Appearance

A writhing, glittering cloud of tiny scarabs skitters and clambers over itself in a living, bronze-green tide. Each beetle bears a dull, amber carapace that glints in the light, and the swarm emits a soft buzzing as they move in a coordinated, almost hive-mind pattern. They favor living prey with soft flesh and warmth, crawling in a hungry tide to overwhelm their target. They cannot digest insects, structures, or undead, and will avoid those targets or flee if pressed by them. When they successfully attack, they attempt to crawl atop their prey, funneling into cracks and seams to bite and gnaw at the victim from within, forcing a contested strength save to end the threat.

Behavior & Origins

Scarabs that feed as a mass are a horror of the desert and ruined cities. They travel in dim, shimmering swarms that glow faintly with the heat of the sun. They ignore creatures that are not suitable prey and will retreat if pressed by enemies they cannot consume. A successful bite from the Scarab Swarm is a claustrophobic, creeping threat as the beetles try to take up residence in the target's flesh, forcing a strong will to escape the tugging, pinching mass.