A little backstory on this entry.
I saw this rather disturbing video on YouTube video recently about a guy who caught a flesh eating virus from coming in contact with a plant. Sorry, not linking this one. That, by itself, sounds like a call to the SCP Foundation to me, but alas local law enforcement tracked the plant down and safely disposed of it. However, it did inspire today’s Shadowdark RPG creature entry.
This strange plant comes with multiple warning signs and a deadly disease. The weed itself looks like a large poppy at a distance, but on closer inspection reveals a human-esque maw with actual teeth dripping with yellow bile. These plants are unusually surrounded by other wilted plants, bone fragments, and a pervasive bright yellow mold covering everything around it.
AC 10, HP 33, ATK 1 Bite +4 (1d6) + Yellow Ghoul Infection MV NONE, S +0, D +2, I +0, W -2, Ch -4, AL N LV 3
Takes double damage from Fire. Can be turned as if it were undead. Uprooting the base plant STR DC 12 kills it instantly.
Yellow Ghoul Infection: Coming into contact with Ghoul Weed or any of the creatures infected by it can potentially spread the noxious disease. CON DC 12 or become infected Stage 1. The disease is only spread by contact with bare flesh.
Stage 1: Strange Yellow holes begin to appear on the infected creatures skin starting in the area first touched causing a loss of 1 hit point per hour and -1 CHA point per day. At this stage the disease can be “cured” by amputation, fire, acid, or magic healing such as Restoration, Regenerate, or Heal. When the infected reaches 0 hp or 0 CHA, they move to Stage 2.
Stage 2: Please note that PCs automatically become GM characters at this stage unless healed by the spells named in Stage 1 or restored by a Wish.
Infected Ghoul
AC 11, HP 11, ATK 1 claw +2 (1d6 + Yellow Ghoul Infection) and 1 Bite +0 1d8 + (Yellow Ghoul Infection,) MV near, S +2, D +1, C +2, I -3, W -1, Ch -4, AL N, LV 2
Undead. Immune to morale checks.
Note: any contact with the blood or bodily fluids of this creature could cause the infection to spread. CON DC 12 or enter into Stage 1. (Former PCs retain Physical stat bonuses.)
In Stage 2 the creature is driven by inexplicable visceral hunger for flesh. It will blindly attack any creature within line of sight that isn’t already infected. Somehow creatures at this stage can instantly recognize one another and the plant
Creatures at this stage are unable to communicate intelligently beyond groans, guttural grunts, and growls. They are not capable of reason, nor any discernment for their own safety. They just mindlessly strive to eat until Stage 3.
Stage 3: As soon as the Infected Ghoul goes approximately one week without feeding on new flesh, it will begin a slow shambling trek towards its original host plant. The ghoul has an innate knowledge of where the plant is located, even if the plant itself was destroyed.
At Stage 3, the ghoul may only attack once with either bite or claw and gains the Relentless feature as per Zombie in the Shadowdark rulebook. “Relentless. If Infected Ghoul reduced to 0 HP by a non-magical source, DC 15 CON to go to 1 HP instead.”
The Infected creature will continue its pilgrimage while losing 1 HP per day until it drops. The Relentless rule applies to this, however, leaving some ghouls to shamble back to their host plant’s site against powerful odds. The ghoul drops automatically once it is close to the host plant. (Or wherever it was rooted.)
When an Infected Ghoul finally drops to 0 HP, there is a 13% chance a new Ghoul Weed will grow from the remains of the Infected Ghoul unless they are destroyed by fire, acid, or magic.
Jeff's Game Box 