Fantasy Monster: Scintillating Bubbles

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Scintillating Bubbles

A thick veil of semitransparent, sparkling, pastel-hued bubbles  floats through the air.

CR 8; XP 4,800
N Tiny Ooze (aquatic, swarm)

Init +8; Senses blindsense 60 ft. (600 feet in water or similar liquids); Perception +0

Defense
AC 21, touch 21, flat-footed 12 (+9 Dex, +2 size)
hp 99 (22d8)
Fort +7; Ref +16; Will +7

Defensive Abilities half damage from bludgeoning weapons, swarm traits; Resist acid 20, electricity 20

Weakness vulnerable to area effects

Offense
Speed fly 20 ft. (perfect), swim 30 ft.

Melee swarm (5d6 acid and 5d6 electricity)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Special Attacks distraction (DC 21), erode

Statistics
Str 1, Dex 28, Con 10, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 1
Base Atk +6; CMB —; CMD —

Skills Fly +21; Perception +0, Swim +3

SQ amphibious

Ecology
Environment aquatic, coastal
Organization solitary, pair, or shoal (3–6)
Treasure incidental

Special Abilities

Erode (Ex) Creatures that fail their saving throw against distraction special attack have their resistances to acid and electricity reduced by 10 until the beginning of their following turn.

Scintillating bubbles are spheres of some sort of primal ooze that comes out of depths of the oceans, threatening passing ships and occasionally even coastal areas. Their hollow interior contains gas that provide them with buoyancy, both in water and in the air, and they seem to be propelled by subtle changes to their electric and magnetic fields.

Sages are divided in their opinion what makes them leave their native depths—are they swarming because nutrients deep down are insufficient, or maybe they are swarming because there is too many nutrients and their number grew too much? Is something deliberately sending them against the surface?

It is also unknown what exactly attracts them—the swarms of scintillating bubbles certainly seem capable of responding to movement, but at other times they remain passive and calm, just hanging around, until some unknown factor trigger their aggression. That might be a simple hunger or maybe some sort of chemical cues, though it was never proven either way.