Swarm, Plague Ant (CR 5)

Medium Vermin (Swarm-Fine)
Alignment: Always neutral
Initiative: +3 (Dex); Senses: darkvision (60-foot range)
Languages: No language


AC: 18 (+3 Dex, +5 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 15
Hit Dice: 10d8+20 (65 hp)
Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +3
Speed: 30 ft., climb 20 ft.
Space: 10 ft./0 ft.
Base Attack +7; Grapple -
Attack: Swarm
Full Attack: Swarm
Damage: Swarm 2d6 plus disease
Special Attacks/Actions: Disease, distraction (DC 17), wounding
Abilities: Str 1, Dex 16, Con 14, Int -, Wis 11, Cha 7
Special Qualities: Swarm traits, vermin traits
Feats: -
Skills: Climb +3
Advancement: -
Climate/Terrain: Warm land and underground
Organization: Solitary or army (3-8 swarms)
Treasure/Possessions: -

Source: Fiend Folio

Disease (Ex): Any creature that takes damage from a plague ant swarm must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 17) or contract red ache. The incubation period is 1d3 days, and the disease deals 1d6 points of Strength damage.

Wounding (Ex): A wound resulting from a plague ant swarm attack bleeds for an additional 1 point of damage per round thereafter. Multiple wounds from such attacks result in cumulative bleeding loss (two wounds for 2 points of damage per round, and so on). The bleeding can be stopped only by a successful Heal check (DC 10) or the application of any cure spell or other healing spell (heal, healing circle, or the like).

Skills: Plague ant swarms have a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks and can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or threatened.

Distraction (Ex): Any non-mindless creature vulnerable to a swarm's damage that begins its turn with a swarm in its square is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save )DC 10 + 1/2 swarm's HD + swarm's Con modifier) negates the effect. Spellcasting or concentrating on spells within the area of a swarm requires a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level). Using skills requiring patience and concentration requires a Concentration check )DC 20).

Plague ants are a mindless force of nature and swarm over everything in their path. They operate based on sophisticated instinct, with ants in the forefront of the swarm's approach carrying large chunks of food (preferably bloody meat) back to the queen, who is protected in the swarm's bivouac by a shelter formed from living ants.

Plague ants are large and particularly nasty relatives of mundane army or harvester ants. They are 4 inches long, with bloated white bodies and bright orange eyes. Their mandibles are as long as their heads and have an orange hue on the inside (cutting) edge.

As mindless creatures, plague ants do not speak or understand any language.