Planar Bestiary
Glimmer moths are usually encountered while carrying a rider, but a humanoid can also wear a moth like a strange insectile "backpack" when their wings are not deployed.
These enormous moth-like creatures seem too graceful and beautiful to be insects, and certainly too large. Their gleaming emerald and ruby wings have an internal light that glimmers even in complete darkness. In the sun, they sparkle with layers of color and light that delight the eye.
Glimmer moths are bred in the Feywild to be used as flying steeds by fey nobility. A rider is hugged tightly to the creature's abdomen by the glimmer moth's soft but firm legs, even as the wings blur into motion and carry them aloft. It might be more accurate to call a rider a passenger; however, a rider can direct the moth's path through the air by shifting their weight just so, or by verbally instructing the moth where they wish to go. Because of the manner in which they are held, riders have free use of their arms and an unobstructed view of what lies in front of and below them.
Some Feywild nobles use glimmer moths as their primary means of transport, others as a fashion accessory. Sometimes friendly games between nobles develop, where each rider tries to transfer a glowing puck between them into a scoring area. Other times, glimmer moths are used as flying steeds of war.
Motive: Serve as a mount
Environment: The Feywild, anywhere fey nobles (or those who received a glimmer moth as a gift) roam, as a lone mount or part of a larger group
Health: 9
Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (4 points)
Movement: Immediate; immediate when climbing; short when flying
Modifications: Perception as level 5
Combat: A glimmer moth can slice a foe with their incredibly sharp wings, if commanded by their rider; however, usually they make no attacks on their own but instead either serve as an asset for their rider's melee attacks, or as an asset for defending the rider against melee or ranged attacks.
Every few rounds, a glimmer moth can sting a target, dealing damage and poisoning the target on a failed Might defense task. All tasks the poisoned victim attempts are hindered for about a minute.
As a mount, a glimmer moth can hold up to a human-sized creature as a rider, despite being not that much bigger themself. If a rider wishes, the rider can absorb any attack directed at their glimmer moth, taking the damage the moth otherwise would have.
Interaction: Glimmer moths are almost always encountered as flying steeds, so encountering one means encountering their rider. The moths can understand the language of faeries (Sylvan) but can't speak.
Use: Certain Feywild nobles are known for giving lavish gifts, such as a glimmer moth. Sometimes glimmer moths pass between various fey owners. Nobles might also give a moth steed to visitors from other planes of existence, especially if they provided a service.
GM Intrusion: Light glinting from the moth's emerald and ruby wings dazzles a character, blinding them on their next turn on a failed Intellect defense task.