Illustration Xan Drake

Vanity Swarm

horatio.fairburn
Challenge 1/2
(100 XP)
Robinloft Estimated CR 1/2
Small swarm of Tiny constructs, unaligned
Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 17 (5d6)
Speed 0 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover)
STR
2 (-4)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
11 (+0)
INT
1 (-5)
WIS
3 (-4)
CHA
10 (+0)
Saving Throws
Skills
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, stunned
Senses blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception 6
Languages
Environments urban
Antimagic Susceptibility.

The swarm is incapacitated while in the area of an antimagic field. If targeted by dispel magic, the swarm must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against the caster’s spell save DC or fall unconscious for 1 minute.

False Appearance.

While the swarm remains motionless and isn’t flying, it is indistinguishable from a set of brushes, cosmetics, and other vanity objects.

Swarm.

The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny creature. The swarm can’t regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.

Actions

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 0 ft., one target in the swarm’s space. Hit: 6 (4d4 - 4) bludgeoning damage, or 1 (2d4 - 4) bludgeoning damage if the swarm has half of its hit points or fewer.
Daily Routine.

As an action, the swarm attempts to beautify a creature in its space. The target is Restrained for one turn, during which they get their hair brushed, makeup and powder applied, nails trimmed, clothes straightened, and other tasks as appropriate, finishing with a hand-mirror floating in the target’s space. A willing target is beautified nicely, or can gain a disguise, as per the use of a disguise kit. An unwilling target can make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, avoiding the swarm and negating the Restrained effect on a success. It is up to the affected creature whether or not they like the results.

Variants

Animated Barber’s Kit.

This variation includes scizzors, a razor, a few spray bottles, a dustpan, and more. It can produce some much more drastic changes to a person’s appearance, especially if it has access to wigs and other fake hair. Its statistics are the same as a normal Vanity Swarm, but its attacks can deal slashing damage instead of bludgeoning if it so chooses.

Additionally, an unwilling creature which fails a save versus the swarm’s Daily Routine ability takes 2 slashing damage, as their attempt to escape results in cuts and slashes from the sharp tools at work.

Animated Objects

Through the use of powerful magic, otherwise mundane objects, such as a broomstick, kettle, rug, or even a weapon or suit of armor, can be turned into a kind of primitive creature. An animated object is able to move, perceive, and even attack.

Vanity Swarm

The objects sitting atop the vanity spring to life, swirling around you, poking and prodding as you are dusted, brushed, shoe-shined, and made-up with deft skill. After but a moment, a mirror floats in front of your face, while a handless glove gestures as if to ask for your opinion.

Many nobles have an enchanted set of vanity items such as this, though it may be expensive. It consists of brushes, combs, powder puffs, cuticle trimmers, tweezers, a hand-mirror, a shoe shiner, and any other desired cosmetic tools. Since consumables like lipstick and other pieces would need to be re-enchanted when replaced, some sets instead include a single glove, which interacts with these unenchanted additions . This allows the application of jewelry and fake eyelashes and nails, in addition to the removal of loose threads, the straightening of clothes, tying of ties, and more.

Some Vanity Swarms begin to pick up on a repeated users tastes, or even begin to develop a style and other quirks. Indeed, a family may pass down a set from one generation to the next. Watching someone who has newly inherited a set can be quite interesting, as the glove displays gestures which indicate it is analyzing a new canvas before setting forth to create a work of art, sometimes taking as much as an hour attempting new looks while a nearly helpless noble watches their features adjust before their very eyes.

Duplication and Templates

Vanity Swarm (horatio.fairburn) has been modified from other monsters.

Want to make a new design starting from 'Vanity Swarm'? Want to apply a template?