Maddened Creature Template Graft (CR 1+)

Creatures infected with a tainted or imperfect version of the assimilation strain (see the assimilated creature template graft) become maddened creatures. Rather than causing victims to become docile and complaint, the disease inflames their emotions and aggressive impulses, causing them to become feral, bloodthirsty, and bestial in their behavior, turning upon their non-infected friends and relatives to devour them or drive them mad as well. Maddened creatures can sometimes maintain a tenuous society, though it teeters always on the brink of disintegration in an orgy of cannibalistic rage and violence.

Required Creature Type: Animal, humanoid, or monstrous humanoid

Required Array: Combatant

Alignment: NE

Traits: +2 bonus on saving throws against mind- affecting effects, –2 penalty against effects that cause confusion, immunity to fear, +1 morale bonus on attack and damage rolls against creatures taking bleed damage, +2 morale bonus on attempts to perform bull rush or sunder combat maneuvers

Skills: Intimidate

Abilities: contagious

Contagious (Ex)

Contact with a maddened creature can result in the transmission of the faulty assimilation strain. The first 24 hours after a creature has acquired the maddened creature template graft, the risk of spreading the disease is greatest. During this period, even non-violent physical contact can transmit the disease (DC 14 Fortitude negates). Close proximity including intimate contact, exposure to bodily fluids, and use of a Medicine check to deliver first aid or treat deadly wounds or contact with an infected creature taking bleed damage imparts a –2 penalty on this saving throw. The duration required for exposure is subject to the GM’s discretion. Creatures who take special precautions to avoid contact may gain a +2 circumstance bonus on their saving throws to avoid contracting the disease. The disease is not airborne and cannot be inhaled, it is transmitted through contact. After 24 hours, a maddened creature transmits the disease through injury or direct contact with an enemy’s recent injury. A melee touch attack suffices against an injured opponent.

Suggested Ability Modifiers: Strength, Constitution

Assimilation Madness

This affliction works very similar to the confused condition, though the victim’s bizarre behavior lasts for the entire episode rather than changing from round to round. When a creature infected with the flawed virus is subjected to physical or mental stress (such as by entering combat, being injured, being targeted by a harmful or mind-affecting spell or effect, witnessing the injury or death of an ally or loved one, or even being intimidated or even ridiculed in an emotionally impacting way), the infected human automatically suffers one of the effects listed in the Assimilation Madness table below. Victims who survive the episode’s short-lived duration revert to normal behavior again but remain infected and may relapse again after 1 hour.

The temporary effects of assimilation madness can be countered by spells such as: lesser restoration, remove condition, or suggestion, or any greater equivalent of such spells. This does not, however, cure the victim of the flawed assimilation strain, and new episodes may occur as the brain’s remapped personality continues to vex the victim. Only restoration, greater remove condition, psychic surgery, miracle, or wish fully cures a victim of both the madness and the flawed assimilation strain. A remove affliction spell cast by a spellcaster of at least 10th level also cures the victim of the madness and the assimilation strain.