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Itty Bitty Shitty Committee as a TTRPG Monster
Some time ago, I was browsing ArtStation and stumbled across “Children of the deeps” (pictured) by Maxence Burgel. I couldn’t help but envision this gang of miscreants as the ubiquitous itty bitty shitty committee. Speaking for anyone but myself would be folly, but I know what my inner critics look like. They are not unlike these monsters. Even on my best days, these dudes are bouncing at the sidelines just waiting for the opportunity to pounce. They are strongest when they all get to join in with a cacophonous chorus and tell me untrue things. Their strength lies in their persuasion. Intellectually, I know they are liars and wrong, at best. But sometimes they make convincing enough arguments that bringing myself to action just isn’t possible. It’s in these states that the only thing I can do well is despair at how…well they wound me.
The IBSC is an interesting adversary. Mostly due to the fact that someone who is aware of their IBSC can still be victimized by it at any time. We know the IBSC can’t really hurt us. Not if we don’t let it anyway. Yet, sometimes the voices win out. The lucky people get stronger over time and the relapses become milder and milder. But the fight is lifelong. I wish I could give winning tactics against the IBSC, but each one is unique to its victim and each person has to figure out their own tactics. The IBSC is tough and quick. You can’t easily outrun this demon so use your best tactics and ranged attacks to bring down this foe.
You can preview the IBSC’s Dungeons & Dragons 5E stat block below and download the PDF for free.
Itty Bitty Shitty Committee Flavor Text
Occasionally, the border between the Material Plane and the Abyss grows permeable enough that demons easily escape and wreak havoc across the land. Perhaps more than any other demon, the Itty Bitty Shitty Committee (IBSC) is well-known for this behavior. This demon is unique in that it has no ambition to improve its status. Its single, primal motivation is to shatter the psyche of its victims. Appearing as a swarm of tiny demons, the IBSC contains at least 5-8 individuals, each of whom adopts a particular persona to attack with. The demon will cast detect thoughts to learn about the victim’s deepest fears or inner conflicts and use that knowledge to its advantage with its vicious mockery or dissonant whispers attacks (the swarm prefers attacking from outside the victim’s melee reach, if possible).
The more common unique personas within the swarm are Depression, Anxiety, Inferiority, Remorse, Apathy, and Dysthymia, but they could be anything and the swarm itself is always specific to its one intended victim. No swarm will ever look exactly like another.
Since the IBSC is a demon and most often encountered outside of the Abyss from which it hails, it has no fear of death and will rarely negotiate with its foes, preferring to use its cunning and communication skills to intimidate and undermine its victim’s resolve.
The Itty Bitty Shitty Committee as a 5E Monster
Like all demons, the IBSC is immune to the Poisoned condition, but this one is also immune to being Frightened. You’ll also want a magical or silvered weapon against this fiend and woe to the adversary who is vulnerable to Psychic damage. You’ll be lunch! The only upside I can think of to facing one of these demons is that the IBSC generally hunts alone. Additionally, the IBSC prefers stalking and attacking victims who are alone. It’s not unheard of for them to attack a small group, but they are far more effective if they can focus on the lone victim.
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