Stirge
In many lands, there are aggressive pests from certain types of birds to insects or other creatures. However, none are as universal as the stirge.
The term of 'stirge' is a broad category or family of the same type of animal. Each subspecies is grouped by the particular terrain they call home. However, no matter the terrain that the particular breed of stirge is from, they share strong common traits of two pairs of wings, an elongated body, and an aggressive disposition.
Fascinating little things. In their own way, they play an important role in nature as many times they help clean up the sick and diseased animals! I just adore them!
Then why are you rubbing yourself down with stinkweed cream?
Because I don't like them THAT much, and I like my blood right where it is.
Basic Information
Anatomy
In short, a stirge is a flying creature with two pairs of bat wings and an elongated body that looks remarkably like an insect. In fact, many consider stirges to be a type of insect, specifically due to their appearance and that most varieties feed off blood. However, despite their appearance, a stirge is physically closer to that of a bird or egg-laying mammal than an insect.
The species average 1 foot in length with a wingspan that reaches up to 2 feet in total. Their body has an insectoid appearance, yet they have an internal skeleton with a hollow bone structure like that of a bird. Stirges have six legs - again which leads to the comparison to an insect - that all end in three-toed claws. The claws are slightly hooked to give the animal purchase on its intended meal. This also makes the creatures difficult to dislodge from a victim.
While in flight, a strige's wings are a blur, not unlike a hummingbird or a dragonfly. However, their wings are actually two pairs of wings with a bat-like shape and covered in a fine coating of thin feathers. Their body likewise has feathers but they are smaller and resemble a fine fur at a distance. Feather coloration often matches the environment but a few places that have found means to domesticate certain stirge subspecies have bred them for new and interesting varieties of color.
The two pairs of rapidly moving wings give stirges a huge advantage in flight. Since stirge wings beat 10 - 15 beats per second an individual stirge is capable of transitioning from full flight to hovering in less than a second. However, the size of the animal does slow its overall flight speed down to only 16 miles per hour if a stirge is moving at its full potential.
Also, some subspecies, though not all, of stirges have venom sacks. However, "stirge venom" isn't the same between subspecies. Volcano stirges exude a warm acidic venom, while forest stirges exude a paralytic venom. One common denominator of all stirge subspecies that do have venom is that it is a powerful tranquilizer. In some places, stirge venom is highly prized by wizards and alchemists for various potion ingredients.
Another of the more remarkable features is the retractable proboscis or 'feeding snout' of the stirge. On secure contact with its prey, a stirge extends its feeding snout and punctures a needle-like hole in the skin of what it wishes to feed on. The tube is bi-directional, as, at the moment of the initial puncture, stirges inject their prey with venom before they start to drain their prey of the desired fluids.Venom, as mentioned, comes in many forms. However, no matter the side effects, a stirge's venom represents a necessary component of how they feed. If the stirge is a blood-drinker, the venom ensures the prey's "cooperation" and acts as a type of digestion acid that makes the blood more palatable to the stirge's metabolism. For fruit stirges, this is merely pre-digestion fluid to help loosen the pulp from the fruit.
Sensory Abilities
A strige's eyes are one of the most complicated portions of the animal. Their eyes are set forward as any predator, yet are unusually wide and oval-shaped. However, what most see as the 'eyes' of a stirge is actually a smoky-colored, transparent covering over their actual eyes. This outer covering is usually at least twice as large as their own eyes.
The covering acts as a natural magnification device for the animal, allowing them to detect small motions that could indicate potential prey. Also, the coverings act as a protective barrier against wind and dust the animal encounters due to its high rate of speed in flight.
Of its other senses, a stirge can hear through has no great perceptive ability with hearing or taste. It is its sense of smell that is the animal's greatest advantage. The stirge's sense of smell allows for the animal to pick up subtle scents for their prey - be it for blood or fruit and pulp.
Reproduction
While its common knowledge that stirges lay eggs, the common belief is that they lay those eggs in their prey to hatch or in a similar location such as mud, bog, cooling lava and so on. However, this would be incorrect.
Stirges do not give birth to live young and do lay eggs. Instead, the female stirge does produce the eggs yet the male and female take turns incubating their offspring by alternating which one carries the eggs in their marsupial-like pouch. Whichever one is in custody of the eggs at that time - male or female - remains back at the colony. The other of the mating pair goes to locate food. This food is then brought back for the other mating pair and regurgitated so that it can be shared.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Stirges are very social animals and tend to group into large colonies called 'Bloodstorm' as in a 'Bloodstorm of Stirges'. The animals move in flocks of 9 to 14 total in number. Under normal circumstances, this is only 1/3 of the total population of a full-grown colony. Stirges only send out a 1/3 at a time, leaving 1/3 to rest and the remaining 1/3 to protect the colony and the young.
The only time a full flight of stirges will be present is if the stirges feel their colony is under attack. At which time 1/2 or even all the stirges in a colony would attack the offender.
XP 200
N Tiny magical beast
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +1
Defense
AC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 12 (+4 Dex, +2 size)
hp 5 (1d10)
Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +1
Offense
Speed 10 ft., fly 40 ft. (average)
Melee touch +7 (attach)
Space 2-1/2 ft., Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks blood drain, venom
Statistics
Str 3, Dex 19, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 6
Base Atk +1; CMB +3 (+11 grapple when attached CMD 9 (17 vs. trip)
Feats Weapon Finesse ( retractable snout, claws )
Skills Fly +8, Stealth +16
Ecology
Varies. Subspecies can thrive in temperate, swamps, volcanic regions, deserts, grasslands, and mountains. The only exception is an arctic environment.
Organization solitary, bloodstorm (9–14), or colony swarm (15–50)
Treasure none
Special Abilities
Grapple/Attach When stirge hits with a touch attack, its three-clawed toes latch onto a target, allowing the animal to fasten itself into place. An attached stirge is literally grappling their prey. During this, the stirge loses any Dex bonuses to AC which reduces that to 12. A stirge has a +7 to maintain its hold on its prey. Stirges that are attached to a target can be hit with a weapon or grappled as well. If the target wins a grapple check or succeeds at an Escape Artist check, then they manage to remove the stirge. If someone is attacking a stirge attached to a victim, any failed hits on the stirge must be resolved against the target, since the two are grappling.
Blood drain As a stirge begins to feed on its target, they will inflict 1 point of Constitution damage. Once a single stirge has dealt 1d4 amounts of Con damage, it released its victim and leaves.
Venom When a stirge attaches to a victim it injects them with the pre-digestive venom. Most stirge venom has a tranquilizing effect. The victim of a stirge attack must roll a Save vs Fortitude DC 13. Failure means the victim experiences a euphoric sensation and will not be willing to remove the stirge. The victim may reattempt the Save each round with a cumulative -1 per round for every failed attempt.
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