Category:Scarab Beetle Swarm

This section contains canon info from officially published sources

Flesh-eating scarab beetles, when alerted to the presence of living creatures, quickly attack en masse as swarms and can quickly consume their prey entirely within but a few moments. In game terms, this means inflicting Constitution damage in addition to normal physical damage.^[1]

From time to time in the Domains of Dread, a swarm of scarab beetles can behave in a variety of unnatural ways, even assuming a humanoid shape^[2]

See Scarab Beetle for general information on scarab beetles.

Descriptive Text

This section contains Homebrew non-canon info, created by fans

Descriptive Text by cure

Elaenor, with those sharp eyes of hers, spotted the secret door. We opened it and mounted the staircase beyond with the greatest caution, fearing in equal measure traps and snakes. After many minutes and our terror at finding another sarcophagus, we were overjoyed to again feel upon our flesh the fiery sun. But it was barely mid-morning and as mad as it was to spend another moment in the tomb, it was madder still to brave the coming mid-day heat. A watch was set and we rested as best we could. As the hours crept by, our courage returned, as did the lure of the realm below where treasure, a well and Raoul might still be found. Elaenor and Theben led the way, unwisely taking for granted the steps which we had previously trod. A loud crack announced the sixth and final horror, as the pair plunged from sight. The initial shriek of Elaenor was followed not by a sickening thud but rather a terrible scream choked off quickly. At the bottom of the pit we could distinguish her prone form engulfed by insects. Theben had been luckier, having managed to catch himself. But the beetles swarmed up the side of the pit and were upon him even as we put a rope into his hands. In the mere seconds that it took for us to haul him up, the ravenous horde had eaten through to bone.

-The Wreck of the Albatross, Juno Lutuem, Darkonese adventurer^[3]

Descriptive Text by Nathan Okerlund

To the Most Noble Sef, Ivan Dilisnya:

We are devastated beyond measure to report that your request for a functioning colony of grave scarabs can no longer be fulfilled by this May. Unexpected difficulties with transportation and feeding have prevented delivery; Your Grace's erudition will already have supplied the trifling fact that the beetles in question are extremely aggressive and voracious, and the stupidity of an employee allowed the escape of the colony we had previously mentioned. We cheerfully refund the very generous sum you supplied to us, together with an added sum which we hope very much will alleviate any lingering discontent with our dismal failure. Please rest assured that the responsible employee has already been punished, in a way which Your Grace could not fail to find both amusing and apposite; accounts of the surviving caravan members indicate he was literally a mere skeleton a matter of seconds after carelessly opening the container in which they were held.

We remain Your Grace's most humble, abject, and apologetic servants, Nissl Van Kant of Van Kant and Son, formerly Van Kant and Sons^[4]

References