Creature: Prophet Moth

A prophet moth

Prophet moths are a creature of my own invention.

Prophet Moth

The creature before you is an enormous beast out of nightmare: a larger-than-human-sized moth, with a clearly intentional pattern of white, brown, and black on its wings. It possesses a maw unlike any other insect you have seen, and it is clear that it possesses the means to rend and tear flesh - and perhaps even through metal.

Prophet moths are large, omnivorous insects, who are native to and nest in caverns throughout the continent of Sarteri. They are a natural predator of halflings and other small humanoids, but larger specimens can pose a threat to humans; the largest of the species can pose a serious threat to small settlements.

In halfling lore, prophet moths play a role similar to that played by dragons in real-world human mythology. In particular, Liat'ned of the Eld and his gunslingers vanquished a Prophet Queen that was responsible for large groups of prophet moths preying on halfling caravans.

Prophet moths come in a number of varieties, based upon pheromones being emitted by the Prophet Queen at the time of its laying; a larva's eventual moth stage is determined at the egg stage, at the time of being laid. As such, prophet moths in their larval stage exhibit some qualities of their eventual moth stage.

Prophet moths are named such due to an ancient halfling prophecy that foretold their coming. As such, the halflings had a name for these creatures long before they first appeared in modern times.

Biology

Prophet moths come in four standard varieties: striped, spotted, mottled, and blank. In addition, a queen prophet moth has a specific set of abilities; in general, there is one queen per nest of moths, though new larva may mutate into a queen in the event of a queen's death or if a given nest's population has exceeded the capacity of that location to sustain their population.

Life Cycle

The following is an examination of the prophet moth life cycle.

Egg

A prophet moth's life cycle begins as an egg laid by the prophet queen. Egg clusters are laid in small groups of two to twenty, depending upon terrain available. Eggs are cat-sized and usually laid deep in cavern complexes, though abandoned and ruined buildings away from direct sunlight are also potential breeding grounds.

Eggs take roughly eight months to hatch, and are generally laid in mid-autumn; their coloration scheme matches roughly the type of prophet moth the egg will give birth to. Over the course of the egg stage, the egg develops spore-like sacs, which contain spores that correspond to the type of larva the egg will hatch. The spores burst upon the egg being jostled or otherwise handled by creatures not emitting the proper pheromones (as such, any prophet moth can interact with the eggs).

Larva

Prophet moth larvae are omnivorous, and generally feed upon plant life around where they were hatched; they are capable of consuming and digesting meat, but lack the locomotion and predatory equipment to pursue their own prey (though they can and will eat carrion). The larvae are highly active at night, hiding in their birthing grounds during the day; at night, they search out and consume whatever matter they can find.

Prophet moth larvae possess coloration similar to their final adult stage, and often have abilities similar to the abilities possessed by their adult stage.

Prophet moths remain in their larval stage for a year, after which time they spin themselves a cocoon. Over the course of this stage, a prophet moth larva grows from Tiny to Small in size.

Chrysalis

Prophet moth chrysalises possess mild chameleonic qualities, able to change their coloration to better much their surroundings provided they are largely white, brown, or black; despite this, the chrysalis often retains the coloration pattern of their adult stage.

Unlike the egg and larval forms, the chrysalis form has no defenses. Larvae instinctively search out prophet moth pheromone trails, and will follow them to caverns wherein the trails are strongest; here, they climb up the walls and suspend themselves from the cavern ceiling before spinning a chrysalis.

Prophet moths remain in this stage for a year, after which they burst forth from the chrysalis as a full-grown adult prophet moth. Over the course of this stage, a prophet moth chrysalis grows from Medium to Large size.

Game Mechanics

Prophet Moth Egg
Tiny Vermin
Hit Dice: 4d8+16 (37 hp)
Initiative: ---
Speed: ---
Armor Class: 15 (-5 Dexterity, +2 size, +8 natural armor)
BAB/Grapple: --- / ---
Attack: ---
Full Attack: ---
Space/Reach: 5 ft. / ---
Special Attacks: Spore Sacs
Special Qualities: Scent, resist energy 20, sonic immunity, vermin traits
Saves: Fort +8, Ref -4, Will +2
Abilities: Str 0, Dex 0, Con 18, Int Ø, Wis 12, Cha 9
Skills: ---
Feats: ---
Prophet moth eggs do not communicate, but they have an instinctive, biological understanding of prophet moth pheromones. A prophet moth egg can be instructed - via pheromones - to release its spore sacs.
Combat
Prophet moth eggs have only one offensive ability, and that is to release their spore sacs.
Spore Sacs (Ex): A prophet moth egg possesses 2d6 spore sacs, correlated to the type of prophet moth larva held inside, that it can release. An egg can release any number of its eggs as a standard action; it can release a single spore sac as an attack of opportunity. Expended spore sacs regrow after one week.
A released spore sac affects a 5-foot radius burst, centered on one of the intersections the egg touches.
Striped: A creature in the area must make a Fortitude save against DC 15 or else be poisoned, taking 1d6 Dex damage and 1d6 Dex damage again a minute later. Being subjected to multiple released spore sacs of this variety increases the DC by 1 for each additional sac beyond the first (in addition to multiple possible poisonings).
Spotted: A creature in the area takes 1d6 sonic damage, and can make a Fortitude save against DC 15 to take half damage. Being subjected to multiple released spore sacs of this variety increases the saving throw DC by 1 for each additional sac beyond the first (in addition to multiple instances of sonic damage).
Mottled: A creature in the area must make a Fortitude save against DC 15 or begin suffering ongoing poison 5 damage; a creature may, on its turn, attempt a Fortitude save against DC 13 to stop the damage. Being subjected to multiple released spore sacs of this variety increases the DC by 1 for each additional sac beyond the first (in addition to multiple instances of ongoing damage).
Blank: A creature in the area must make a Will save against DC 15 or be confused for one round. Being subjected to multiple released spore sacs of this variety increases the DC by 1 for each additional sac beyond the first, and the duration of the effect equals the total number of spores the creature is affected by.
Queen: A creature in the area must make a Will save against DC 20 or be charmed for one round. Being subjected to multiple released spore sacs of this variety increases the DC by 2 for each additional sac beyond the first, and the duration of the effect equals the total number of spores the creature is affected by. A charmed creature will attempt to prevent other creatures from damaging prophet moth eggs, and will immediately fall prone in front of any prophet moth that comes near.