Ectoplasmic Swarm

An ectoplasmic swarm is composed of a rare breed of spiders native to the deepest regions of the Astral Plane. The spiders’ only goals are to feed and reproduce. The detritus of these processes produces massive quantities of raw ectoplasm.

An ectoplasmic swarm seeks to surround and attack any living prey it encounters, cocooning its prey and then eating it alive. A swarm deals 2d6 points of damage to any creature whose space it occupies at the end of its move as part of its swarm attack.

A typical ectoplasmic spider that exists within the swarm is approximately 6 inches in diameter and weighs less than ½ pound.

Ectoplasmic Cocoon (Su): Upon dealing its damage, an ectoplasmic swarm attempts to form an ectoplasmic cocoon (as the power), causing the victim to make a DC 16 Reflex saving throw to avoid being wrapped up in ectoplasm. A given swarm can attempt to encapsulate one creature in an ectoplasmic cocoon once per day. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Skills: An ectoplasmic swarm has a +4 racial bonus on Spot checks and a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks. It uses its Dexterity modifier instead of its Strength modifier for Climb checks. An ectoplasmic swarm can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened.

In the deepest regions of the Astral Plane, great spinning ectoplasmic webs stretch across boundless expanses, tethered on nothing but centripetal force. The webs snare unwary prey in gooey ectoplasmic tendrils. They are the natural habitat of the spiders that make up an ectoplasmic swarm.

In the Astral Plane, these spiders work busily to ensure their survival, hoping to snare the occasional astral creature or traveler. The Astral Plane can be an empty place, however⁠—​sometimes months can go by without a catch. During such periods of famine, the spiders enter a state of hibernation where they can exist without need for food or movement. A tug at their spinning web strands wakes them from their hibernating state in 1d4 rounds, however, ravenously hungry and ready to feed (and reproduce).

A typical swarm is made up of thousands of Diminutive creatures, though in certain rare cases, individual spiders have grown to sizes rivaled only by the largest dragons. These are typically found unmoving at the web’s center, tending and extending it.

Summoned ectoplasmic swarms possess no treasure, though it is rumored that the vast ectoplasmic webs in the Astral Plane hold riches from past victims who have been caught.

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (psionics) or Knowledge (the planes) can learn more about ectoplasmic swarms. When a character makes a skill check, the following lore is revealed, including information from lower DCs.