Frightful Fridays! Deadflesh Infester

Hello, and welcome back to the third-anniversary celebration of Frightful Fridays! Today's monster continues the theme of doing terrible things to characters. This one definitely wears its inspiration on its bloody sleeve.

I hope you enjoy the deadflesh infester, and I'll see you tomorrow with another terrifying monster. Thanks for reading!

He's OK. He just wants a hug.

This blood-red zombie moves much more quickly than others of its kind. It has a wicked grin in anticipation of mayhem.

Deadflesh Infester      CR 10

XP 9,600

CE Medium undead

Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +17

DEFENSE

AC 24, touch 16, flat-footed 18 (+6 Dex, +8 natural)

hp 127 (15d8+60); fast healing 5

Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +10

Defensive Abilities channel resistance +4; DR 10/slashing; Immune cold, fire, undead traits; SR 20
Weaknesses vulnerable to positive energy

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft.

Melee bite +18 (2d8+6 plus deadflesh infestation), 2 claws +18 (2d6+6 plus deadflesh infestation)

Special Attacks create spawn, smite good 1/day (+4 attack and AC, +15 damage)

STATISTICS

Str 23, Dex 22, Con —, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 19

Base Atk +11; CMB +18; CMD 34

Feats Combat Reflexes, Dazzling Display, Deadly Finish^UC, Gory Finish^UC, Lightning Reflexes, Lunge, Weapon Focus (bite, claw)

Skills Bluff +16, Climb +14, Disguise +18, Intimidate +26, Perception +17, Stealth +17; Racial Modifiers +8 Intimidate

Languages Abyssal, Common

ECOLOGY

Environment any land

Organization solitary, pair, or mob (3–16)

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Create Spawn (Su) A creature that dies while suffering from deadflesh infestation rises as a deadflesh infester, as an independent creature, 1 round later.

Deadflesh Infestation (Su) When a deadflesh infester damages an opponent, it leaves some of its flesh in the wound. The target must succeed at a DC 21 Fortitude save to avoid this infestation. If the target fails, it moves at half its base speed and takes a –2 on attack rolls, damage rolls, and skill checks. The infesting flesh starts with hit points equal to the damage dealt. An infested victim must attempt a DC 21 Fortitude save at the beginning of each of its turns. If it fails, it takes damage as if struck by the deadflesh infester’s claw attack, and the infesting flesh gains hit points equal to the damage inflicted. If the infestation’s hit points exceeds its victim’s current hit points, the victim is staggered. The save DCs are Charisma-based. This is a curse effect.

Removing the infestation requires dealing positive energy damage equal to the infesting flesh’s hit points. The infesting flesh uses the deadflesh infester’s SR and Will saves. A successful use of remove curse or more powerful spell also removes the infestation.

Deadflesh infestation is not cumulative. A victim currently suffering from an infestation cannot be affected by this ability again.

Deadflesh infesters are zombies infused with Abyssal energies, giving them intelligence, speed, and an overwhelming desire to create more zombies in the most gruesome way possible. In combat, they break off teeth or fingers and imbed them into their opponents’ flesh. These fragments take on a life of their own and eventually turn the victim’s body against itself. Powerful infesters can detach fragments of their bodies and direct them to force themselves down victims’ throats.

A creature with access to create greater undead and caster level 20 can create a deadflesh infester. Demons with an affinity for the undead also seed skin-bound texts containing a ritual to create a deadflesh infester in deserted locations for the gullible or insane to discover.