[Primordial] Monster - Primordial Corruption of Air

(Full Rare+ Version)

The primordial corruption of air typically manifests as a gargantuan swarm of tiny elementals, each crackling with the force of wind and lightning. The swarm behaves as a loose swirling cyclone, though in rare instances it briefly condenses into the terrifying shape of a flying creature, which may be a moth, dragonfly, wasp, hawk, bat, or other Tiny flying beast. When it sweeps across the world’s surface, it leaves behind burned bodies, shattered windows, toppled structures, and debris flung miles from their original places.

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DESIGN COMMENTARY

This monster is the first of four primordial corruptions — colossal elemental creatures born from the pure heart of air, earth, fire, and water. Unlike regular elementals, these monsters are elemental corruptions, a design concept from the upcoming book that caused by elemental incursions, which convert most types monsters into elementals (and thereby generating a greater number of elemental minions). So this primordial corruption is originally a beast (a moth in this case) infused with pure air energy, resulting in something in-between both.

Designing the primordial corruptions took a heck of a long time, from balancing their stats against other similar CR creatures to ensuring they had features that made them more unique than the elder elementals already in the 5e canon. To start, all primordial corruptions have some sort of Path of Destruction feature designed to wreak havoc on the surrounding landscape and make fighting them unpleasant by proximity. Thematically, I decided to go with the swarm concept and amp it up to 11 with its essentially AoE multiattack, plus a recharge feature that combos well with Path of Destruction. I also cut a number of traits to ease the lifting by the GM.

The art series for these primordial corruptions also took a while to do, as I am not practiced or accustomed to producing this many full pieces in such a short time. The final pieces have a more speed paint style.