Swarm Dissolver

Swarm Dissolver CR 11

XP 12,800
CE Large monstrous humanoid
Init +3; Senses blindsense (vibration) 30 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +20

DEFENSE

HP 180
EAC 24; KAC 26
Fort +15; Ref +13; Will +12
Defensive Abilities Swarm mind;
Immunities acid, fear effects; Resistances fire 10

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft., climb 10 ft.
Melee slam +28 (4d6+19 B; critical push 10 ft.)
Ranged corrosive jet +23 (3d8+11 A & F; critical corrode 2d4)
Offensive Abilities wing gust
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

STATISTICS

Str +8; Dex +3; Con +5; Int +1; Wis +0; Cha –2
Skills Acrobatics +20, Athletics +25 (+33 to climb)
Languages Shirren; telepathy 100 ft.

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Corrosive Jet (Ex)

The Swarm dissolver can spew a jet of corrosive chemicals with a range of 30 feet. This attack has the line and unwieldy weapon special properties.

Wing Gust (Ex)

A Swarm dissolver’s vestigial wings have surprising power. As a standard action, a Swarm dissolver can beat its wings rapidly to create a powerful gust of wind in a 30-foot cone. All nonmagical flames in the cone are extinguished, and any Medium or smaller creatures in the area must succeed at a DC 18 Reflex save or be pushed 10 feet away from the Swarm dissolver and knocked prone.

ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization pair or pack (1–2 plus 3–8 Swarm creatures)

There is a seemingly infinite variety of Swarm components, as the species adapts and creates specialized spawn to counter the many obstacles it faces in its effort to devour the galaxy.

A Swarm dissolver’s main focus is to protect smaller Swarm components and provide an impenetrable front line during combat, incinerating the most formidable foes while also accompanying corrovoxes, mindreapers, and other Swarm shock troops when they swoop in to clean up after a battle. A dissolver’s exoskeleton is thicker than that of most other Swarm creatures, but its most prominent offensive feature—sturdy horns that curl back toward the dissolver’s body— are surprisingly not its primary weapons; these horns instead function as a last-resort defense, allowing a dissolver to fling enemies away with a mighty shove. A dissolver’s main mode of attack is actually hidden between its mandibles: two vascular conduits pump highly corrosive and combustible chemicals from within separate glands in the dissolver’s abdomen. These chemicals are inert when separate but explode when combined, in a conflagration of acid and fire. Like many other Swarm components, a dissolver bears a set of insectile wings, but they aren’t powerful enough for the massive, heavy creature to fly.

Swarm xersks are a rare sight, and in fact only a handful have been seen by members of other species who lived to spread news of their existence. These creatures rarely resort to physical attacks, instead relying on their potent psychic abilities to mentally assault and frighten intelligent creatures.

These bizarre Swarm components have large, crested heads covered in a horrifying array of staring eyes. Those who look into a xersk’s eyes for even a few seconds begin to question reality, and may eventually lose their hold on it altogether.

Superficially, xersks appear to exhibit more free will than most Swarm components. They can often be found alone, quietly observing a geographical feature or distant constellation. Despite this odd behavior, xersks are still very much a part of the Swarm’s hive mind, and like every Swarm component, they act solely to further the Swarm’s machinations, no matter how nebulous their demeanor might seem to outside observers.