Horde
by Jamie BatyCO, RC 185
Small Elemental (Earth)
Hit Dice: 3d8 (13 hp)
Initiative: +2 (+2 Dex)
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armour Class: 18 (+1 size, +2 Dex, +5 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/-1
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d6 +1)
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d6 +1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Collective being, darkvision 60ft., elemental traits, immunity to mind-affecting spells, rebirth, spell-like abilities
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +3
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 5
Skills: Diplomacy +1, Hide +6, Intimidate +1, Listen +7, Spot +7
Feats: Die Hard, Endurance
Environment: Any land
Organisation: Patrol (5-20), or Horde (1d100x10)
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always lawful evil
Advancement: 4-7 HD (Medium); 8-15 HD (Large); 16-21 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: -
Hordes are frightening life forms native to the Elemental Plane of Earth. Each single Horde entity is compromised by hundreds of insect-like bodies connected by a single mind.
The bodies of a particular Horde all look alike, and different Hordes have body types. The bodies of one horde might resemble huge, golden praying mantises, while another horde's bodies might look like small black beetles with glowing red antennae. The size of the individual bodies within a horde varies: each body's length corresponds to its Hit Dice (one with 3 HD measures 3 feet long). The above statistics describe individual horde bodies.
Combat
The horde attacks other creatures whenever it finds such an action in its own best interest. Hordes do not consider any other life forms intelligent and have no compunctions against destroying others. Small patrols guard the outer limits of the area the horde claims; typically, all the bodies in a patrol have an equal number of Hit Dice (therefore, the same size).
In battle, the Horde will quite willingly sacrifice as many bodies as necessary to accomplish its goals. Should the Horde loses more than 10% of its members, it will either attempt to negotiate for a peaceful resolution or will call another Horde entity for assistance.
The Horde members bite their foes. They use telekinesis frequently to aid themselves in combat, particularly since they cast it as a swift action.
Collective Being (Ex): The Horde is a collective creature. Any member of the Horde may communicate at will to the other members through telepathy. There is no limit to the number of concurrent conversations the can be held within the Horde's mind.
In addition, through the will of the collective, a Horde member receives a +8 bonus to all Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma based skill checks.
Immunity to Mind-Affecting Spells (Ex): A Horde member is immune to all mind-affecting spells and effects.
Rebirth (Su): As long as one member of the Horde is alive, it may generate new bodies, or enlarge non-animated bodies, at the rate of 1 HD every 10 minutes.
Spell-like Abilities (Sp): 1/rd: Detect Thoughts, Telekinesis. The Horde can cast these as a swift action. Caster level is equal to its HD.
Elemental Traits: Immune to poison, sleep, paralysis, and stunning. Not subject to critical hits. Elementals do not eat, sleep, or breathe.
Society
A Horde life force can control practically limitless numbers of members, perhaps up to 10,000 members on the Plane of Earth. Fortunately, the largest Horde known on Mystara was only 1,000 bodies strong. Likewise the largest component body found on Mystara is 21 HD, though it is likely larger bodies may be found on the Plane of Earth. The Horde entity has no controlling body, such as a queen of an insect hive; its mind and life force is spread evenly throughout all its bodies. The Horde life force can only control bodies within an area 100 miles across. Bodies taken outside of this area wither and die in 1d10 days.
Each Horde has its own name, and all members of the Horde will respond to that name.
A Horde requires large amounts of space, and frequently will war with whatever is nearby (even other Hordes) in order to take its lands for the Horde. They are particularly hated by Krysts, who have lost much territory to the Hordes.