Swarm, Sluagh

Medium swarm of Tiny fey, chaotic evil

Armor Class 13
Hit Points 54 (12d8)
Speed 30 ft., fly 50 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
6 (-2) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 6 (-2) 13 (+1) 10 (+0)

Skills Stealth +5
Damage Vulnerabilities fire
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
Damage Immunities cold
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained, stunned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Common, Sylvan
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2

SPECIAL TRAITS

  • Sunlight Weakness. While in sunlight, the swarm of sluaghs has disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws.
  • Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny fey. The swarm can’t regain hp or gain temporary hp.

ACTIONS

  • Chilling Touch. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature in the swarm’s space. Hit: 28 (8d6) cold damage, or 14 (4d6) cold damage if the swarm has half of its hp or fewer. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be unable to regain hp for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

BONUS ACTIONS

  • Shadow Stealth. While in dim light or darkness, the swarm of sluaghs takes the Hide action.

ABOUT

This tiny humanlike creature has a torso that trails away in place of legs, eyes that are black voids, and long, pale arms ending in sharp claws.

Cowards Alone. These tiny, malevolent fey dwell in darkness. Alone they are cowards, but they are rarely encountered alone. They are most active during the winter, especially during winter’s long nights. They usually speak to their victims as they attack, but those shouts are little more than whispers to the ears of their prey.

Chilling Touch. Sluaghs feed by draining their prey of warmth with their chilling claws. They devour small animals if nothing more appetizing is available, though they prefer humanoid prey. Their victims have unnaturally cold skin with a pale, blue tint. Swarms of sluaghs serve hags, devils, trollkin, and evil fey who know the blood rituals to summon and direct them. Shadow fey and drow send them against other elves, often targeting the defenders of elven settlements.

Legless Flocks. Sluaghs are tiny, gaunt humanoid creatures the size of a weasel. They have no legs; instead their torso tapers off in a disquieting way. Though they can fly, they can also pull themselves quickly across the ground with their arms. They are always draped in black, though their actual skin and hair are pale white. They have sharp claws and fangs, and their eyes are entirely black. In masses, they somewhat resemble a flock of strange birds.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Tome of Beasts 1 ©2023 Open Design LLC; Authors: Daniel Kahn, Jeff Lee, and Mike Welham.

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