Insect Plague (spell)
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Insect Plague is a spell that summons a vast swarm of insects — hopping, crawling and flying — which coalesce into a thick cloud that obscures vision and inflicts harm on those within its area of effect. As the swarm fills the designated space, it causes 1 hit point (h.p.) of damage to all creatures within the affected area, per round. The spell is a powerful tool for creating chaos, disabling vision and terrorising enemies.
| Range | 360 ft. |
| Duration | 10 rounds per level |
| Area of Effect | 360 ft. circle, 60 ft. high |
| Casting Time | 3 rounds |
| Saving Throw | none; see text |
| Level | cleric (5th); druid (5th) |
Contents
The caster may designate the centre of the cloud, which must be within the spell's range. This allows the caster to create the insect plague as far as 540 ft. away from their position, providing considerable range to disrupt enemies. However, once the swarm is conjured, its radius remains fixed at 36 combat hexes, and the swarm itself cannot be moved. Visibility within the swarm is severely restricted, with creatures able to see only 4 hexes (20 ft.) ahead. Additionally, Spellcasting within the cloud is impossible due to the difficulty of concentrating amidst the biting insects.
Creatures with fewer than 12 h.p. are especially susceptible to the terror of the swarm. Upon taking the first bite, they must immediately flee the area, attempting to escape the insects' constant assault. For all other creatures, a morale check is required to resist the urge to flee. Very few creatures will opt to ignore the swarm, although large creatures or those that can only be hit by magic may continue to fight through the insects without being significantly affected.
Spells vs. the Swarm
Certain spells that target natural insects can be effective against the swarm. Heavy smoke forces the insects to clear a 5 ft. radius around the source, creating a brief safe zone. A bonfire has a similar effect, though a single torch will not provide any respite. Spells like wall of fire create a barrier that the insects will not cross, offering protection from the swarm. Spells that deal area damage, such as fireball, will also clear the insects within the blast radius; however, the empty space left behind will quickly fill with new insects, at a rate of 10 ft. per round.
If used in conjunction with other insect-related spells, such as summon insects or creeping doom, these spells operate independently, but the combined effects may overwhelm enemies more effectively. dispel magic can dissipate the swarm, provided the caster is positions where the centre of the swarm can be affected.
Spells such as invisibility, protection from malevolence and shield provide no direct benefit, as the insects have no intelligence and don't need to hit their target to inflict damage. The swarm will land on any solid surface. Spells like armour and phantom armour can help reduce or block the damage caused by the insects. withdraw offers temporary respite, allowing the caster to fend off the insects somewhat, with half the duration of the spell spent being plagued by them. The spell sanctuary provides complete immunity, rendering the caster entirely safe from the swarm's effects.
