Rhapsody Wasp

Rhapsody Wasp (CR 19)

True Chaotic - Small - Vermin

Lore:	Know (Nature)
38		53
Basic DC		Full DC

Initiative

31

Perception:
41	+31
Passive	Active

Ambush:

12+

on a d20

• Ambush Notes: Rhapsody Wasps are fairly noisy, making it less likely they will succeed in an ambush. That doesn't stop them from trying, though!

Senses:

• Standard Senses

Movement Types:

Defense

AC

43

Man Def

45

Monster Health
883	441	36
Hit Points	Bloodied	Hit Dice

Saving Throws
Fort:	+18
Refl:	+18
Will:	+23

Strong Against:

Weak Against:

Offense

Size:	Small
5 ft.		5 ft.
Space		Reach

To-Hit

+28

Man Off

+31

Action

0

Points

Standard Attack (Melee):

• 1x Rhapsody Stinger +28 (4d8+22/19-20 x2)
  as drilling (physical, uncommon)
  Rhapsody Venom

Full Attack (Melee):

• 3x Rhapsody Stinger +28 (4d8+22/19-20 x2)
  as drilling (physical, uncommon)
  Rhapsody Venom

Standard Attack (Ranged):

• 1x Erratic Drone +32 vs. AC (always hits on a 17+ on the die) (4d8+22/19-20 x2)
  as sonic (energy, common)
  (Increment: 30 ft.; Max Range: 150 ft.)

Full Attack (Ranged):

• 3x Erratic Drone +32 vs. AC (always hits on a 17+ on the die) (4d8+22/19-20 x2)
  as sonic (energy, common)
  (Increment: 30 ft.; Max Range: 150 ft.)

Siege Damage: Not siege capable

Statistics

18

STR

20

DEX

20

CON

2

INT

2

WIS

10

CHA

Skills:

• Might: 31 (Rhapsody Wasps are very strong fliers, their Might skill reflects their increased carry capacity and generally eerie strength.)
• Perception: 31
• All other skills: 26 (no ranks)

Languages:

Feats:

• Spring Attack (EFFECT: Move before and after melee attack)

Special Abilities

Rhapsodic Drone (Su, Aura)

Rhapsody Wasps are highly chaotic creatures. As a result, the beating of their powerful wings while they are in flight is not a steady, even sound. The buzzing, droning beat is instead wildly syncopated, almost stuttering, in nature. This ragged, irregular sound is very distressing to all who hear at, as their minds seek to find some stability, some pattern, in the aching waves of sound, which is not there to be found. Enemy creatures that end their turn within 30 feet of a Rhapsody Wasp while it is in flight suffer 4d6+14 points of rugosic (physical, uncommon) damage, as the awful stuttering noise messes with the very ability of their bodies to function. They may make a Will save, DC 29, to reduce the damage by half. In addition, if they fail this Will save, they become Anxious for the remainder of the encounter. Note that no matter how many Wasps could effect them in a single round, only one save is required, and the damage is only inflicted once. If a creature is already suffering from the Anxious condition, and they fail a second save against Rhapsodic Drone, their condition worsens to the much more dangerous Startled condition. Rhapsody Wasps will do their best to move in such a way as to force their enemies to move to engage them, and thus trigger Startled enemies to attack their friends as they move. Rhapsodic Drone has no additional effect (except inflicting more damage). Note that Rhapsodic Drone only is in effect while the Wasps are flying. There is, sadly, no convenient way to force them to stop flying, but they are so erratic in their behavior they will sometimes land for no apparent reason, shutting off this ability until they decide on a whim to fly again.

Rhapsody Venom (Ex)

Rhapsody Wasps have posionous stingers. In melee, any attack that hits with their stingers will also inflict the effects of their deadly Rhapsody Venom. Rhapsody Wasp Venom    (Injury vector; Poisoned intensity) Save: Fort DC 29;     Frequency: 1/round for 3 rounds Effect: 4d8+22 points of poison (physical, uncommon) per interval. This damage increases to 4d10+33 in any round in which the victim is Anxious or Startled. Fruition: If the victim is Anxious or Startled, they gain the Panicked condition. If they are not, no further effect. Fruition Duration: End of Combat

Rambling Flight (Ex)

Rhapsody Wasps are chaotic creatures, which is why the beating of their wings is so damaging to listen to. As a further result, their flight is just...weird. They rarely, if ever, fly directly to where they want to be, and will wobble, lurch, turn, twist, and bob, erratically. This isn't something they do in order to dodge their enemies, it's simply the way they fly. That being said, it DOES act very effectively to protect them from attacks caused by their own movement. Once per round, a Rhapsody Wasp may choose one square they are moving out of, and that one square of movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Combined with their high Flight speed, it is easy for a Rhapsody Wasp to 'fly up and over' most battles with impunity, which is...quite dangerous.

Rhapsody Wasp

Rhapsody Wasps are a type of deadly monstrous vermin, who make large clay nests that look like assemblages of vertical masonry tubes, rather akin to an earthy pipe organ. They will sometimes build nests (usually larger ones) right out in the open, but there is no guarantee with these erratic vermin, and they will also frequently hide these nests in a myriad of places. Rhapsody Wasps are not terribly common (and considering how deadly they are, this is a good thing!), but they can be found in a remarkably wide variety of habitat. Temperate forests, prairies, coniferous woods, boreal wastelands, swamps, deep in caves and dungeons, infesting sewers, mires, high sere deserts, high upon mountain cliffs, all these and many more are places where these droning terrors have been encountered. Even worse, there have been reports of other monsters encouraging these Wasps to nest in inconvenient places, which can be a serious problem!

Rhapsody Wasps have even been found in active volcanoes, and there are credible reports that they have been found in other dimensions than the Prime Material, lending credence to the theory that they aren't even 'real' creatures, although every test shows them to be simple vermin. Just very dangerous ones. Fortunately, Rhapsody Wasps seem to like relatively quiet nesting sites, and so nests in cities and towns are quite rare. Occasionally, a Rhapsody Wasp nest will be discovered inside a city, typically tucked as far from activity as the Wasps can get it, inside some large ruined and abandoned building.

Rhapsody Wasps are haphazard in their behaviors. They can and will range for many miles from their nest, and will even spend several days away, finding hidden nooks to rest and sleep. They prefer to travel in small groups, called 'flights', and they frequently rove far and wide in search of food, and in defense of their territories. Rhapsody Wasps are omnivorous, and will eat fruits, succulents, herbs, nuts, and grains, as well as small animals, large animals, weaker (or stronger!) monsters, various types of minerals, ores, and gems, and worst of all, people. Being near a Rhapsody Wasp nest is always a gamble. They might casually ignore you for years, then one fine morning, attack without preamble.

Rhapsody Wasps are not extremely large, being about the size of a small dog (although that is terrifyingly huge for a wasp!), but they are very strong flyers. A Rhapsody Wasp can carry impossibly huge things through the air, and reports of single wasps carrying away humans and other civilized races are discouragingly common.

Rhapsody Wasps are not actively inimical, but they are deadly dangerous just the same. Any nest that is identified anywhere near civilization must be dealt with sooner or later, and the services of seasoned adventurers is widely seen as the best way to handling these dire threats.

Combat Tactics

Rhapsody Wasps are noisy and always moving, but they nevertheless persist in efforts to ambush creatures. Whether this is on-purpose, or some instinctive behavior, is unknown. Rhapsody Wasps that have decided to attack are erratic, as usual.

In general, at least one wasp will close in to attack with their stingers, and one wasp will usually stay back and beat their wings in the special pattern that produces their deadly Erratic Drone ranged sonic touch attack. The ranged attackers usually attack the back ranks of any enemies, while the melee stingers will use their Rambling Flight ability to move and mix around constantly, making Stinger attacks with their Fly-By Attack feat, seeking to cause any Startled enemies to make attacks of opportunity against their own friends. Aside from these guidelines, Rhapsody Wasps are likely to do just about anything in a fight. They are dangerous and deadly, and their actions will always lead to more damage to their foes. If any foes are made Anxious, that foe will be targeted instinctively by the Wasps if it is convenient to do so. If more than one foe is made Anxious, wasps will attack them all if they can, even switching to ranged Erratic Drone attacks to reach them.

Rhapsody Wasps are utterly fearless, and once combat begins, will fight to the death without hesitation.

Out of Combat

Rhapsody Wasps are typically mindless vermin, and spectacularly dangerous, to-boot. They exist to eat, breed, and make new nests. Thankfully, they are highy omnivorous, and not fecund, or they would present a deadly danger. Occasionally, other monsters with an affinity for vermin or nature will cultivate one or several nests of Rhapsody Wasps. No matter the relative strength of the monsters, Rhapsody Wasps are always useful as alarms and for attrition damage, as they are noisy, and their incredibly irritating Rhapsodic Drone applies automatic damage to all but the most durable of foes. Treants, formians, nymphs, dryads, and similar creatures will use Rhapsody Wasps as living weapons, if they are able to.

Rewards

XP: 204,800

Treasure: Sellable Goods worth 89,889 gp.

Weight: 190 lbs.     Volume: 7.6 cu. ft.

Optional Treasure Rules: Roll a d20 on Table 1 below once per encounter (NOT per creature). Any items discovered are in addition to the normal treasure for the encounter.

Table 1: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 10	Nothing Found
11 - 14	1 Languid Remnant (tier 1)
15 - 17	1 Pale Remnant (tier 2)
18 - 19	1 Bright Remnant (tier 3)
20	Roll on Table 2
###	Nothing to see here!
###	Or here. Move along.

Table 2: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 5	3 Languid Remnants (tier 1)
6 - 10	3 Pale Remnants (tier 2)
11 - 14	1 Intense Remnant (tier 4)
15 - 17	1 Blazing Remnant (tier 5)
18 - 19	1 Vital Remnant (tier 6)
20	Roll on Table 3
###	Or here. Move along.

Table 3: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 5	3 Bright Remnants (tier 3)
6 - 8	3 Intense Remnants (tier 4)
9 - 11	3 Blazing Remnants (tier 5)
12 - 14	3 Vital Remnants (tier 6)
15 - 17	1 Prime Remnant (tier 7)
18 - 19	1 Mythic Remnant (tier 8)
20	1 Empyrean Remnant (tier 9)