Dire Stirge
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Size/Type | Small Magical Beast |
| Hit Dice | 3d10+6 (23 hp) |
| Initiative | +5 |
| Speed | 10 ft. (2 squares), fly 40 ft. (average) |
| Armor Class | 18 (+1 size, +5 Dex, +2 natural), touch 16, flat-footed 13 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +3/-1 (+11 when attached) |
| Attack | Touch +10 melee (attach) |
| Full Attack | Touch +10 melee (attach) |
| Space/Reach | 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Attach, blood drain, disease |
| Special Qualities | Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision |
| Saves | Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +2 |
| Abilities | Str 11, Dex 21, Con 14, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 6 |
| Skills | Hide +9, Listen +4, Spot +4 |
| Feats | Alertness, Weapon FinesseB, Weapon Focus (touch) |
| Environment | Warm forest |
| Organization | Clutch (2–4), swarm (5–8), or flock (9–13) |
| Challenge Rating | 3 |
| Treasure | None |
| Alignment | Always neutral |
| Advancement | 4–5 HD (Small), 6–8 HD (Medium) Level Adjustment: ― |
Description
This wicked-looking creature resembles a four-winged bat, with a slight body covered in short reddish-brown fur. It has eight slender legs with barbed pincers, and a long, slender proboscis on its nose.
Dire stirges are obscene crosses between bats and mosquitos, with elements of a tick thrown in for good measure. Dire stirges feed off the blood of living creatures, usually dinosaurs, elephants, and other huge creatures it deigns to notice. However, when hungry, adventurers will serve as a delectable substitute for their normal bread and butter.
A dire stirge has four membranous wings that beat like a hummingbird's. It has eight small legs with pincer claws on the end of each one. Their body is covered with short reddish-brown fur, often vermin invested. Most noticeable about the dire stirge though, is the long, needle-sharp proboscis on its face.
A dire stirge is roughly 4 feet long and has a wingspan of 8 feet. It weighs up to 60 pounds.
Combat
Much like its smaller cousin, the dire stirge attacks by landing on a victim, finding a vulnerable spot, and plunging its proboscis into the flesh. This is a touch attack and can target only Small or larger creatures.
Attach (Ex): If a dire stirge hits with a touch attack, it uses its eight pincers to latch onto the opponent's body. An attached dire stirge is effectively grappling its prey. The dire stirge loses its Dexterity bonus to AC and has an AC of 13. Dire stirges have a +12 racial bonus on grapple checks (already figured into the Base Attack/Grapple entry above.)
An attached dire stirge can be struck with a weapon or grappled itself. To remove an attached dire stirge through grappling, the opponent must achieve a pin against the dire stirge.
Blood Drain (Ex): A dire stirge drains blood, dealing 1d6 points of Constitution damage in any round it begins its turn attached to a victim. Once it has drained 8 points of Constitution, it detaches and flies off to digest the meal. If its victim dies before the dire stirge's appetite has been sated, the dire stirge detaches and seeks a new target.
Disease (Ex): Filth fever―bite, Fortitude DC 13, incubation period 1d3 days; damage 1d3 Dexterity and 1d3 Constitution. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Advanced Benefits
In addition to the standard changes due to Hit Dice advancement, dire stirges also gain the following special benefits.
- 6+ HD ― The blood drain deals 1d8 points of Constitution damage per round. The dire stirge detaches after it has drained 10 points of Constitution.