Tempest Swarm
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Size/Type | Diminutive Elemental (Fire, Swarm) |
| Hit Dice | 8d8 (36 hp) |
| Initiative | +10 |
| Speed | 5 ft. (1 square), fly 50 ft. |
| Armor Class | 20 (+4 size, +6 Dex), touch 20, flat-footed 14 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +6/― |
| Attack | Swarm (1d8 plus 2d6 fire) |
| Full Attack | Swarm (1d8 plus 2d6 fire) |
| Space/Reach | 10 ft./0 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Distraction, burn |
| Special Qualities | Darkvision 60 ft., immune to weapon damage, immunity to fire, low-light vision, vulnerability to cold, elemental traits, swarm traits |
| Saves | Fort +2, Ref +14, Will +2 |
| Abilities | Str 1, Dex 23, Con 11, Int 3, Wis 10, Cha 12 |
| Skills | Listen +13, Spot +13 |
| Feats | Alertness, Flyby Attack, Improved InitiativeB, Lightning Reflexes |
| Environment | Elemental Plane of Fire |
| Organization | Solitary, flight (2–4 swarms), or colony (11–20 swarms) |
| Challenge Rating | 6 |
| Treasure | None |
| Alignment | Always neutral |
| Advancement | None |
| Level Adjustment | ― |
Description
A swarm of miniscule flaming creatures form a twisting, dancing vortex of fire in the air. Brief glimpses of slower moving members reveal them to be insect-shaped creatures with humanoid heads and gossamer wings.
Physically these miniscule fire elemental creatures resemble a sprite with some insect-like features. They have the facial features of a fey, although their mouth is oversized and lined with tiny fangs. Tempests have a gossamer pair of wings, and a long, slender tail. Their body appears to be composed entirely of flame, which glows bright yellow where the scalp hair would lie and grows steadily less intense and redder toward the tip of their tail.
Tempests are rarely found alone, as they are highly sociable creatures who like to gather with their own kind. They are not particularly intelligent but are intensely curious, and will investigate anything that catches their fancy. Even fire elementals consider these beings pesky, and their company is not particularly desired by intelligent inhabitants of the elemental plane of fire.
As a rule tempests are not found away from their native plane, although they occasionally become summoned through some unknown magical process when a great conflagration occurs. Thus they can appear in the midst of a forest fire or when a city is ablaze. Unfortunately their natural energy will quickly spread the flames and can hinder attempts to fight a fire even when using magic.
A tempest swarm cannot enter water or any other nonflammable liquid. A body of water is an impassible barrier unless the tempest swarm can fly over it. A submerged tempest swarm is immediately slain.
Combat
Tempest swarms are not innately combative, but their intense heat can inflict painful burns to those they encounter. A swarm will not flee from a threat even if individual members are suffering damage, but they will retreat from intense cold or water.
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with a swarm in its space must succeed on a DC 14 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Burn (Ex): A tempest swarm’s attack deals slashing damage plus fire damage from the swarm’s flaming body. Those hit by a tempest swarm‘s attack also must succeed on a DC 14 Reflex save or catch on fire. The flame burns for 1d4 rounds. A burning creature can take a move action to put out the flame. The save DC is Constitution- based.
Creatures hitting a tempest swarm with natural weapons or unarmed attacks take fire damage as though hit by the tempest swarm’s attack, and also catch on fire unless they succeed on a Reflex save.