Rot-Swarm

Insecta corruptus collectivus / “The Buzzing” / “Flesh Storm”

“Heard it before I saw it. Like a thousand angry wasps. Then the cloud hit us. Jenkins was covered in seconds. By the time we pulled him out, there was nothing left but bone.”
—Guard survivor’s report

Quick Reference

Rot-Swarm - The Buzzing Death

Description

Rot-swarms are among the most terrifying manifestations of corruption—hundreds of insects transformed by the Rot into a single, coordinated entity. They move as one massive cloud, engulfing prey and stripping flesh in seconds. The buzzing sound they make is distinctive and terrifying: once you hear it, you have seconds to flee before the swarm arrives.

What makes rot-swarms particularly horrifying is their collective intelligence. Individual insects are mindless, but together they display coordinated hunting behavior that suggests either hive-mind intelligence or direct control by the Voice Beneath. They set ambushes, pursue fleeing prey, and adapt tactics based on resistance encountered.

The swarm consists of various corrupted insects—wasps, beetles, flies, and things that were once insects but are now something else. All share the same black coloration, corruption glow, and insatiable hunger. They don’t just kill—they devour everything, leaving only bones behind.

Physical Characteristics

Swarm Composition

Individual Insects: - Size: 1-5cm each - Black bodies (corruption-stained) - Glowing green spots (corruption) - Tattered wings (still functional) - Sharp mandibles (cutting) - Hundreds to thousands per swarm

Collective Form: - Cloud shape (shifts constantly) - 3-5 meters diameter (variable) - Vaguely humanoid (when hunting) - Tendrils (reaching extensions) - Dense enough to obscure vision

Corruption Signature: - Black mist (exhaled) - Green glow (pulsing) - Spreads corruption (proximity) - Leaves corruption trail

Behavior and Hunting

Collective Intelligence

Coordination: - Acts as single entity - Synchronized movement - Tactical decisions - Learning behavior

Communication: - Buzzing (varies by intent) - Pheromones (possibly) - Corruption link (hive mind?) - Unknown mechanism

Hunting Tactics

The Approach: - Buzzing announces presence - Cloud forms hunting shape - Moves with purpose - Inevitable advance

Engulfment: - Surrounds prey - Covers completely - Strips flesh rapidly - Leaves only bones

Pursuit: - Relentless - Never tires - Tracks by scent - Cannot be outrun easily

Prey Selection

Targets: - Any living creature - Prefers warm-blooded - Size doesn’t matter (swarm adapts) - Will attack groups

Avoids: - Fire (instinctive fear) - Extreme cold - Sealed structures - Nothing else deters them

Combat Abilities

Attacks

Engulfing Swarm: - Surrounds target - Continuous damage - Unavoidable (while engulfed) - Strips flesh rapidly

Buzzing Distraction: - Disorienting sound - Reduces accuracy - Causes panic - Psychological warfare

Corruption Cloud: - Releases corruption mist - Spreads Rot to living - Area effect - Cumulative exposure

Defenses

Swarm Nature: - No vital points - Physical attacks ineffective - Can’t be grappled - Reforms if dispersed

Numbers: - Hundreds of individuals - Losing some doesn’t matter - Overwhelming presence - Impossible to kill all

Speed: - Fast (flying) - Agile (cloud movement) - Pursues relentlessly - Difficult to escape

Weaknesses

Fire: - Burns insects - Disperses swarm - Instinctive fear - Most effective weapon

Area Attacks: - Affects many at once - More effective than single-target - Explosions, flames, etc. - Reduces swarm size

Sealed Spaces: - Can’t enter sealed areas - Gaps too small for swarm - Temporary safety - Not permanent solution

Wind/Weather: - Strong wind disperses - Rain grounds them - Cold slows them - Environmental factors

The Corruption

Swarm Formation

Origin: - Multiple corrupted insects - Merge into collective - Lose individual identity - Become swarm entity

Growth: - Absorbs more insects - Corrupts living insects - Swarm expands - Self-perpetuating

Collective Consciousness: - Hive mind emerges - Intelligence increases with size - Voice Beneath influence? - Disturbing implications

Cultural Impact

In Settlements

Primary Threat: - “The Buzzing” warnings - Evacuate when heard - Seal all openings - Pray they pass by

Defense: - Fire (essential) - Sealed buildings - Early warning systems - Evacuation protocols

In Stories

Horror Tales: - “The cloud that eats” - “Nothing left but bones” - Nightmare fuel - Effective warnings

Warnings: - “If you hear buzzing, run” - “Fire kills swarms” - “Sealed doors save lives” - Practical survival advice

Related Topics

• Murky Chasm - Common habitat
• The Hollow - Largest swarms
• The Rot - Corruption source
• Stage 3 Corruption - Transformation level
• The Voice Beneath - Possible controller

“Rot-swarms are proof that corruption doesn’t just transform individuals—it creates new collective entities. Hundreds of insects, acting as one, with intelligence that emerges from their numbers. They’re unstoppable by conventional means. Fire is your only reliable weapon. If you hear the buzzing and don’t have fire, run. If you can’t run, pray. If prayer doesn’t work, you have seconds left. That’s the reality of rot-swarms.”
—From Bestiary of Horrors