Monster: Nightswarm Nightshade

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Nightshade, Nightswarm

A swarm of shapeless blobs of darkness flitter on minute wings.

CR 10; XP 9,600
CE Diminutive Undead (extraplanar, nightshade, swarm)
Init +10; Senses darksense, darkvision 60 ft., detect magic, low-light vision; Perception +29
Aura desecrating aura (30 ft.)

Defense
AC 20, touch 20, flat-footed 14 (+6 Dex, +4 size)
hp 130 (20d8+40)
Fort +10, Ref +14, Will +14
Defensive Abilities evasion, swarm traits; Immune cold, weapon damage, undead traits; SR 21
Weakness light aversion

Offense
Speed fly 30 ft. (good)
Melee swarm (4d6 plus 4d6 cold)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks channel energy (5d6, DC 21, 5/day), distraction (DC 20)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 10th, concentration +10)
Constant—detect magic, magic fang
3/day—summon (level 4, 4 shadows)

Statistics
Str 1, Dex 22, Con —, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk +15; CMB —; CMD —
Feats Combat Casting, Command Undead, Extra Channel, Greater Fortitude, Hover, Improved Initiative, Shake It Off, Skill Focus (Knowledge [arcana]), Skill Focus (Knowledge [planes]), Skill Focus (Knowledge [religion]), Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Fly +16, Knowledge (arcana) +30, Knowledge (planes) +27, Knowledge (religion) +30, Perception +29, Stealth +41
Languages Abyssal, Common, Infernal; telepathy 100 ft.

Ecology
Environment any (Negative Energy Plane)
Organization solitary, pair, cloud (3–9)
Treasure standard


Nightshades are terrifying undead that arise from powerful fiends corrupted by forces of unlife. Most of them at least. Nightswarms form not of mighty entities, but out of throngs of petty fiends consumed by void, with each swarm animated by a single necrotic mind. Nightswarms are some of the weakest nightshades, though they should not be dismissed lightly, for they are also the ones most likely to come in large numbers, unlike their more powerful siblings.