Void Zombie

ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization any

Terrifying predators that dwell in the vast void of space, akatas make their homes on lifeless asteroids, comets, and dying planets, hibernating in cocoons composed of the starmetal noqual for countless centuries. An akata looks similar in shape to a lion, but with hairless, rubbery blue skin and a mane of thick, lashing tentacles. Its face is little more than two eyes glowing with ever-changing light and a fanged maw. Two long tentacular tails extend from its muscular hindquarters. A typical akata stands 3-1/2 feet tall and weighs 400 pounds.

Akatas lack auditory organs, lungs, and vocal cords, and they can’t hear or vocalize in any way. Instead, they communicate with each other through sight and scent. Akatas can change the color of their eyes to over a thousand shades, which they use in conjunction with complex tail movements to communicate visually. Scent glands located just behind the jawbone on akatas’ necks produce a wide variety of smells that other akatas can “taste” with their tongues.

Akatas live in colonies of up to 30 individuals. Massive akatas known as akata alphas rule the largest of these colonies. Most colonies inhabit small asteroids or meteors hurtling through the depths of space. Akatas can hibernate for centuries, protecting themselves in cocoons made from a combination of resin from the creatures’ pores and noqual. When a meteorite carrying an akata colony crashes onto a planet or another astronomical object that can support life, the akatas awake from their cocoons. Akatas usually consume the remains of their cocoons upon awakening, but 1 bulk of noqual worth 500 credits can be harvested from the remnants of a single akata cocoon. Once awakened, akatas can drastically depopulate a planet as they seek out suitable hosts for their young.

Void Death

Akatas reproduce by implanting their parasitic larval offspring in humanoid hosts. These microscopic larvae cause an infection called void death, which functions as a disease.

Those who perish from void death become void zombies. A void zombie looks like a walking rotting corpse, often with a bloated blue-gray “tongue”—the fanged tail of the parasitic larva inside—dangling from its broken skull where its lower jaw once was.

After a humanoid host dies from void death, the strongest of the akata larvae infesting the corpse worms its way to the host’s brain and undergoes a swift initial gestation within 2d4 hours. This accelerated growth causes the feeler-covered head of the oversized, tadpole-shaped parasite to latch onto the base of its victim’s brain and reenergize the dying organ, taking control and turning the host into a void zombie.

Akata larvae require 1d4 weeks as a second gestation before undergoing the transformation into adult akatas. A void zombie bearing an akata larva ready to emerge seeks out a secluded area and vomits the akata’s offspring into a shallow hole or crevice. The void zombie then “dies,” toppling over the disgorged larva. A scant 2d6 hours later, a full-grown akata emerges, usually taking the rotting corpse of its former host as its first meal.

Void Death

Type disease (injury); Save Fortitude DC 10

Track physical; Frequency 1/day; Effect No latent/carrier state; an infected creature that dies rises as a void zombie 2d4 hours later.

Cure 2 consecutive saves

Void Zombie Template Graft (CR 1+)

A humanoid that dies from void death contracted from the void bite of an akata (see page 55) becomes a mindless undead host for the akata’s larval offspring.

Required Creature Type: Undead.

Suggested Array: Combatant.

Traits: Blood drain, mindless, susceptible to salt water; land speed increases by 10 feet; Int changes to —; gains Athletics as a master skill.

Suggested Ability Modifiers: Strength.