Welcome to Monster Mondays! Today we present the traveler moth swarm, voyagers of the asteroid belts with uncanny senses who carry a devastating cargo.
Traveler Moth Swarm CR 2
Hundreds of wings shine like shards of metal, flashing in the light of the nearest star.
XP 600
Neutral Diminutive magical beast (swarm)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +9
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 17, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +4 size)
hp 21 (3d10);
Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +2
Defensive Abilities swarm traits; Immune weapon damage
OFFENSE
Speed 5 ft., fly 30 ft. (perfect), starflight
Melee swarm (1d6)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks distraction (DC 11)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 3rd; concentration +3)
At will—flare (DC 10)
1/day—locate metal (as locate object but metal only)
STATISTICS
Str 1, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 4, Wis 14, Cha 10
Base Atk +3; CMB –; CMD —
Feats Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Fly +21, Stealth +19, Perception +9
ECOLOGY
Environment asteroid belts and ship graveyards
Organization solitary, fleet (2-5 swarms), or nesting ground (1-5 traveler moth caterpillars and 1-5 swarms)
Treasure precious metals only
Traveler moths float through space, riding the solar winds and catching light on their metallic wings. Though the moths usually flee from conflict, they ferociously defend their eggs and young from any who would threaten them. The moths themselves are short-lived, incapable of eating, existing only to propagate and protect the next generation before starving to death.
The moths are the final stage of the travelers, and the most fleeting. They exist only to search through the solar system, traditionally finding nesting spots among metal-rich asteroids, but of late, finding that ships, both in use and abandoned to be perfect roosting spots. The moths themselves are generally harmless, but their eggs are a dangerous payload.
Upon hatching, the travelers quickly grow into voracious metal-eating caterpillars that can quickly bring ruin to whatever vessel they have infested. The remaining moths that haven’t yet starved to death linger to defend their young, swarming around and slicing up any who would threaten their young with razor sharp thin metal wings.
In addition to slicing up those who threaten their young, the traveler moths possess an uncanny ability to hunt down metal deposits that would make for good nesting areas for their young. Some enterprising prospectors have tried to follow traveler moths to locate good salvage grounds or untapped asteroids, but always have to be careful to protect their ship and payload.
