Notorious, Clinging Bloodsuckers
Habitat: Desert, Forest, Grassland, Hill, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark, Urban; Treasure: None
Swarms of stirges sometimes form in swamps and Underdark caverns, draining livestock and any other creatures that can’t escape them.
Stirges are bat-size vermin with dagger-length proboscises that attach to other creatures and drain life from them. Stirges are most active at night and hide in shadowy places during the day. If disturbed, they take flight and defend themselves. Roll on or choose a result from the Stirge Roosts table to inspire where stirges might lurk.
| 1d4 |
Between Hunts, the Stirge Lurks In ... |
|---|---|
| 1 |
The attic or furniture of a ruined building. |
| 2 |
A cave or narrow crevice. |
| 3 |
A hollow tree or thicket. |
| 4 |
The remains of a gigantic, dead creature. |
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 creature. The swarm can’t regain Hit Points or gain Temporary Hit Points.
Swarm of Proboscises. Melee Attack Roll: +5, reach 5 ft. Hit: 14 (2d10 + 3) Piercing damage, or 8 (1d10 + 3) Piercing damage if the swarm is Bloodied. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature in the swarm’s space, the target has the Grappled condition (escape DC 13). Until the grapple ends, the target takes 7 (2d6) Necrotic damage at the end of each of its turns.
