Dunefish Swarm

Large swarm of tiny beasts, unaligned

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
6 (-2)	16 (+3)	10 (+0)	3 (-4)	10 (+0)	1 (-5)

Armor Class 13
Hit Points 38 (7d10)
Speed 0 ft., burrow 40 ft.
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages –
Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Special Traits

• Blood Frenzy. The swarm has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn’t have all its hit points.
• Sand Swimmers. Dunefish can swim through sand as fish swim through the water, but they cannot move through solid rock or compacted dirt. They are able to breathe while sand swimming. They can use a bonus action to Dash as long as they move in a straight line.
• 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 reptile. The swarm can’t regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.

Actions

• Bites. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature in the swarm’s space. Hit: 14 (4d6) piercing damage or 7 (2d6) piercing damage if the swarm has half of its hit points or fewer.

Tactics

Dunefish swim just below the surface of the sand, causing characteristic ripples that might warn of their approach with a successful DC 18 Wisdom (Survival) check. Once they find prey, they surround it and attack relentlessly until they are done feeding. They ignore any treasure and move on quickly to seek another meal.

Description

Though they are called fish, these creatures are actually smooth-scaled reptiles with long sinuous tails and short, webbed feet. They ‘swim’ near the surface of the sand, seeking prey. When they find it, they leap from the surface, attacking with their tiny teeth.

Desert Schools. It is uncertain what attracts these tiny reptiles, other than wounded creatures. Some say it is the scent of living beings, others the vibrations that people make as they travel the sand dunes, a few believe it is the fear and desperation of those lost in the desert that draws them. Some nomads follow the schools of dunefish, either hunting them for food (as dangerous as that may be) or to recover the treasures left behind when the dunefish attack a caravan or other group.