Borbarad Mosquito

“Whoever seeks to recreate the work of the Mage Mogul Asarbad, my predecessor in thought, must employ untiring, boundless research. The Great Swarm was not created in one day. It was the result of much study unfettered by that quality which the small-minded call “morals.”
From the beginning I intended to give the swarm one body. Early experiments with Angroshim twins resulted in a merging of bodies and souls, which led to madness (as expected). Subjects disposed of. I will continue my experiments with the least of creatures: the common Selem swamp fly. The body shall be made from thousands of flies, and only flies. I will experiment with other insect shapes in the future. In addition, I want to cast a cantus on the swarm body. It will make it more difficult, but it will make my enemies into friends, if applied skillfully. Instabilities and disintegration of the body into component parts will be ignored for now. These issues will be addressed in later experiments.”
— Borbarad, manuscript, found in a copy of Borbarad’s Testament, Gor Desert, around 580 FB

Borbarad mosquitoes are tiny insects that differ little from common mosquitoes in appearance, but they are magical creatures of chimerical origins and said to have been created, as their name implies, by the Demon Master, Borbarad. While sucking blood, these pests inject a poison that steals memories from their victims. The effect is similar to a Borbaradian spell but more potent, and victims suffer amnesia and memory loss. A swarm of these insects usually leaves behind a crowd of confused and disoriented adults who cannot even remember simple facts. Victims have been found in swamps, crawling on the ground and sucking their thumbs, while others have forgotten only (only!) a few years of their lives. Others forgot how to use swords, and some could no longer recognize friends and loved ones.

Luckily, many insect-repelling potions derived from plants such as sansaro can protect against Borbarad mosquitoes. The most effective way to get rid of Borbarad mosquitoes is the use of magic (or liturgical chants). Once this mosquito starts sucking your blood, the only way to kill it without hurting yourself is to use magic or divine intervention.

Distribution

These pests can be found in Aventuria in swamps, border regions of marshes, sewer openings, the foul water of harbors, and dirty, standing water. In fact, with the exception of the eternal ice of the north, the highest mountains, and the deserts, you might meet these creatures anywhere. They originate from the swarm chimera created by Tharsonius of Bethana (better known as Borbarad the Demon Master) about 400 years ago, in the Gor Desert. The destruction of the swarm broke it up into single insects that spread everywhere from Gor. They are most common in what is today called Tobrien, Arania, and Maraskan, regions that Borbarad conquered after his return several years ago. But one can also find these leeches of memories and blood in the swamps of Thalusia, the Lizard Swamps, Bornland, and even in the marshes of the north. These mosquitoes were also bred by black magicians in the past and used in horrible traps.

It is not known if the mosquitoes have spread to foreign shores, such as the swampy coasts of Uthuria.

Natural History

Borbarad mosquitoes differ little from other mosquitoes in how they live. They move in small groups or, mostly in twilight, in swarms. They are more aggressive than typical mosquitoes and their swarms are larger, both possibly due to their heritage as part of a swarm body. They lay eggs in standing water (swampy pools are sufficient), find their victims by scent, and sting them with their probosces to feed. Herein lays their characteristic difference: they feed not just on blood but also on memories.

Borbarad mosquitoes live longer than other mosquitoes, and some specimens have survived in captivity for decades. Experiments show that they survive much longer if they are kept near magical concentrations such as ley lines. Another peculiarity is the prey they choose. Normal mosquitoes feed on the blood of any animals they encounter, but the Borbaradian variant somehow chooses only intelligent creatures. The most likely reason is that animals have fewer, if any, memories, and so offer little sustenance for Borbarad mosquitoes.

Borbarad mosquitoes are often kept in chests and boxes which serve as traps for adventurers. Heroes examining these “mosquito traps” can hear low buzzing if they succeed in a Perception (Search) check. Such traps usually contain 1d20 Borbarad mosquitoes.