Because SCIENCE!!! (3.5 Monster, PEACH)

[The Tygre]

Now listen closely. I'll explain this spectacular operation only once.

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Human Centipede

Spoiler

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Large Aberration (Augmented Human)
Hit Dice: 12d8+24 (78 HP)
Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares); Climb 30 ft.
Initiative: +5
Armor Class: 17; touch 14; flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +5 natural, -1 size)
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+17
Attack: Bite +12 melee (1d8+4) or acidic waste +11 ranged (2d4+2 acid) or 2 slams +10 melee (1d4+4)
Full-Attack: Bite +12 melee (1d8+4) and 2 slams +8 melee (1d4+4)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks: Acidic waste, constrict 1d6+4, creeping flesh, devour, improved grab
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., disturbing presence, moment of humanity
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +8
Abilities: Str 18 , Dex 16 , Con 14 , Int 8, Wis 10 , Cha 8
Skills: Balance +7, Hide +11, Intimidate +3, Listen +6, Move Silently +11, Search +4, Spot +5
Feats: Ability Focus (Disturbing Presence), Alertness, Improved Initiative, Multi-Attack, Stealthy
Environment: Any underground
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always chaotic neutral
Advancement: 13-15 HD (Large); 16-30 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: -

Something impossible and wrong drops down from the ceiling. You hear it slither onto the floor, a pillar of waxy, human bodies. They should end, their arms should not twist in such profane angles, there should be more heads; but there is not. There is only a single, horrible creature that very shape mocks humanity. Its one face looks up to you with doleful eyes and distended jaws, and you hear it wheeze in hunger.

There is no reason for some things in this world to exist. They are created and exist solely as monuments to their creators, testimony to a past genius. But where rational men and women use stone and wood and ink, the alchemist Dr. Heiter chose to leave his legacy in flesh. Luring three unsuspecting adventurers to his laboratory, his traps and poisons soon sedated the trio. Heiter’s works was simple; the fusion of three human beings into one singular creature.

Why did he do this? What was the point of this dark work? The point was that somehow, somewhere, Heiter knew that someone dared to call his work impossible, dared to challenge the non-sensical with cold, focused efficiency. And that simply would not stand. When the monstrous experiment was complete, Heiter looked over his creation with a satisfied mind. Even as the beast broke free of its constraints, its three minds still separate and enraged, Heiter smiled. The mad doctor submitted to his fate, letting the deformed aberration consume him; his work was done.

Now the freak experiment roams the world, crawling through the hidden and dark places underneath the earth. Its three minds slipped into one, and finally into madness. The human centipede runs almost purely on animalistic instinct, seeking nothing but to consume. In brief lapses of consciousness, the monster realizes the profanity of its existence and goes into fits of rage, rampaging through civilized areas until its mind leaves it once more. Those who have survived such attacks are all horrified and disgusted by the creature, but coincide on one point; for reports of the human centipede keep exaggerating size, as if the beast grows larger with every victim it consumes.

Combat
The human centipede prefers to stalk its victims, remaining out of sight until it ambushes its prey. After the initial attack, the human centipede is prone to staying out of reach, sticking to any walls and ceilings. The human centipede is quite liberal with its acidic waste, spraying opponents with the bile regardless of tactical value. After combat, the human centipede lurks around the attack site, feasting on the corpses of its fallen enemies.

Acidic Waste (Ex): Five times per day as a standard action, the human centipede is capable of divulging torrents of foul, toxic matter from deep within its bowels. This bile projects as a 20 ft. cone and deals 2d4+2 acid damage. Creatures caught within the cone can attempt a DC 18 Reflex save to take half damage. This save is Constitution based.

In addition, any target hit by the acidic bile must succeed on a DC 18 Fortitude save or be nauseated for the rest of the encounter. The save is Constitution based. A target that succeeds on their fortitude save is immune to nauseation from acidic waste for twenty four hours.

Constrict (Ex): On a successful grapple check, the human centipede deals 1d6+4 points of damage.

Creeping Flesh (Su): Before fully assimilating devoured flesh, the human centipede may shed 'larval' masses of skin, ligaments, and bones. These 'larva' are treated statistically as small ligamentals. Each ligamental created by the human centipede subtracts 2 HD from the pool of HD gathered by the devour ability. The human centipede can only create ligamentals from the devour ability HD pool, and not from its own natural HD.

For example, the human centipede has devoured 9 HD of humanoids. It can choose to create 4 ligamentals, which would leave it with 1 HD in its devoured pool. However, the human centipede cannot sacrifice one of its assimilated natural HD to pair it with the remaining devoured HD and create one more ligamental. It will have to devour another HD worth of humanoid flesh to be able to create the ligamental.

Darkvision (Ex): The human centipede can see in total darkness up to 60 ft.

Devour (Su): When the human centipede slays a humanoid opponent, it can feed on their corpse, devouring both the victim's flesh and life force. For every 10 HD or levels the human centipede consumes, it gains one Hit Die. The human centipede can delay this feeding for up to one day per Hit Die it has; after that time, the victim's life force is beyond the effects of devouring. Devouring destroys the victim's body and prevents any form of raising or resurrection that requires part of the corpse. A wish, miracle, or true resurrection spell can restore a devoured victim to life, but there is a 50% chance that even such powerful magic will fail.

Disturbing Presence (Su): The very presence of the human centipede is offensive. Those witnessing the wretched monstrosity have trouble facing such a terror. Characters that come within 30 ft. of the human centipede must succeed on a DC 18 Will save or be shaken for the rest of the encounter. Humans are particularly shocked by the human centipede, and take -4 penalty to their saving throws. Characters that succeed on their will save are immune to the human centipede’s disturbing presence for 24 hours.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the human centipede must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can constrict.

Moment of Humanity (Ex): There are brief moments in the human centipede's existence where the insanity that overwhelms the monster's current state yields to its still present human mind(s). These are only temporary however, and more often than not yield to a hideous rage. 1/week, the human centipede becomes listless and self-obsessed for 1d6 hours. This renders the human centipede essentially paralyzed. Any creature that comes within range of the human centipede's senses without first making a Diplomacy check, however, triggers a bloodthirsty rage in the creature. Treat this as the barbarian's rage class feature, treating the human centipede as a 12th level barbarian.

Plot Hooks
+ An apprentice alchemist has discovered Heiter's notes, and intends to replicates the experiment with even more test subjects.
+ A sect of druids believes that they may be able to reverse the human centipede experiment. Capture the creature and bring it back to the druids.
+ The human centipede has reached gigantic proportions; slay the monster before it devours whole towns and cities.

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As usual, PEACH relentlessly. Is the picture too NSFW? I thought Asphyxia from Silent Hill worked better than any poster I could find. Happy Halloween, kids!

[Zagaroth]

hmmm, fill in stats to match fluff? a 'consume' ability that says for x number of humanoid HD consumed, it grows by this much.' can be a scaling number.

[Zeta Kai]

Oooh, boy. Wow. That's... just... wrong...

Damn.

Okay, uh, well, yeah... Sheesh...

Anyway, uh, Disturbing Presence should have a range. It should be "Plot Hooks" instead of "Plot Hoks". And, IMO, Acidic Waste (which is really gross, eww) should offer a Reflex save to avoid the cone instead of making it a ranged touch attack, as that does not really jive well with an area effect. Good job on this one; it's very flavorful, it's rather balanced, & it is well-designed.

Lastly, what is wrong with you?!?

[Amechra]

It's from a movie. I wish I didn't know that, but it is from a movie.

And there is a reason Disturbing Presence has no range...

[Serpentine]

Do... Do I want to ask anything about the process of finding that image?

[The Tygre]

hmmm, fill in stats to match fluff? a 'consume' ability that says for x number of humanoid HD consumed, it grows by this much.' can be a scaling number.

An interesting idea. I might have to cook something up for it, though I think I'm happy with just the good ol' HD advancement representing increase right now.

Oooh, boy. Wow. That's... just... wrong...

Damn.

Okay, uh, well, yeah... Sheesh...

I guess I should put my 'A Serbian Film d20' on hold then...

Anyway, uh, Disturbing Presence should have a range. It should be "Plot Hooks" instead of "Plot Hoks". And, IMO, Acidic Waste (which is really gross, eww) should offer a Reflex save to avoid the cone instead of making it a ranged touch attack, as that does not really jive well with an area effect. Good job on this one; it's very flavorful, it's rather balanced, & it is well-designed.

Changes made, and thank you.

Lastly, what is wrong with you?!?

Science. Delicious science is what is wrong with me.

It's from a movie. I wish I didn't know that, but it is from a movie.

And now you will never un-know that. My dark work is done.

And there is a reason Disturbing Presence has no range...

And that reason is yet more science. And by 'science', I of course mean that I forgot which is why I needed this beastie PEACH'd by an expert team of homebrewers.

Do... Do I want to ask anything about the process of finding that image?

Bogleech, yo. Specifically, the blog's countdown of the top 10 Silent Hill monsters. No, I will never stop shilling this site.

[Zeta Kai]

Any plans to make a bigger one? Like, say, a Full Sequence version?

[Ilorin Lorati]

What hath been seen cannot be unseen. My poor virgin eyes.

Seriously though. Uh... good job. I think. >.<

[Mulletmanalive]

And how were you planning to do Serbian Film d20? Modify the Lost d20 game [all random encounter tables...all of it...context is for the audience] with more macabre versions of the nigh contextless wierdness and incude a film snob to overanalyse everything with each book?

Seriously though, messed up critter...

[Debihuman]

Subtype should probably be Augmented Human rather than just Human.

You forgot the size modifier to attack. Furthermore, a secondary attack is always secondary even when used as a primary attack , so slam takes the -2 penalty in the standard attack line.

As a Large creature space/reach should be 10 ft./5 ft. However, the picture seems to indicate it is actually a Huge creature (guessing about 18 feet in length if those are average human sizes torsos). Increasing the size affects attack line too. As a long Huge creature (rather than a tall one) it would be 15 ft./10 ft.

[Edit] Hit points should be 78 not 72. 12 x 4.5 = 54 +24 = 78.

[Edit] Acid waste damage is 2d4 acid in stat block but is 1d3+3 in the text. Which is correct?

[Edit] Advancement is off. Creatures usually gain a size when they double their hit points. If you decide to keep it Large, it should be 13-15 Large, 16-30 Huge.

Debby

[Mulletmanalive]

Also, the math on the breath weapon save seems to be off. Should be 10 + 12/2 [6] + Dex [3] = 19

[Morph Bark]

Also, the math on the breath weapon save seems to be off. Should be 10 + 12/2 [6] + Dex [3] = 19

Breath weapons and similar figure off Con, not Dex, in which case it should be 18, so the math is still off. On that note, Disturbing Presence DC should be 15.

Also, humans (or whatever other creature is used to create it if you make an elf version) should get a -4 penalty to the Will save for Disturbing Presence.

Perhaps make a version that has an ability to add other people to itself, making itself bigger after a few additions and increasing HD, DCs, etc?

[Leeham]

SCIENCE!

On a more serious note, I like this creature, I think I'll be using this in my upcoming E6 campaign

[Mulletmanalive]

Breath weapons and similar figure off Con, not Dex, in which case it should be 18, so the math is still off. On that note, Disturbing Presence DC should be 15.

It says in the text that it's based on Dex, so I went with that. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with it being based on Dex, ust unusual...perhaps it's particularly quick on the release and a very fine mist so con has less bearing than the critter's accuracy...?

[Pyromancer999]

*Looks at picture*

....Ew.......Disturbing Presence indeed.

Still, good for a horror campaign, so long as your players don't see the picture.

[The Tygre]

Any plans to make a bigger one? Like, say, a Full Sequence version?

I've been planning a daikaiju version since the moment it popped into my head.

And how were you planning to do Serbian Film d20? Modify the Lost d20 game [all random encounter tables...all of it...context is for the audience] with more macabre versions of the nigh contextless wierdness and incude a film snob to overanalyse everything with each book?

Seriously though, messed up critter...

I was thinking more of some kind of misguided yugoloth that runs around with a walking three-legged camera. Together, they hypnotize victims into performing horrible atrocities and then wipe their minds by screaming, "IT'S OKAY! IT WAS FOR ART!"

Subtype should probably be Augmented Human rather than just Human.

You forgot the size modifier to attack. Furthermore, a secondary attack is always secondary even when used as a primary attack , so slam takes the -2 penalty in the standard attack line.

As a Large creature space/reach should be 10 ft./5 ft. However, the picture seems to indicate it is actually a Huge creature (guessing about 18 feet in length if those are average human sizes torsos). Increasing the size affects attack line too. As a long Huge creature (rather than a tall one) it would be 15 ft./10 ft.

[Edit] Hit points should be 78 not 72. 12 x 4.5 = 54 +24 = 78.

[Edit] Acid waste damage is 2d4 acid in stat block but is 1d3+3 in the text. Which is correct?

[Edit] Advancement is off. Creatures usually gain a size when they double their hit points. If you decide to keep it Large, it should be 13-15 Large, 16-30 Huge.

Debby

Thanks for the catches Deb. It's always good to know you've got my back.

Also, the math on the breath weapon save seems to be off. Should be 10 + 12/2 [6] + Dex [3] = 19

Yes, I noticed that too. But I couldn't remember if saves were calculated as 10+1/2 HD+score, or just 10+score. Since the real method booted the saves up from the 12 to 18, I immediately assumed that I needed to stay lower. Thanks for clarifying.

Breath weapons and similar figure off Con, not Dex, in which case it should be 18, so the math is still off. On that note, Disturbing Presence DC should be 15.

Also, humans (or whatever other creature is used to create it if you make an elf version) should get a -4 penalty to the Will save for Disturbing Presence.

Perhaps make a version that has an ability to add other people to itself, making itself bigger after a few additions and increasing HD, DCs, etc?

Huh. How'd I miss that about breath weapons... And thanks for the suggestion on the human-penalty. It looks like I'll have to work in some kind of consumption ability, but I have no idea how to work out HD taken from victims or how much that goes towards size. Eh, I'll figure something out.

[Mulletmanalive]

Perhaps it could just gain one temperary hp per HD of an absorbed victim and when the temp hp exceed it's current HD, it gains a new one and loses all temp hp?

I'd be tempted to give it temporary levels [+1 attack, +1 defence, +1 damage, +1 saves, +5 hp] for absorbing victims and then kind of let it "digest" them to gain more real HD

[Morph Bark]

Perhaps it could just gain one temperary hp per HD of an absorbed victim and when the temp hp exceed it's current HD, it gains a new one and loses all temp hp?

Problem with this approach is that if it takes damage, it loses the temporary hp. Permanently.

"Positive levels" could work, perhaps with a Will save the following day that, if it succeeds, they gain 1 HD? (Either a save per positive level, or they gain a bonus equal to the amount of positive levels. In the first case they can gain as many HD as positive levels from victims eaten, in the latter only 1 per day tops.)

[Mulletmanalive]

Problem with this approach is that if it takes damage, it loses the temporary hp. Permanently.

That was actually intentional. I thought it might be interesting to have the not-completely-assimilated parts be easy to tear off before they meld fully.

[EdroGrimshell]

If Vorpal Tribble was not banned he'd probably tip his hat to you. Also, may i suggest a mechanical standpoint for the bouts of concsiousness and rage, maybe a way to reason with it during those times if you can calm it down.

[Pyromancer999]

If Vorpal Tribble was not banned he'd probably tip his hat to you. Also, may i suggest a mechanical standpoint for the bouts of concsiousness and rage, maybe a way to reason with it during those times if you can calm it down.

Wait, he's banned? Why?

Anyways....

That was actually intentional. I thought it might be interesting to have the not-completely-assimilated parts be easy to tear off before they meld fully.

On that note, it'd be cool if it could separate into its component parts, but still be under the control of whatever closest resembles its mind.

[Zagaroth]

Huh. How'd I miss that about breath weapons... And thanks for the suggestion on the human-penalty. It looks like I'll have to work in some kind of consumption ability, but I have no idea how to work out HD taken from victims or how much that goes towards size. Eh, I'll figure something out.

try looking in Monsters of Faerun, the Beast of Xvim template :)

I think other critters have something similar, but not sure which.

[The Tygre]

try looking in Monsters of Faerun, the Beast of Xvim template :)

I think other critters have something similar, but not sure which.

*checks*

Well I'll be a son of a gun. Right there. Huh. Good show!

[The Tygre]

Updated with the creeping flesh (thanks for the inspiration, Mullet and Pyro!) and moment of humanity features. Now all that needs to be done is the full sequence version!

Yes, soon my pet. Soon I will feed you the world.

[Morph Bark]

Wait, he's banned? Why?

Board rules prevent discussion on such topics. He still pops up on the Facebook page though.

That was actually intentional. I thought it might be interesting to have the not-completely-assimilated parts be easy to tear off before they meld fully.

I see. In that case, more power to you.

[Hentai_BookStor]

What a great monster, and great movie but what will you do for a 12 person Human Centipede from the second movie and then you have got the 3rd one being made ...... now try to thing or the sick monster that will come from that one.

[Cipher Stars]

Spoiler

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The weirdest boner....
(lol I see that phrase a lot, thought it was fitting here)

Joking aside I find this monster to be highly fitting to some tabletop settings I was planning for my brothers...

[Iamyourking]

Well, that is one of the more disturbing things I've seen today. I can't really say much about the mechanical side, since Debihuman has already covered that most thoroughly, but perhaps the size advancement should be able to continue indefinetly? From a concept standpoint, it should probably act more intelligently. It posesses nearly human Intelligence, but the way it is described seems more like a animal than anything.

[Mando Knight]

Alternate design possibility:

[Zeta Kai]

Alternate design possibility

Dear god, what is that & where is it from?