Worm That Walks

Worm That Walks CR 13 (Spellcaster)

XP 25,600
Human worm that walks technomancer
NE Medium vermin
Init +6; Senses blindsight 30 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +23

DEFENSE

HP 190
RP 6
EAC 26; KAC 27
Fort +14; Ref +12; Will +16
Defensive Abilities fast healing 13, worm that walks traits; DR 15/–; Immunities critical hits, disease, paralysis, poison, sleep

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.
Melee slam +22 (6d4+17B plus grab)
Ranged perihelion laser pistol +20 (4d4F, critical burn 2d4)
Offensive Abilities discorporate (swarm [4d6+13], distraction DC 21), squirming embrace
Class Spells Known (CL 13th)

5th (3/day)–heat leech (DC 24), teleport
4th (6/day)–animate dead, corrosive haze (DC 23), dimension door, dismissal (DC 23)
3rd (at will)–dispel magic, explosive blast (DC 22)

STATISTICS

Str +4; Dex +6; Con +4; Int +8; Wis +4; Cha +4
Skills Computers +28, Engineering +28, Mysticism +23, Sense Motive +23, Stealth +28
Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Common, Infernal
Other Abilities magic hack (seeking shot, tech countermeasures), spell cache (cache capacitor 2), unflankable
Gear d-suit IV, perihelion laser pistol with 1 high capacity battery (40 charges)

ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization solitary

There is great speculation about the origins of the “many who are one.” Some claim these masses of creatures were once spellcasters whose bodies perished on worlds saturated with necromantic energy. Their bodies are then eaten by worms, and the necromantic power causes the worms to assume the memories, personality, and form of the humanoid whom they have consumed. Others believe the worm that walks to be a hive mind entity that consumes humanoid bodies in an effort to gain experiences about the cosmos and assimilate the knowledge of their meal into the collective. By assuming the form of a new body, they seek out even more bodies to engulf and experiences to assimilate into the collective.

The “many who are one” are not always made up of worms. Similar horrors exist whose bodies are composed of writhing snakes, ants, scarab beetles, spiders, wasps, and even rats.