Starfinder: Lotus Blossom
Lotus Blossom CR 2 XP 600
Neutral tiny vermin
Init +6; Senses: Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +12
Defense HP 12
EAC: 16; KAC: 17 (or by host)
Fort: +3; Ref: +1; Will: +4
Immunities: Acid
Offense
Speed: 20 ft. (or by host)
Melee: Bite +6 (1d4+2 P)
Space: 0 ft., Reach: 0 ft.
Offensive Abilities: Numbing bite
Statistics
Str +0; Dex +6; Con +0; Int -; Wis +0; Cha +0
Skills: Stealth +12, survival +7
Other Abilities: Infestation
Languages: None
Ecology
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary
Special Abilities
Infestation (Ex): The parasite is ingested through food or water. As soon as he victim is exposed to the parasite, it is allowed Fort saving throw (DC 13). If it succeeds, the victim’s natural immune system destroys it. Any creature with immunity to disease is automatically immune to the parasite. If it fails however, the creature will burrow through the body, coming out at a random location and begin to convert the victim’s own flesh into a new nest. This will take 1d6 days, and during this period, the victim will not know anything is amiss, except that their natural healing rate will be halved (rounded down, so that it is possible the victim will not heal anything at all).
At the end of this period, the victim will notice a angry red lump somewhere on its body. The victim is then allowed a Will saving throw (DC 13). If it succeeds, the victim can cut out the lump or find a way to remove it. This will inflict 1d6 points of damage to the victim, but it will remove the parasite. Modern medical drugs (except those for killing disease or parasites) will have no effect on the parasite! Even drugs used to heal the victim will not help, as the parasite will simply flush it out of the body. If the saving throw fails, the victim will not do anything about the lump, and it will be very careful to keep it hidden from view. Over the next 1d6 days the lump will grow until it is the size of a grapefruit and at this time a series of holes will appear on the lump, spaced evenly around it. During this period, the parasite will have laid eggs in the lump and they will hatch, producing the parasitic worm. The lump will contain a minimum of 10 plus 4d4 holes. Each will contain a worm. The parasite will then force the victim to expose food, water-sources and even other creatures to the lump. This will always be done in secret to prevent the parasite from being discovered. Anyone exposed to the parasite will have to make a saving throw (see above). For each day the victim is controlled by the parasite, it will convert the victim’s own body into more worms. It can replenish its entire reserve of worms in one night by converting 1d4 points of Constitution. This will soon kill the victim (once their Constitution score drops to 0, they die), but will give the worm plenty of opportunity to spread itself throughout a community.
Numbing bite (Ex): The creature can use stealth to sneak up on a target and bite. The victim is allowed a Fort save (DC 13). If the save is successful, it feels the bite and can initiate combat. If it does not feel the bite, then the victim suffers an automatic infestation (see above).
The lotus Blossom is not actually a flower, instead it is a horrible parasite that was named after the flower because of the shape it grows on the body of a victim infected by the creature. Scientists and researchers are at odds as to the origin of the parasite, some believing it is the result of radiation and toxins mutating the original creature, while others speculate that it has to have been created by rogue geneticists as a terror weapon, because it truly is terrifying.
Physically the parasite looks like a long worm (typically about a foot in length) with a black head. The head contains two small black bumps that are in fact strange sensory organs. The parasite can live up to 30 days without a host, which makes it very dangerous. It tends to hide in water, or in areas filled with organic matter, feeding of whatever nutrients it can obtain from either source until a hapless victim appears.
While it is hunting for a host, the creature will do its best to hide among refuse or in shaded areas, where it can hide and move with little chance of being spotted. When it is discovered, it can bite in order to defend itself. It can also inject a topical anesthetic into the victim, allowing it to burrow into the flesh without being noticed.
The worm-like parasite will then try to attach itself to the victim, or allow the victim to ingest it (the creature is completely immune to acid).
The saving grace is that the creature can be killed by any anti-parasite drug, any drug used to cure disease. Lost Constitution is only temporary and will return as normal.
While using a host to grow more parasites, the creature automatically gains the hosts AC and movement rate.
Chris Van Deelen is the creator and contributor to over half of the Wisdom from the Wastelands series, contributor to the Swords of Kos: Hekaton anthology, and the recently released 'Swords of Kos: The Rite'. He also wrote Creatures of the Tropical Wastelands, and 100 Oddities found in a Car. As prolific as he is, Chris Van Deelen continues to write and produce material which will be in publication soon. Not only is he a prolific content creator, he also has a wide selection of fiction and stories! If you like his work, please follow his personal author page on Facebook and on Twitter to keep up with his latest news and game content.
