Water Strider Swarm

Countless thousands of long-legged water bugs glide soundlessly over the surface of the water, skimming over it in a wave of twitching bodies.

Water Strider Swarm (CR 1)

Diminutive Vermin (Swarm)
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +4
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Tremorsense 30 feet; Perception +6

Speed: 10 feet, Swim 20 feet, water walk 30 feet
Space: 10 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 18, touch 18, flat-footed 14 (+4 Dex, +4 size)
Hit Points: 9 (2d8)
Saving Throws: Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +0
swarm traits
Immunity: mind-affecting effects, weapon damage
Weaknesses: swarm traits

Offense

Melee: swarm (1d6 plus blood drain and distraction)
Reach: 0 feet

Special Attacks: Blood Drain (1d2 Constitution), Distraction (DC 11)

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
1 (-5)	18 (+4)	10 (+0)	-	10 (+0)	2 (-4)

Base Attack Bonus: +1
CMB -
CMD -

Feats:

Skills: Acrobatics +6 (+12 jump), Perception +6, Swim +3

• Racial Modifiers: Acrobatics (+6 jump), +4 Perception

Languages:

Special Qualities: water walking

Special Abilities

Water Walking (Ex)

Water striders are covered with water-repellent hairs that prevent them from sinking beneath the water's surface. The swarm's movement speed across water is 30 feet.

Ecology

Environment: Temperate Lakes, Rivers, or Marshes
Organization: solitary or pair
Treasure: none


Water striders are aquatic insects that skate across the surface of still water. Their bodies are long and narrow, with an individual measuring less than 1 inch in length. The body and legs of a water strider are covered with a layer of water-repelling hairs, making it possible for the strider to resist the surface tension of the water.

The insect stands on its front and rear legs, and pushes against the water surface with its middle legs to propel itself forward. Water striders are also excellent jumpers, launching themselves distances of up to 5 feet. Any movement on land is limited to jumping.

Swarms of particularly vicious water striders commonly gather at the edges of bodies of water, attacking anything that disturbs the surface of their pools.