Glimmerwing Swarm

From: Fletchers Folly

The Glimmerwing Swarm consists of small, iridescent insects with wings that shimmer with magical energy, casting mesmerizing patterns of light. Found in the Gallery of Echoes and the Elemental Garden, these creatures are not only beautiful but also dangerous. Their wings emit a chaotic magic that can disorient and confuse adventurers, leading them into traps or deeper into the dungeon. The Glimmerwing Swarm is attracted to magical energy, often clustering around sources of magic and can be used by observant adventurers to locate hidden enchantments or magical items.

Lore Expansion for Glimmerwing Swarm

In the heart of Fletcher’s Folly, amidst the artifacts of creation and elements of nature, thrives the Glimmerwing Swarm. These iridescent insects are believed to be born from the raw chaotic magic that permeates the dungeon, a manifestation of the dungeon’s inherent beauty and danger. According to legend, the first Glimmerwing emerged from the reflection of a magical explosion, capturing its energy in the form of a living, fluttering beacon. Over time, these creatures multiplied, forming swarms that dance through the halls and gardens of the dungeon, attracted to the remnants of magical essence.

The Glimmerwing Swarms serve as both guardians and guides within the dungeon’s confines. Their mesmerizing light shows not only protect the secrets within by disorienting intruders but also highlight paths of magical significance. Ancient texts speak of adventurers who, wise to the ways of the Glimmerwing, followed these swarms to uncover hidden treasures and secret chambers, proving that beauty in Fletcher’s Folly can be both a trap and a key.

Tier One Stats for Glimmerwing Swarm

• Size: Tiny (individuals), Large (as a swarm)
• Type: Swarm of Tiny beasts, unaligned
• Hit Points: 22 (5d8)
• Armor Class: 13
• Speed: 0 ft., fly 30 ft.
• STR: 3 (-4), DEX: 15 (+2), CON: 10 (+0), INT: 1 (-5), WIS: 14 (+2), CHA: 7 (-2)

Skills:

• Perception: +4
• Stealth: +4

Vulnerabilities:

• Area of Effect Attacks: Takes double damage from spells and effects that target an area, due to its swarm nature.
• Intense Light or Heat: Vulnerable to spells and attacks that produce intense light or heat, causing disarray and scattering the swarm.

Attacks: Dazzling Display (Recharge 5-6): The Glimmerwing Swarm can unleash a burst of chaotic magical light, forcing all creatures within 10 feet to make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be confused (as the confusion spell) for 1 minute. Creatures can make a new saving throw at the end of each of their turns to end the effect.

Strategy: The Glimmerwing Swarm does not engage in direct combat. Instead, it uses its dazzling display to disorient and confuse intruders, leading them into danger or away from the swarm’s location. They prefer to stay near magical energies, and if threatened, they attempt to lead pursuers into traps or other guardians.

Tags: Swarm, Magical, Flying, Confusion

Incorporating the Glimmerwing Swarm into a campaign offers a multifaceted challenge to adventurers, providing opportunities for creative problem-solving and interaction with the dungeon environment. The swarm’s ability to disorient and its attraction to magic make it a unique hazard, guiding or misguiding the unwary with its luminescent beauty.

Engagement in Battle:

The Glimmerwing Swarm engages in battle not through direct confrontation but through disorientation and manipulation of the environment. Their primary mode of attack, the Dazzling Display, unleashes a burst of chaotic magical light that confuses and misleads adventurers. This ability is particularly effective in tight corridors or rooms filled with hazards, where disoriented foes can inadvertently harm themselves or wander into even greater dangers. The swarm aims to protect the dungeon’s secrets or deter intruders from progressing further into Fletcher’s Folly.

In situations where the swarm is threatened, it utilizes its natural agility and the chaotic nature of its environment to evade attackers, leading them into traps or towards other, more direct guardians of the dungeon. The Glimmerwing Swarm’s strategy revolves around avoidance and environmental manipulation, making direct attacks a rare occurrence.

Environment:

Glimmerwing Swarms are predominantly found in two main areas within Fletcher’s Folly: the Gallery of Echoes and the Elemental Garden. The Gallery of Echoes, with its reflective surfaces and magical artifacts, amplifies the swarm’s disorienting light, making it a labyrinth of confusion. The Elemental Garden, with its blend of natural and magical elements, offers the swarm numerous places to hide and attract their magical energy, making them difficult to catch or avoid.

These environments, rich in magical energy and artifacts, are ideal for the Glimmerwing Swarm, providing them with nourishment from the ambient magic and numerous opportunities to utilize their natural abilities to the fullest.

Usage of Remains — The remains of a Glimmerwing Swarm, particularly their iridescent wings, are highly valued for several purposes:

• Magical Components: The wings of the Glimmerwing can be used in the creation of potions, scrolls, and magical items that require components with inherent magical properties, especially those related to light, illusion, or confusion spells.
• Crafting Material: Artisans and jewelers seek out the wings for their beauty and luminescence, incorporating them into jewelry or ornamental objects that glow with a soft, magical light.
• Research: Scholars and mages study the remains for insights into the nature of chaotic magic and its applications, hoping to unlock new magical theories or spells based on the swarm’s unique properties.

Handling and preserving the remains of a Glimmerwing Swarm require care, as their magical properties can be volatile or diminish if not properly treated. However, the rewards for those who can harness these properties are considerable, offering powerful magical tools or stunningly beautiful creations.

When a Glimmerwing Swarm is encountered within the mystical confines of Fletcher’s Folly, the experience engages all senses, along with eliciting responses from beyond the ordinary spectrum of perception.

• Visual
  • What’s Perceived: A captivating dance of light, as the swarm’s iridescent wings shimmer with magical energy, casting intricate patterns of luminescence across their surroundings.
  • Description: The sight is mesmerizing, akin to witnessing a living kaleidoscope, with each insect contributing to a dazzling display of refracted light.
  • Positives: The beauty of the swarm can be a breathtaking spectacle, providing a moment of awe amidst the dungeon’s dangers.
  • Negatives: The intense light show can be disorienting, potentially leading adventurers astray or into traps.
• Auditory
  • What’s Perceived: A soft, harmonious buzzing that accompanies the swarm’s movement, resonating with a subtle magical undertone.
  • Description: This sound is almost musical, with each wingbeat adding to an ambient symphony that echoes lightly through the halls.
  • Positives: The gentle humming can be soothing, offering a sense of calm and a clue to the swarm’s proximity.
  • Negatives: In large numbers, the buzzing could become overwhelming, masking other important sounds in the environment.
• Olfactory
  • What’s Perceived: A faint, sweet aroma that seems to emanate from the swarm, reminiscent of nectar or fresh spring flowers.
  • Description: This scent is surprisingly pleasant, adding to the otherworldly nature of the swarm.
  • Positives: The fragrance can be a refreshing change from the dungeon’s mustier odors, uplifting spirits.
  • Negatives: It might be intoxicating or distracting, luring adventurers closer to the swarm or making it harder to focus on potential dangers.
• Tactile
  • What’s Perceived: A slight, static-like tingling in the air as the swarm’s chaotic magic lightly brushes against the skin.
  • Description: This sensation is most noticeable when closely surrounded by the swarm, feeling as if the air itself vibrates with unseen energy.
  • Positives: Provides a physical alert to the swarm’s magical nature and proximity without needing to see them.
  • Negatives: The tingling could escalate to discomfort or mild electric shocks if the swarm becomes agitated or feels threatened.
• Gustatory
  • What’s Perceived: An electric taste, akin to the air before a storm, tingles on the tongue when in close proximity to the swarm.
  • Description: This taste is metallic and vibrant, invigorating yet slightly unsettling, as if one can taste the raw essence of magic.
  • Positives: Enhances the sense of being in a place of powerful magic, adding depth to the dungeon exploration experience.
  • Negatives: The unusual sensation could be distracting or unpleasant, especially for those unaccustomed to direct exposure to chaotic magic.
• Extra-Sensory Perception
  • What’s Perceived: A sense of euphoria or heightened awareness that envelops one’s consciousness upon encountering the swarm, as if touching a raw thread of the world’s magic.
  • Description: This transcends ordinary sensory input, offering a glimpse into the underlying fabric of magic that the swarm embodies.
  • Positives: Can momentarily elevate an adventurer’s senses, providing insight or intuition beyond their normal capabilities.
  • Negatives: The intense connection might be too overwhelming, leading to disorientation or a temporary loss of focus on the physical realm.

Encountering a Glimmerwing Swarm is an experience that transcends the mundane, enveloping adventurers in a sensory and extra-sensory spectacle that reflects the chaotic and magical essence of Fletcher’s Folly itself.

The Dance of the Glimmerwings

In times ancient, before the ages had names, the world knew of a realm untouched, its secrets veiled in shadow and light. There, the Glimmerwings fluttered, born from the first dream of the cosmos. They were the weavers of light, dancers in the silence of creation, their wings beating in harmony with the heart of magic itself.

The tale tells of a wanderer, heart brave and eyes wide, who sought the essence of existence itself. Into the realm of shadows and light, the wanderer stepped, guided by stories of beings that danced with the stars. It was the Glimmerwings the wanderer sought, for it was said their dance could reveal the truths hidden deep within the soul.

Through forests of whispering darkness and valleys aglow with eternal twilight, the wanderer journeyed, until the air shimmered with a thousand hues. There, amidst the radiance of unending dusk, the Glimmerwings danced, their light a tapestry of living magic.

Enraptured, the wanderer watched, as visions of ancient secrets and forgotten truths unfolded in the dance. Time ceased its march, and the wanderer’s spirit soared, understanding at last the delicate weave of light and shadow that formed the fabric of all things.

But as dawn’s first light crept across the realm, the Glimmerwings vanished, their dance an echo in the stillness. The wanderer, forever changed, knew that some mysteries were not meant to be held but cherished in the moment of their unveiling.

Moral of the Story: In the fleeting dance of the Glimmerwings, let it be known: The deepest truths of the cosmos are not to grasp and hold, but to witness, to marvel at in their passing, for in the beauty of the moment lies the essence of eternity.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Glimmerwing Swarm

• STR: 10
• CON: 50
• SIZ: 1 (for the swarm)
• DEX: 90
• INT: 1
• POW: 50
• HP: 5
• Damage Bonus: None
• Build: -4
• Armor: None (swarm; conventional attacks half damage)
• Attacks: Swarm 25%, damage 1D4 (disorientation/confusion)
• Skills: Stealth 70%, Navigate 60%
• Special: Direct light-based attacks or area of effect spells deal normal damage. Witnesses may require a SAN roll (0/1D3).

Blades in the Dark

Glimmerwing Swarm

• Type: Mystical Creature – Swarm
• Tier: 2
• Attributes: Insight 2, Prowess 1, Resolve 3
• Special Abilities:
  • Mesmerize: Can disorient opponents as a setup action, giving allies or other dangers an advantage in the next round.
  • Luminescent Trail: Can highlight hidden paths or items but might also attract unwanted attention.
• Quality: Based on Tier
• Weakness: Intense light or area attacks.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Glimmerwing Swarm

• Size/Type: Tiny beasts (swarm)
• Armor Class: 12
• Hit Points: 22 (5d8)
• Speed: 5 ft., fly 50 ft.
• STR: 3 (-4), DEX: 15 (+2), CON: 10 (+0), INT: 1 (-5), WIS: 14 (+2), CHA: 6 (-2)
• Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +4
• Damage Resistances: Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing
• Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Grappled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Prone, Restrained, Stunned
• Senses: Blindsight 10 ft., Passive Perception 14
• Languages: —
• Challenge: 1/2 (100 XP)
• Special Abilities:
  • Dazzling Display: As an action, the swarm can force creatures within 20 feet to make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be blinded until the swarm’s next turn.

Knave

Glimmerwing Swarm

• Armor Defense (AD): 12
• Hit Dice (HD): 5
• Attack Bonus (AB): +5
• Damage: 1d4 (swarm attack, confusion)
• Special:
  • Dazzling Display: Can emit a blinding light once every 3 rounds, forcing targets to succeed on a Save or be blinded for 1 turn.
  • Swarm: Takes half damage from non-area attacks; area attacks deal normal damage.
• Weakness: Vulnerable to intense light and fire-based attacks.

Fate Core System

Glimmerwing Swarm

• High Concept: Mystical Swarm of Dazzling Light
• Trouble: Vulnerable to Intense Light
• Other Aspects: Agile in Flight, Confusion in Their Wake, Attracted to Magic
• Skills:
  • Great (+4): Stealth
  • Good (+3): Notice, Deceive
  • Fair (+2): Athletics, Fight
• Stunts:
  • Blinding Light: Once per scene, can attempt to blind all enemies in an encounter, requiring them to overcome a Great (+4) challenge with Notice to act normally on their next turn.
• Stress: ❑❑❑

Numenera & Cypher System

Glimmerwing Swarm

• Level: 3
• Health: 9
• Damage Inflicted: 2 points
• Armor: 0
• Movement: Short flying
• Modifications: Stealth as level 4, deceiving as level 4.
• Combat: Can disorient attackers or prey, causing them to lose their next action.
• Special Abilities:
  • Dazzling Display: As an action, the swarm can emit light, requiring targets within immediate range to succeed on a Might defense roll or be blinded for one round.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Glimmerwing Swarm

• Creature 2
• Perception: +8; darkvision
• Skills: Acrobatics +8, Stealth +10
• Str: -3, Dex: +4, Con: +0, Int: -4, Wis: +1, Cha: -2
• AC: 18; Fort: +5, Ref: +10, Will: +7
• HP: 25; Immunities: precision, sleep
• Weaknesses: Area damage +5, intense light
• Speed: 5 ft., fly 30 ft.
• Melee: Swarm +10 (agile, finesse), Damage 1d6+4 piercing plus blinding light
• Special Abilities:
  • Blinding Light: Any creature damaged by the swarm must succeed at a DC 17 Fortitude save or be blinded for 1 round.

Savage Worlds

Glimmerwing Swarm

• Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d4, Spirit d6, Strength d4, Vigor d6
• Skills: Fighting d6, Notice d8, Stealth d10
• Pace: Fly 12; Parry: 5; Toughness: 5
• Special Abilities:
  • Swarm: Attacks cover everyone in a Medium Burst Template. Half damage from shooting and stabbing/piercing weapons.
  • Blinding Light: Targets hit by the swarm are Distracted until the end of their next turn due to the disorienting light.
• Weakness (Intense Light): Takes double damage from attacks using intense light sources.
• Immunities: Immune to Fear and mind-affecting spells/effects.

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

Glimmerwing Swarm

• Type: Critter (Magical)
• Body: 2
• Agility: 4
• Reaction: 3
• Strength: 1
• Willpower: 3
• Logic: 1
• Intuition: 4
• Charisma: 2
• Edge: 2
• Magic: 5
• Initiative: 7 + 1D6
• Defense Rating: 2
• Attack Rating (Swarm): 4
• Essence: 6
• Skills: Stealth 6, Athletics 4
• Powers:
  • Confusion: Can cast the Confusion spell with a Magic rating of 5.
  • Invisibility: Can turn invisible as the spell, affecting only the swarm itself.
• Weaknesses: Vulnerable to spells and attacks that deal area damage.

Starfinder

Glimmerwing Swarm

• CR: 3
• EAC: 13; KAC: 15
• HP: 35
• Fort: +2; Ref: +5; Will: +4
• Defensive Abilities: Swarm defenses; Immunities: Single-target attacks
• Speed: 20 ft., fly 60 ft. (Ex, perfect)
• Melee: Swarm attack (1d6+3 P plus dazzle)
• Offensive Abilities:
  • Dazzle: Creatures damaged by the swarm are dazzled for 1 round (DC 12 Fortitude negates).
• Skills: Stealth +10, Acrobatics +8
• Senses: Blindsense (vibration) 20 ft.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Glimmerwing Swarm

• UPP: 2211xx
• Traits:
  • Flyer: Can fly at fast speeds, making them hard to hit with single-target attacks.
  • Swarm: Attacks affect all targets in a 2-meter radius. Takes half damage from non-area effect weapons.
• Attacks: Swarm (1D6 damage, target is confused and has -2 to hit next round).
• Skills: Athletics (flying) 2, Stealth 1
• Armor: 0 (Natural resilience to single-target attacks).

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

Glimmerwing Swarm

• Type: Swarm
• M: 16
• WS: 20
• BS: —
• S: 10
• T: 20
• I: 40
• Ag: 50
• Dex: —
• Int: 10
• WP: 30
• Fel: —
• Wounds: 12
• Traits:
  • Swarm: May fill up to a 2-yard square, affecting all within. Half damage from non-magical ranged attacks.
  • Dazzling: Victims must succeed on a Challenging (-10%) Endurance Test or be blinded for 1d4 rounds.
  • Fear (1): Can induce fear in those unaccustomed to their unnatural appearance and abilities.
• Special Rules:
  • Weakness (Fire): Fire-based attacks do double damage.