Frightful Fridays! (Superbowl Sunday! Edition) Impact Moth

Hello and welcome to this week's Frightful Fridays! OK, it's a little late this week thanks to some weekend work. I couldn't find a mashup of a horse and a panther in honor of the "big game," but I figured this little guy would work nicely instead. Jason pointed out the rosy maple moth, and its coloration reminded me somewhat of the giant mantis shrimp, so I drew some inspiration from that for the moth's bullet charge ability.

I hope you enjoy the impact moth, and I hope DMs can use it to punch some holes in PCs. Thanks for reading, and I'll see you again in the next week!

This moth (found here) wants to fight.

This colorful, delicate moth flies directly into an object and shatters it.

Impact Moth      CR 4

XP 1,200

N Tiny magical beast

Init +7; Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +15

DEFENSE

AC 18, touch 16, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 natural, +2 size)

hp 37 (5d10+10)

Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2

Immune mind-affecting effects

OFFENSE

Speed 10 ft., fly 60 ft. (good)

Melee slam +10 (4d6–4)

Space 2–1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Special Attacks bullet charge

STATISTICS

Str 2, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 10

Base Atk +5; CMB +6; CMD 13 (21 vs. trip)

Feats Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Finesse

Skills Fly +16, Perception +15; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception

ECOLOGY

Environment any forest

Organization solitary, pair, or hail (3–12)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Bullet Charge (Ex) Once every 1d3 rounds, an impact moth can make a special charge attack. During this attack, the moth deals an extra 2d6 points of damage with its slam attack, its critical threat range doubles, and it ignores hardness of 10 or less. Additionally, it gains a +2 deflection bonus against attacks of opportunity. If an impact moth confirms a critical hit with this attack, it flies through the target and can continue moving up to double its speed.

Impact moths, also known as bullet moths, have bright colors much like any other dangerous natural creature does to mark it as a threat, despite its otherwise dainty appearance. The moths build up kinetic energy when they fly and use that to puncture material and flesh alike. Telltale holes riddle trees in their forest homes.

Impact moths are omnivores, but they prefer eating fresh kills. Multiple moths work together to bring down larger creatures and feast on the remains afterwards. The kinetic energy they generate requires them to eat twice their two-pound bodyweight every day. Impact moths live for eight years and mated pairs produce up to a dozen larvae per year. The caterpillars are drab and have none of the moths’ kinetic abilities. They pupate after 2 months, during which they feed on high-energy grains and fruits, and emerge from their cocoons 1 month later.