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The Burrowing Swarm

Environments Designed by Júlia Alberto

At a glance

Tier
2
Type
Event
Difficulty
15
Impulses
Overwhelm intruders, defend the brood, spill into the surface

Environment overview

A swarm of silkwing creatures erupts from unstable mining tunnels, bursting through the ground as their habitat collapses beneath industrial greed.

Potential adversaries

Silkwing Broodmother Silkwing Cluster Silkwing Strider Silkwing Devourer

Features

Passives

passive
—

Actions

action
—

Reactions

reaction
  • Escalating Infestation

    When the scene begins, start a Consequence Countdown (Loop 20) representing the swarm’s growing pressure beneath the surface.

    Each time the PCs roll with Fear, tick down the countdown by 1. As the countdown lowers, the swarm escalates.

    - At 18, 14, 10, 6, and 2: The ground ruptures as more creatures emerge. Roll 1d4 and spawn that many Silkwing adversaries within Close range of the battlefield.
    - At 16, 12, 8, and 4: Workers are overwhelmed as the swarm spreads. All Silkwings gain +1 to their damage rolls (cumulative).
    - At 0: The infestation reaches a critical mass. A Silkwing Devourer emerges from beneath the ground. Reset the Consequence Countdown to 20.

    Questions
    • They were always down there. The digging just gave them a way out. How many more are waiting beneath the surface?
  • Rally the Workers

    Not all are lost. Some can still be led to safety. A PC may attempt to rally nearby workers, directing them to safety through collapsing tunnels and unstable ground. The PC may make a Presence Roll. On a success, reduce the swarm's damage bonus by 1 (to a mininum of 0).

    Questions
    • Who can still be saved, and how do you reach them before panic or the swarm does?

About this environment

For this combat, I tried something different and tried to explore more Countdowns. I used some creatures from the Incredible Creatures by Alan Tucker and my players had a lot of fun with it.

The Burrowing Swarm

Tier 2 Event

A swarm of silkwing creatures erupts from unstable mining tunnels, bursting through the ground as their habitat collapses beneath industrial greed.

Impulses: Overwhelm intruders, defend the brood, spill into the surface

Difficulty: 15

Potential Adversaries: Silkwing Broodmother, Silkwing Cluster, Silkwing Strider, Silkwing Devourer

Features

Escalating Infestation - Reaction: When the scene begins, start a Consequence Countdown (Loop 20) representing the swarm’s growing pressure beneath the surface. Each time the PCs roll with Fear, tick down the countdown by 1. As the countdown lowers, the swarm escalates. - At 18, 14, 10, 6, and 2: The ground ruptures as more creatures emerge. Roll 1d4 and spawn that many Silkwing adversaries within Close range of the battlefield. - At 16, 12, 8, and 4: Workers are overwhelmed as the swarm spreads. All Silkwings gain +1 to their damage rolls (cumulative). - At 0: The infestation reaches a critical mass. A Silkwing Devourer emerges from beneath the ground. Reset the Consequence Countdown to 20.
  1. They were always down there. The digging just gave them a way out. How many more are waiting beneath the surface?
Rally the Workers - Reaction: Not all are lost. Some can still be led to safety. A PC may attempt to rally nearby workers, directing them to safety through collapsing tunnels and unstable ground. The PC may make a Presence Roll. On a success, reduce the swarm's damage bonus by 1 (to a mininum of 0).
  1. Who can still be saved, and how do you reach them before panic or the swarm does?

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