Twisting Hate

This strain of maleophage warps the mind of its host, urging the afflicted on toward violence against former friends. It corrupts the flesh of the host as well, amplifying wounds and setting bones in horribly broken positions. Those who suffer from twisting hate become hideously deformed, their bodies contorted into excruciating angles. These oozes are cruel in the extreme, using the agonized screams of its victims to draw more potential hosts into range. Unless threatened, a twisting hate kills slowly, affording its host time to seek help and comprehend its fate.


TWISTING HATE

Tiny ooze, chaotic evil


Armor Class 5
Hit Points 161 (19d4 + 114)
Speed 0 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
1 (-5) 1 (-5) 22 (+6) 8 (-1) 19 (+4) 1 (-5)

Saving Throws Con +10, Wis +8, Cha -1
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, grappled, incapacitated, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, stunned, unconscious
Senses blindsight 30 ft. (blind beyond this radius), passive Perception 14
Languages understands Common but cannot speak
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)


TRAITS

Damage Transfer. When anything other than the twisting hate deals damage to the infected creature, the twisting hate takes half the damage dealt to the infected creature, and the infected creature takes the other half (before damage resistances and immunities are applied).

Fleshwarping. When an infected creature takes damage, its flesh melts and warps, causing extreme pain. The creature must succeed on a Constitution saving throw, with a DC equal to 10 plus half the damage dealt (rounded down). On a failure, the creature’s hit point maximum is reduced to its current hit points. This effect lasts until the creature is no longer infected.

Sentient Disease. The twisting hate is a microscopic, sentient disease. It cannot be targeted and can only be harmed when infecting a creature. While not within a host, the twisting hate can infect any flesh-and-blood creature that comes within 30 feet of it. If the host dies, the twisting hate can infect a new creature. Creatures immune to disease can still be infected by it but have advantage on saving throws against it. If an infected creature is affected by a spell or effect that would remove a disease, the twisting hate remains in the creature but loses 25 hit points. It may only infect a single creature at a time, and when the ooze is slain, the infected creature is cured of the disease.

Additionally, at the start of each of its turns, an infected creature can attempt a DC 18 Constitution saving throw. On a success, the twisting hate leaves the infected creature and infects a new flesh-and-blood creature within 30 feet. If there are no uninfected flesh-and-blood creatures within 30 feet, it remains in its host but loses 25 hit points.


ACTIONS

Acid Vomit (Recharge 5–6). The twisting hate forces the creature it is infecting to vomit a 30-foot-long line of acid that is 5 feet wide in a direction of the twisting hate’s choice. Creatures in the line must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or take 45 (10d8) acid damage, or half as much on a success.

Delirium. The creature the twisting hate is infecting must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or be unable to take actions until the end of its next turn. Instead, the twisting hate can force the creature to use its action to make a single weapon attack or move according to the twisting hate’s desires.

Toxic Shock. The creature the twisting hate is infecting takes 28 (8d6) poison damage.


Ref: TPKB1 p166