"In the Westwoods, they have a tale of a kind of being called a moth gatherer. These creatures, slender and sly, lurk in the boughs and breaks of those lands, emerging in the twilight. Their several eyes are glazed and dull, but within their tall mouths at the back of their throats is a small organ that glows softly but steadily. Moths are drawn to its light. The moth gatherer plucks its prey from the air with quick, slender fingers. Most, it eats; but, the choicest moths are carefully captured and handled by the gatherer, who fixes them to fanning armatures or spines that spread from its back. The moths are held in place by a sticky-sweet substance that serves as both fixative and nourishment, secreted by the gatherer. "
"From the silk spun my the larvae of their moths, the gatherers weave gossamer tents and cocoons in which to shelter, strange large sheets and webs in the largest trees. They think little of us ground-bound earthscratchers, remaining cloaked in the canopies and leaving us to our inscrutable devices; but, against those who threaten these tallest trees which support their homes, they strike with silence and silken garrotes."
"When enough moths have been gathered and bred and succored, when the spreading spines are rampant with soft, scaly wings, it is said that the gatherer can take to the air, its light frame lifted by its captives-become-comrades. Some say the moth gatherers then fly to the moon, there to mate and bear young that drift down in the dew. Some say they fly across the sea, spawning progeny that wash back up upon our sighing shores to gather moths once more. It is of no consequence; the moth gatherer's destiny is bound up with this transformation, and it becomes a new creature from a multitude of lesser creatures."
"Let, then, your way in the world be as the moth gatherer: in places of daylight and openness, keep your presence quiet and your light hidden; but when the world is darkened and those who move within it become lost, show them a glimpse of the luminence that shines within you, and they will draw near, seeing only your light. From you they will find sustenance, and from then you will draw your might."
- From The Fivefold Discipline of Aldonis of Evandra, "The Weaver of Five Strands"
Here are some stats for moth gatherers! (5th Edition D&D - apologies to all you OSR types, haha)
MOTH GATHERER
Medium fey, chaotic neutral
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Armor Class 16
Hit Points 24 (7d6+0)
Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.
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STR 13 (+1)
DEX 18 (+4)
CON 10 (+0)
INT 14 (+2)
WIS 15 (+2)
CHA 11 (+0)
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Skills Acrobatics +6, Animal Handling +4, Perception +4, Stealth +6
Saves Dexterity +6, Intelligence +4
Damage Resistances piercing
Damage Vulnerabilities cold, fire, thunder
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages an uncanny buzzing and clicking
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
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Canopy Climber. The moth gatherer does not need to make checks in order to successfully climb through branches, leaves, or trees, and can do so at its full climbing speed.
Canopy Camouflage. The moth gatherer has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in treetops or foliage.
ACTIONS
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Garrotte. Melee Weapon Attack versus Surprised creatures only: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Roll attack with advantage. Hit effects vary based on whether both dice or only one were rolled high enough to hit:
Hit (one die): 7 (1d6+4) slashing damage, and the target is Grappled until they make a DC11 Str save as an action.
Hit (both dice): 11 (2d6+4) slashing damage, and target is Grappled and Restrained (and unable to speak!) until they make a DC14 Str save as an action.While this condition persists, the moth gatherer may repeat this attack on this target as an action without making a roll to hit.
Multiattack. The moth gatherer makes two claw attacks.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d4+4) slashing damage.
Notes:
Moth gatherers are fairly solitary, and mostly keep to themselves. If they perceive a great threat to their habitat, they may band together against it.
They are very risk-averse, and strike only in darkness with strangling garrotes that kill silently, targeting isolated foes. If confronted and outnumbered, they flee into the trees and hide, fighting with their claws only if cornered beyond hope of escape.
Moth gatherer elders have gathered enough moths to achieve flight, gliding silently through the dark.
Some say the moth gatherers gather not only moths, but also secrets - or perhaps that the moths they gather have gathered secrets of their own. If a cunning person could find means to communicate with these beings, they may have deep knowledge of they ways of the wilds, the heights and the deeps, the Mysteries, and many other things. They may serve as givers - or goals - of a quest.
MOTH GATHERER ELDER
Medium fey, chaotic neutral
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Armor Class 18
Hit Points 28 (8d6+0)
Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft., fly (hover) 25ft.
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STR 13 (+1)
DEX 18 (+4)
CON 10 (+0)
INT 14 (+2)
WIS 15 (+2)
CHA 11 (+0)
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Skills Acrobatics +7, Animal Handling +5, Perception +5, Stealth +7
Saves Dexterity +7, Intelligence +5
Damage Resistances piercing
Damage Vulnerabilities cold, fire, thunder
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages an uncanny buzzing and clicking
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
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Canopy Climber. The moth gatherer does not need to make checks in order to successfully climb through branches, leaves, or trees, and can do so at its full climbing speed.
Canopy Camouflage. The moth gatherer has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in treetops or foliage.
ACTIONS
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Garrotte. Melee Weapon Attack versus Surprised creatures only: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Roll attack with advantage. Hit effects vary based on whether both dice or only one were rolled high enough to hit:
Hit (one die): 7 (1d6+4) slashing damage, and the target is Grappled until they make a DC12 Str save as an action.
Hit (both dice): 11 (2d6+4) slashing damage, and target is Grappled and Restrained (and unable to speak!) until they make a DC15 Str save as an action.While this condition persists, the moth gatherer may repeat this attack on this target as an action without making a roll to hit.
Multiattack. The moth gatherer makes two claw attacks.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d4+4) slashing damage.
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