ft. (1 square), fly 40 ft.
|ac=20 (+4 size, +6 [[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]) |touch=20  |flat=14 
|bab=+12 |grapple=—
|at=Swarm (3d6 plus [[SRD:Poison|poison]])
|full_at=Swarm (3d6 plus [[SRD:Poison|poison]])
|space=10 ft. |reach=0 ft.
|sa=Distraction, inhabit, [[SRD:Poison|poison]]
|sq=[[SRD:Damage Reduction|Damage reduction]] 10/magic, [[SRD:Darkvision|darkvision]] 60 ft., hive mind, immune to weapon damage, resistance to fire 10, [[SRD:Low-Light Vision|low-light vision]], swarm traits
|fort=+10 |ref=+14 |will=+7
|str=1|dex=22|con=14|int=6|wis=13 |cha=9
|skills=[[SRD:Hide Skill|Hide]] +19, [[SRD:Listen Skill|Listen]] +10, [[SRD:Spot Skill|Spot]] +10
|feats=[[SRD:Ability Focus|Ability Focus]] ([[SRD:Poison|poison]]), [[SRD:Alertness|Alertness]], [[SRD:Improved Initiative|Improved Initiative]], [[SRD:Iron Will|Iron Will]], [[SRD:Toughness|Toughness]]
|env=A evil-aligned plane
|org=Solitary, fright (2–4 swarms), or terror (5–8 swarms)
|cr=8
|treas=None
|align=Always [[SRD:Lawful Evil|lawful evil]]
|adv=None
|la=—
}}
A single hellwasp resembles a thumb-sized normal wasp, except its carapace is gleaming black with ruby-red stripes, and its compound eyes are an iride[[SRD:Scent|scent]] green. In swarms, hellwasps form a collective hive mind intelligence with infernal cunning and bloodlust.
===Combat===
Like any swarm, a hellwasp swarm seeks to surround and attack any living prey it encounters. A swarm deals 3d6 points of damage to any creature whose space it occupies at the end of its move. The swarm can take over the bodies of its prey and infest both the living and the [[SRD:Dead|dead]], using them as horrible living (or unliving) puppets to accomplish acts of wickedness that a swarm of insects could never attempt.

A hellwasp swarm’s attack is treated as an evil-aligned weapon and a [[SRD:Magic Weapon|magic weapon]] for the purpose of overcoming [[SRD:Damage Reduction|damage reduction]].

'''Distraction ([[SRD:Ex|Ex]]):''' Any living creature that begins its turn with a hellwasp swarm in its space must succeed on a [[SRD:DC|DC]] 18 [[SRD:Saving Throw|Fortitude save]] or be [[SRD:Nauseated|nauseated]] for 1 [[SRD:Round|round]]. The save [[SRD:DC|DC]] is [[SRD:Constitution|Constitution]]-based.

'''Inhabit ([[SRD:Ex|Ex]]):''' A hellwasp swarm can enter the body of a [[SRD:Helpless|helpless]] or [[SRD:Dead|dead]] creature by crawling into its mouth and other orifices. Inhabiting requires 1 minute, and the victim must be Small, Medium, or Large (although four swarms working together can inhabit a Huge creature). The swarm can abandon the body at any time, although doing this takes 1 full [[SRD:Round|round]]. Any attack against the host deals half damage to the hellwasp swarm as well, although the swarm’s resistances and immunities may negate some or all of this damage.

If a hellwasp swarm inhabits a [[SRD:Dead|dead]] body, it can restore animation to the creature and control its movements, effectively transforming it into a zombie of the appropriate size for as long as the swarm remains inside. If a hellwasp swarm inhabits a living victim, it can neutralize the effects of its own [[SRD:Poison|poison]] and control the victim’s movement and actions as if using ''[[SRD:Dominate Monster|dominate monster]]'' on the victim. The hellwasps quickly consume a living victim, dealing 2d4 points of [[SRD:Constitution|Constitution]] damage per hour they inhabit a body. A body reduced to [[SRD:Constitution|Constitution]] 0 is [[SRD:Dead|dead]].

A hellwasp-inhabited creature is relatively easy to spot, since its skin crawls with the forms of insects inside. The swarm is intelligent enough to attempt to hide beneath loose clothing or a large cloak to keep its presence from being detected. The swarm can attempt a [[SRD:Disguise Skill|Disguise]] check to conceal its inhabitation of a host, with a –4 penalty if currently inhabiting a Small host.  

A ''[[SRD:Remove Disease|remove disease]]'' or ''[[SRD:Heal|heal]]'' spell cast on an inhabited victim forces the hellwasp swarm to abandon its host.

'''[[SRD:Poison|Poison]] ([[SRD:Ex|Ex]]):''' Injury, [[SRD:Saving Throw|Fortitude]] [[SRD:DC|DC]] 18, initial and secondary damage 1d6 [[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]. The save [[SRD:DC|DC]] is [[SRD:Constitution|Constitution]]-based.

'''Hive Mind ([[SRD:Ex|Ex]]):''' Any hellwasp swarm with at least 1 hit point per [[SRD:Hit Dice|Hit Die]] (or 12 [[SRD:Hit Points|hit points]], for a standard hellwasp swarm) forms a hive mind, giving it an [[SRD:Intelligence|Intelligence]] of 6. When a hellwasp swarm is reduced below this hit point threshold, it becomes mindless.  


----
{{SRD Creature Breadcrumb}}
{{OGL Bottom|part of the Revised (v.3.5) System Reference Document|SRD}}
[[Category:SRD]]
[[Category:OGL]]
[[Category:Monster]]
Alignment	Always lawful evil +
Challenge Rating	8 +
Environment	A evil-aligned plane +
Level Adjustment	— +
Size	Diminutive +
Subtype	Extraplanar +, Evil + and Swarm +
Title	Hellwasp Swarm +
Type	Magical Beast +