Homebrew Myrmex (Swarm of Insects) Species Details
There are many unusual creatures that exist within and outside of the material plane. There are brain-eating ilithids, reincarnating devil tigers, and even space-traveling oozes called plasmoids. But probably one of the most unusual sentient beings would have to be a myrmex.
A myrmex is a swarm of insects that is telepathically controlled by their egg-laying queen. She resides inside of the great swarm where she controls their every movement. She is as intelligent as any other sentient creature, and she has the ability to telepathically communicate with other creatures nearby (though she cannot verbally speak for obvious reasons). Her swarm serves to obey her every wish, and they are ready to die at her will.
The origins of a myrmex is complex. Sometimes, the queen is infused with magic at a young age, and she naturally becomes self-aware. Other times, they are the result of a summoned swarm that has been contaminated by chaotic magic. There are even a few species of insects that naturally develop in this manner, creating their own culture and history. Wherever a myrmex comes from, the result is mostly the same.
Obviously a myrmex is going to have trouble fitting in with normal societies. They are frightening to behold, and many common folk see them as agents of evil. Most try to isolate themselves from society, but others take a personal glee in becoming accepted by the populace They are all individuals, and they can make choices like any other sentient race. Other than the fact that a myrmex is a swarm of tiny beasts controlled by a telepathic queen insect, they are no different from any other adventurer.
Myrmex (Swarm of Insects) Traits
Amorphous, Limited Telepathy, Shape Self, Save the Queen, Stingers, Type of SwarmSize
You are Medium or Small. You choose the size when you select this race.
Amorphous
You can squeeze through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide, provided you are wearing and carrying nothing. You have advantage on ability checks you make to initiate or escape a grapple.
Also, you count as a swarm while in a non-humanoid shape, and you can occupy the space of another creature.
Darkvision
You can see in dim light within 60 feet of yourself as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.
Speed
Your walking speed is 30 feet.
Limited Telepathy
You can speak telepathically to any creatures you can see, provided the creatures are within a number of feet of you equal to 10 times your level. You don't need to share a language with the creatures for them to understand your telepathic utterances, but the creatures must be able to understand at least one language. Because of your swarm-like nature, you cannot speak verbally.
Save the Queen
If you fail your last Death Saving Throw, instead of permanent death, you can escape as the last living queen insect of the swarm. Your HP is 1, you cannot make attacks, your size is Tiny, your AC is +3, your Strength score is 1, and you have Advantage on Stealth ability checks. If an attack hits you while you are in this condition, you instantly die. After taking a long rest, you can quickly repopulate your swarm and return to normal health.
Shape Self
As an action, you can reshape your body to give yourself a head, one or two arms, one or two legs, and makeshift hands and feet, or you can revert to a limbless blob. While you have a humanlike shape, you can wear clothing and armor made for a Humanoid of your size.
Stingers
Your swarm has poisonous stingers or fangs, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Constitution modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. Also, the target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw at a DC equal to 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus or be poisoned. They may reroll this saving throw at the end of each of their next turns.
Swarm Type
You can determine if your swarm burrows, crawls, or flies.
Swarm Abilities
Your abilities you receive based on what type of swarm you are.
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