"It looks hungry. Maybe I should feed it! Come here little guy, you ain't so bad, you just wanted something to...o...oh oh no! It's going in! It's going inside!"
——Walt Freelander, Researcher of the Occult
An Individual Avaretus is miniscule with a bright red skin tone, tiny black claws on three fingered hands and feet, curved and serrated so as to aid in ripping mortal skin. They have angular heads, pointed jaws and skulls that make theme appear diamond shaped. Lastly, they possess misshapen, blackened dragonfly wings sprouting from their mutilated upper backs and shoulders. When seen as a swarm, they appear as if a gout of blood exploded from the chest of a broken, bloated corpse.
Senses
Darkvision, Superior Scent
Hitpoints: 119
Healing Value: 23
Resilience: +2
Defenses
Resistances: Single Target Attacks (50%), Fire (Imm), Caustic (50%), Cold (50%), Immune to Disease, Grabbed & Restrained, Poisons & Toxins.
Vulnerabilities: Area Attacks (2x)
Defensive Actions
Regenerate 20 (overcome by Blessed Silver weapons and
Holy damage)
Attributes / Saving Throws (1 AP)
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STR
2 / 8
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DEX
24 / 30
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CON
10 / 16
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INT
9 / 13
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WIS
15 / 19
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CHA
13 / 17
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REC 7
Actions (+3 AP)
Standard Attacks (2 AP)
Melee Reach 5ft • All creatures within reach
The Avaretus hungrily swarm into and bite at a nearby victim.
{{{Grapple Damage}}} damage
Grapple +11
Special Attacks (3 AP)
+15 vs AC (ArN 7)
Swarming Devils [Lunge] • Advanced
Melee Reach 5ft • All creatures within reach
The host of tiny devils swarm over their victim, biting and clawing at everything they can reach.
Range Special • One creature affected by Mortal Puppetry
The Avaretus Swarm rips through the flesh of their victim, escaping the body all at once. The
Mortal Puppetry effect immediately ends and the Avaretus Swarm is ejected to a random space directly adjacent to the target. In addition to damage, the target suffers Ongoing
Bleed (40) [SE, ST 5d10 vs CON] and must succeed at a DC 20 Resilience check or suffer 1 level of
Blood Loss.
+13 vs Fortitude
Mortal Puppetry • Advanced
Melee Reach 5ft • One creature
The Swarm viciously attaches itself to the target, burrowing beneath its flesh to control its physical movements. The target is effectively
Possessed by the swarm [SE, ST 5d10 vs CON, becomes semi-permanent in 20 segments]. Whenever the target saves against this condition, it is immediately subject to
Skinharrow. If the target suffers an Injury for any reason while possessed, it is automatically granted a free use of the recovery action to save against this effect (assuming it is still alive).
Special: If the target fails to save within 20 segments, Mortal Puppetry becomes semi-permanent and the target may no longer use the recovery action normally. Instead they may use the recovery action one time each at dusk and dawn (and if it suffers an injury). Other effects that grant saving throws may still be used normally.
+13P vs Fortitude
Bind Puppetry • Advanced
Melee Reach 5ft • One creature affected by Mortal Puppetry
The Swarm tightens its grip upon its victim. Increase the difficulty of saving throw for Mortal Puppetry by 2d10.
Special: If the Mortal Puppetry is Semi-Permanent, instead reset the saving throw difficulty to 5d10.
Move (1 AP), Double Move (3 AP)
Overland Movement
90 mi/day
Qualities
- Swarm: The Swarm is made up of a multitude of smaller creatures acting as a single unit, acting as a single creature for purposes of Attacks, Defenses, and Hitpoints. As such, single target attacks have a reduced effect on the Swarm (dealing half damage), while attacks that target an area have greater effect (dealing double damage). The Swarm is typically immune to Status Effects that target a single creature, but susceptible to those targeting an area. Additionally, the Swarm cannot be Grabbed or otherwise bodily restrained (GMs discretion). When the Swarm is reduced to 0 hitpoints, any creatures remaining within the swarm disperse.
- Hellspawn Resistances: Immunity to Fire damage. Resistance to Caustic and Cold damage. Immune to Disease and Poisons & Toxins.
- Superior Scent: Gain the ability to utilize the Scent skill.
- Natural Armor: AC +2/+4 (inc)
Skills: Stealth R8 (+19), Listen R5 (+11), Spot R5 (+11), Scent R6 (+15), Hunting R5 (+14), Survival R5 (+11), Investigate R3 (+6), Knowledge: Planes R5 (+11), Coercion R5 (+9), Deception R5 (+11), Intuition R4 (+9)
Feats: Improved Negation, Improved Negation, Fast Initiative, Fast Initiative, Physical Fortification
Philosophies: Rank 4 Mental, Rank 3 Physical, Rank 7 Infernal
Combat Training: Cast 3, Melee 3, Ranged 3, Parry 3, Fort 3, Reflex 3, Will 3
Wits: +9, Brawn: +4
Equipment: None
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Charm
+1
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Coercion
+9
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Deception
+11
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Manipulation
+1
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Persuasion
+1
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Aloofness
+1
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Bravery
+1
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Intuition
+9
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Tolerance
+2
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Suspicion
+1
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Social
Composure: 15
Languages: Infernal, Celestial, Draconic
Motives: Infest mortals, manipulate and harm humanoids
Avaretus Swarm Characteristics
These nasty little devils fly in packs of multiple thousands, relentlessly tearing at and attempting to burrow into the flesh of their victims, allowing them to physically control their victim's bodies from within. While not stupid, the Avaretus operate primarily off their baser instincts and delight in causing mischief and suffering.
History
Not much is known of these tiny deviants, at least to mortal men, for they rarely are able to venture out of the lower planes under their own power. In the rare instances they have managed to in large enough numbers, the consequences of the damage they have caused easily match the level of catastrophe that could be expected from a great and ancient red dragon. Tales of powerful kings suddenly gone mad and slaying their only living heirs. Normally happy children irrationally throwing themselves in front of a merchant wagon to the horror of their parents. Loyal noble family pets slaying their masters and eating their bodies overnight. Stories such as these can be attributed to a well manipulated Avaretus Swarm.
Culture
The Avaretus have an instinctual hive mind. They do not possess any form of telepathy, but they naturally act almost identically in thought and motivation when in combat, allowing them to form lethal swarms of coordinated destruction. Otherwise, the Avaretus are bickering, filthy, petty creatures. They do not have any sort of hierarchy or social conduct, and exist only for the suffering of those who are not Avaretus.