Octobow Day 7 - Insect

Arthropod Armaments

Scented Stinger 

Weapon (shortbow), rare (requires attunement)

One of the famed Arthropod Armaments, this bow is a traditional weapon of the Al’az people, crafted through their secret preservation and enchantment methods. Each is fashioned from the remains of the Red Queen Moth—a creature known for its vicious defense. When threatened, it releases an acidic pheromone that clings to its attacker, driving nearby insects into a frenzied assault. This defense is especially potent in the dense forests of Al’az, where insectoid monstrosities respond to the same lure, turning on anything marked by the scent. The phenomenon earned the moth its grim title: the Berserker’s Moth.

Through careful ritual and alchemical binding, Al’az artisans preserve this natural trait within the bow’s limbs. When drawn, it releases a faint, musky scent reminiscent of the moth’s pheromone, and its wielder can smear that same essence upon an arrow, calling the fury of the swarm upon their prey.

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Pheromone Arrow. As a bonus action, you can expend 1 Hit Die to coat an arrow with pheromones. The next attack you make with this weapon before the end of your turn deals extra acid damage equal to the roll of that Hit Die. On a hit, the target is marked for 1 minute, drawing a crawling swarm of insects from the surrounding environment, chittering up from cracks, foliage, or unseen nests nearby.

While swarmed:

• The target takes 1d4 piercing damage at the start of each of its turns.

• The target can’t benefit from being invisible or hidden.

• The target has disadvantage on Constitution saving throws to maintain concentration.

The target can use its action to make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, ending the effect on a success. The effect also ends if the target is immersed in water or subjected to strong wind (such as the gust of wind spell).

Frenzied Swarm. When you score a critical hit with a Pheromone Arrow, a Swarm of Insects appears in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the target. The swarm is hostile to all creatures but prioritizes the marked target. It acts immediately after your turn, pursuing and attacking that creature. If the target is unreachable, the swarm attacks the nearest creature. The swarm disperses when the pheromone effect ends.

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