STIRGE – 5e stats

Tiny beast, unaligned

Armor Class 14 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 2 (1d4)
Speed 10 ft., fly 40 ft.

Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +2 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
4 (-3)	16 (+3)	11 (+0)	2 (-4)	8 (-1)	6 (-2)

Skills (suggested) Perception +1
Senses Darkvision 60 Ft., passive Perception 9
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)

Blood Sense (suggested). The stirge has advantage on Perception checks that rely on smell if a creature has not all its hit points.

ACTIONS

• Blood Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage. The stirge attaches to the target While attached, the stirge doesn’t attack. Instead, at the start of each of the stirge’s turns, the target loses 5 (1d4 + 3) hit points due to blood loss. The stirge can detach itself by spending 5 feet of its movement. It does so after it drains 10 hit points of blood from the target or the target dies. A creature, including the target, can use its action to detach the stirge.
• Blood Drain (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 2 (1d3) piercing damage. The stirge attaches to the target While attached, the stirge doesn’t attack. Instead, at the start of each of the stirge’s turns, the target loses 2 (1d3) hit points due to blood loss. The stirge can detach itself by spending 5 feet of its movement. It does so after it drains 10 hit points of blood from the target or the target dies. A creature, including the target, can use its action to detach the stirge. In addition, any attack against the attached stirge inflicts half damage to the targe.

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DESCRIPTION

A stirge is a tiny beast that resembles a cross between a large bat and an oversized mosquito. It has a furry body, a pair of bat-like wings, four legs with sharp pincers, and a long, needle-like proboscis that it uses to feed on the blood of living creatures. Its eyes are yellowish and can see in the dark and low-light conditions, as well as heat sources within 200 feet of it. Its body is covered with feathers that range from rusty red to reddish brown. A stirge can emit a macabre humming sound when it is feeding, which some call its “singing”.

COMBAT

A stirge is attracted by the scent of blood and will attack any living creature that comes within its range. It flies swiftly and silently, aiming for the neck or other exposed areas of flesh. It makes a melee weapon attack with its proboscis, and if it hits, it attaches itself to the target and begins to drain its blood. While attached, the stirge does not attack, but instead causes the target to lose hit points due to blood loss at the start of each of the stirge’s turns. The stirge can detach itself by spending 5 feet of its movement, which it does after it drains 10 hit points of blood from the target or the target dies. A creature, including the target, can use its action to detach the stirge.

A stirge is not very durable and can be easily killed by a single blow. However, it often travels in swarms, which can overwhelm and drain even the strongest foes. A stirge is cannibalistic and will feed on its dead kin if no other prey is available.

HABITAT / SOCIETY

A stirge prefers warm climates and habitats such as forests, marshes, and underground caves. It nests in dark and secluded places, such as hollow trees, abandoned buildings, or crevices in rocks. A stirge swarm consists of dozens or hundreds of individuals that share a common nest and hunting area. A stirge swarm is led by a dominant female that mates with several males and lays eggs in batches of six to twelve. The eggs hatch after two weeks, and the newborn stirges are carried on their mother’s back until they are able to fly on their own after four months.

A stirge has no language or culture of its own, but it can communicate with simple sounds and gestures with other members of its swarm. A stirge swarm is territorial and will defend its nest and hunting area from intruders, especially other swarms. A stirge swarm will also follow the scent of blood to nearby battles or slaughterhouses, where it can find easy prey.

A stirge colony’s territory extends for only a mile in diameter, so stirges move around a lot after they’ve drained a region of the available blood. Often, the presence of stirges is only discovered long after the colony has departed, making it very difficult to track them.

ECOLOGY

A stirge is an obligate hematophage, meaning that it feeds exclusively on blood. It can feed on any warm-blooded creature, but it prefers mammals and birds over reptiles and amphibians. A stirge can consume up to half its body weight in blood per day, which it stores in a special organ called a crop. A stirge can survive for up to a week without feeding, but it becomes sluggish and weak if it does not feed regularly.

A stirge has few natural predators, as most animals avoid its sharp proboscis and swarming behavior. However, some creatures, such as bats, owls, hawks, spiders, snakes, and lizards, will prey on stirges if they catch them off guard or isolate them from their swarm. A stirge is also vulnerable to diseases and parasites that can be transmitted through blood, such as malaria, rabies, or leeches.

A stirge has a negative impact on the ecosystem, as it reduces the population and health of its prey species. A stirge swarm can cause significant damage to livestock and crops, as well as spread diseases among humans and animals. A stirge swarm is considered a pest and a menace by most civilized races, who often hunt them down or drive them away with fire or magic.

Some evil dragons have formed symbiotic relationships with huge nests of stirges that live near their lairs. The dragons provide protection and food for the stirges, while the stirges act as scouts and guards for the dragons.

Characters who protect their entire bodies with special leather or better armor (this special armor costs two to three times more than normal armor) can safely approach a stirge. Even the slightest gap in the protection is seen and smelled by the creature, and a successful attack roll means the creature has broken through the weakness and locked on.

After a stirge has gorged itself by draining blood, it sleeps for one day, plus one day for every 2 points of blood it drank (the maximum sleep period is after drinking 12 points of blood — seven days). During this period of rest, silent attackers can impose surprise on the stirges, as the beasts wake slowly and remain drowsy for a few moments. They are most vulnerable at this time.