Swarm, Scarab Beetle (CR 10)

Medium Vermin (Swarm-Fine)
Alignment: Always neutral
Initiative: +2 (Dex); Senses: darkvision (60-foot range)


AC: 18 (+2 Dex, +6 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 16
Hit Dice: 15d8+60 (127 hp)
Fort +13, Ref +7, Will +6
Speed: 30 ft., burrow 30 ft.
Space: 10 ft./0 ft.
Base Attack +11; Grapple -
Attack: Swarm
Full Attack: Swarm
Damage: Swarm 5d6 plus desiccate
Special Attacks/Actions: Desiccate, distraction (DC 21)
Abilities: Str 1, Dex 15, Con 18, Int -, Wis 12, Cha 4
Special Qualities: Superior swarm, swarm traits, vermin traits
Feats: -
Skills: -
Advancement:
Climate/Terrain: Any desert and underground
Organization: Solitary or army (3-8 swarms)
Treasure/Possessions: 50% coins, 50% items (not organic)

Source: Fiend Folio

Scarab beetles are usually passive, and they generally remain dormant or crawl slowly about in search of food. However, they become extremely agitated in the presence of a living creature and devour anything that gets between them and that creature. Watching a huge swarm of scarab beetles run down and devour a victim without stopping is a terrifying sight.

Because they can burrow through sand and dirt as quickly as they can move on the surface, scarab beetles commonly hide in the walls or flooring of tombs and spill out onto unsuspecting victims.

Desiccate (Ex): Scarab beetles can reduce a victim to nothing in mere seconds. Any living opponent damaged by a scarab beetle swarm must make a Fortitude save (DC 21) or take 1d6 points of Constitution damage. A creature reduced to 0 Constitution by the swarm is consumed completely, leaving behind items that are not organic.

Superior Swarm (Ex): Scarab beetle swarms are exceptionally dangerous and deal more swarm damage than their Hit Dice would otherwise indicate.

Distraction (Ex): Any non-mindless creature vulnerable to a swarm's damage that begins its turn with a swarm in its square is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude save )DC 10 + 1/2 swarm's HD + swarm's Con modifier) negates the effect. Spellcasting or concentrating on spells within the area of a swarm requires a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level). Using skills requiring patience and concentration requires a Concentration check )DC 20).

Usually found in the depths of underground crypts, scarab beetles exist in huge numbers.

They consume flesh and organic material with blinding speed, making them ideal guardians of tombs, mausoleums, temples, and treasuries. Unless it is sealed in an airtight sarcophagus, scarab beetles will consume the body that they were meant to protect.

Scarab beetles are beautiful to look at, with shiny black carapaces high-lighted in turquoise, red, and yellow. Scarab beetles have keen, powerful pincers that can slice through flesh and bone with ease.

Scarab beetles dig holes and tunnels near piles of offal and decomposing organic material. Through their consumption of carrion and the like, scarab beetles speed the reintroduction of decaying organic material into the environment.

Fortunately, scarab beetles are not very fond of sunlight or intense heat, and they do not venture out onto the sweeping sands for long. At most, they attack any animal unfortunate to stumble across their lair before retreating back into the cool shadows.