Monster Monday: Frost Gull Swarm

RPG monsters

I want to be a little sneaky with this monster.

I want to create a creature that, on its own, represents no more than an annoyance. But gathered together, they can significantly drain party resources.

Normal gulls gather in port cities and coastal villages, scavenging leftovers and seeking out a wide range of prey, from seeds to small rodents.

Flight of the gull

However, generations ago, a flock pecking away at a pile of detritus belonging to a dead wizard uncovered a malfunctioning ring of frost. It gave the flock a constant cold aura, which served them well when they attacked other creatures. For a predator with no grasping claws or opposable thumbs, immobilizing prey with cold proves very useful.

This effect is swift on mice, but its effectiveness drops as a creature's size increases. If a single frost gull approaches a medium-sized humanoid, the latter will simply feel a slight chill.

But when a flock of frost gulls swarms--as they often do when adventurers dig around in refuse for clues--they can represent a significant danger, especially when combined with other enemies.

We'll give them a bite and a cold aura, and that should do it. We'll stick with a Challenge Rating of 2, so they're no joke for level 1 parties and a minor threat up through level 5 or so. They're good city threats for PCs investigating a mystery near the docks of a port city or nearly anywhere in a coastal village.

Stat block

Homebrewery stat block:

Frost Gull Swarm

Huge swarm, chaotic neutral

  • Armor Class 13 (natural)
  • Hit Points 90 (10d12 + 30)
  • Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft.
    STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
    12 (+1) 14 (+2) 8 (-1) 7 (-2) 6 (-2) 9 (-1)
  • Proficiency Bonus +2
  • Damage Resistances cold
  • Senses passive Perception 8
  • Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Cold Aura. Any creature starting its turn within 5 feet of the frost gull swarm must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 3 (1d6) cold damage.

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 0 ft., two creatures in the swarm's space. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) piercing damage.

View the photo for this monster here.

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