Monster Dossier

Giant Tsetse Fly

Fly, Giant Tsetse TERRIBLE UNDERESTIMATION A group of evil druids near Reimaineid captured and bred large tsetse flies to distill and empower the disease...

Level 2

Traits

nlargeanimal

Rules & statistics

Monster Profile

Perception

9

Senses

  • Name
    blood scent
  • Type
    imprecise
    Name
    scent
    Range
    60

Skills

Athletics
8
Stealth
Std
5
To Hide
9

Ability Mods

Str
5
Dex
3
Con
3
Int
-5
Wis
1
Cha
-5

Defenses

Ac
18
Saving Throws
Fort
7
Ref
11
Will
5
Hp
  • Hp
    30

Speed

Walk
10
Fly
40

Attacks

  • Range
    Melee
    Name
    proboscis
    Attack
    11
    Effects
    • sleeping sickness
    Damage
    1d6+5 piercing plus sleeping sickness
    Types
    • piercing

Abilities

Top
  • Entries
    • The giant tsetse fly can detect blood within 30 feet. This is a precise sense against creatures within 30 feet that are bleeding.
    Name
    Blood Scent
Bot
  • Activity
    Number
    1
    Unit
    action
    Entries
    • If the fly's last action was a successful proboscis Strike, it sucks its target's blood. The target takes 1d4 bleed damage (or 1d6 bleed damage if the target is an animal).
    Name
    Blood Draw
  • Type
    affliction
    Name
    Sleeping Sickness
    Traits
    • disease
    DC
    18
    Saving Throw
    Fortitude
    Stages
    • Stage
      1
      Entry
      enfeebled|CRB|enfeebled 1
      Duration
      1 day
    • Stage
      2
      Entry
      enfeebled|CRB|enfeebled 1 and drained|CRB|drained 1
      Duration
      1 day
    • Stage
      3
      Entry
      unconscious
      Duration
      1 day
    • Stage
      4
      Entry
      as
      Duration
      N/A
    • Stage
      3
      Entry
      N/A
      Duration
      1 day

Background

Lore

Fly, Giant Tsetse

TERRIBLE UNDERESTIMATION

A group of evil druids near Reimaineid captured and bred large tsetse flies to distill and empower the disease they spread. The underestimated the flies' ingenuity; the insects escaped and fed on several animals the druids had ritually prepared for sacrifice. The flies grew to their enormous size, killed the druids, and scattered into the surrounding fens.

This blood-sucking fly, the size of a horse, is widely despised as a harbinger,of disease. Giant tsetse flies rarely congregate in large numbers, as they require gallons of blood each day to survive and thus crowd out or drive away rivals. Any group of creatures large enough to sustain multiple tsetse flies, such as a herd of dinosaurs, are quite likely to dominate the surrounding ecosystem on their own right.

A single giant tsetse fly can kill an entire herd of large animals within a few weeks, and those they don't kill often succumb to disease. When not hunting, giant tsetse flies prefer to hide in warm, dark places in forests and swamps, though they sometimes inhabit wet cave systems where prey is plentiful. The thrumming drone of their wings echoes around such cave systems, warning travelers familiar with the noise that the creatures are lairing nearby.

If food becomes scarce, a giant tsetse fly relocates elsewhere. They tend to follow rivers, animal tracks, or even roads to find food. This can take them to the fringes of civilization, where farms and ranches often have livestock that draws their attention. Settlers who find evidence of a giant tsetse fly should quickly seek out help to eliminate the pests, as all their animals (and, indeed, their families) are in jeopardy as long as the hungry insect is near.

Giant tsetse flies are only moderately smarter than ordinary flies, but some creatures have learned that they can train the creatures with frequent offerings of fresh blood. Giant tsetse flies might therefore be put to use as guardians or even mounts, but any potential trainer must take care not to become the voracious insect's next meal.