Bug Baby Swarm



ECOLOGY

Environment temperate forest, plains and urban Organization solitary Treasure none

A baby bug swarm is a collective of aberrant insects from the astral barrier. They sometimes infiltrate the prime material and are a scourge to be reckoned with. A small roach-like creature who's under belly reveals a humanoid baby face. The markings are dark except for the underbelly which has a pale flesh tone to it.

Baby bugs live a short, but vicious life where by they try to find one or more pregnant humanoids to infiltrate in an attempt at propagating their species. When a potential victim is found the swarm disperses if it can and infiltrates the pregnancy while the female sleeps. Otherwise the swarm attacks and one or more of the baby bugs digs their way into the woman's flesh much like sperm seeking out an egg during conception.

Once infiltration is complete the baby bug kills and devours the unborn fetus then grows to a size comparable to what the infant would've grown into. It does this in remarkable time, which may rouse questions, but a baby bug that's in utero can charm and plant suggestions in the mother and those close to her.

After the birthing process takes place a baby is born that looks exactly like a member of the mothers race. The child always smiles and never cries, though it does coo. This child is the baby bugs secondary form. After several days of this charade the baby bug plants more suggestions into the mother and whatever midwife or doctor is available. In the dead of night during a long and gruesome procedure the baby bug is put back into the mother for what is known as second pregnancy. This abominable act transforms the mother into a feral bloodthirsty creature who's first victim is typically whoever helped her attain second pregnancy, unless there are other baby bugs in utero in which case the midwife or doctor is typically dominated and has had their alignment changed.

After several more days in this state the mother finally dies as a swarm of baby bugs erupts from her body. Their first act is to devour her remains for nourishment before massing together to find a suitable host so the wicked process can start anew.

ABILITIES 

Distraction (Ex) A creature with this ability can nauseate the creatures that it damages. Any living creature that takes damage from a creature with the distraction ability is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save (DC 17) negates the effect.

Disperse (Ex)  A baby bug swarm can choose to disperse, thus covering a 1000' diameter area. In this form the baby bugs may use their infiltrate pregnancy or amorous population abilities, but may not attack or take any other actions except to reform. Dispersing takes a full minute to do. While dispersed individual baby bugs can be located with search checks and destroyed (any amount of damage will suffice). Doing so takes a full round action and every successful perception check results in one damage to the swarm. Large groups working in tandem can cover a wide area very quickly, once a swarm has lost over half its hp the swarm reforms and is confused for 1d4 rounds after which time it usually flees. Some effects, such as slow poisoning or certain spells may contain a baby bug swarm well enough to kill them all.

Screech (Su) In addition to doing damage if anyone occupying a baby bug swarms squares fails their save against distraction the swarm proceeds to scream as an immediate action. Everyone in a 30' radius must make a Will save DC 17 or take a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls for one minute. This effect is non-cumulative and only triggers once per round. The save is Charisma based.

Numbing Poison (Ex) Anyone bitten by a baby bug swarm is affected by its skin numbing poison.

Numbing Poison (Ex) bite – injury save Fort DC 17, onset immediate, frequency 1/round for 4 rounds, effect unaware of any damage to self and immunity to pain effects for duration, cure  1 save

Infiltrate Pregnancy (Ex) While dispersed or attacking a baby bug swarm may attempt to cut open a pregnant female and attempt to crawl inside her. If dispersed this takes only a stealth check followed by the victim attempting a save against the numbing poison, if they fail then the bug enters the victim through their side. The wound closes around the baby bug much like when someone who is swallowed whole exits a stomach. If the infiltration is not stopped then the baby bug devours the fetus in one minute. The mother undergoes some discomfort at this time, but is otherwise unaware of the infiltration. If the save against the numbing poison is made then the mother may attempt a grapple check against a CMD of 4 to remove the offending creature before it burrows too deeply. She only has one round to do this, otherwise a remove disease or dispel evil spell will be needed to save the fetus. A baby bug in utero that has already eaten the fetus can be killed in a similar manner, but it unleashes a death cry if done so (see Bug Baby entry for more detail) which may lead to several problems for anyone who cast those spells. The in utero bug baby can be aborted normally with a heal check DC 20, but this produces the same effect as the previous spell's and deals 1d6 Con damage to the mother (the damage is avoided if the heal check totals 30 or more).

Amorous Population (Su)  While dispersed a baby bug swarm releases a sonic hum the is inaudible to human ears, but dogs and other sound sensitive animals can hear it. Such animals will find the sound unpleasant, but not distracting and they receive a +8 to their perception checks to find and kill dispersed baby bugs. Each day any humanoids in the 1000' area gain a +2 to Con and Cha (up to a +6 maximum) which is designed to encourage reproduction among the species. It takes a full 24 hours of exposure to gain the bonus and each person so affected also receives a -2 to their saves (up to -6) against Bug Baby mind affecting abilities.