HIVE HORROR - CR VARIES
CREATING A HIVE HORROR
“Hive Horror” is an acquired template that can be added to any living, intelligent corporeal human (or humanoid capable of creating offspring with a human) referred to hereafter as the base creature.
Step 1: Common Traits
Hive horrors have had many of their memories stripped by the transformation process. The following traits are common to all hive horrors.
Alignment: Always neutral evil.
Language: Hive horrors lose the ability to communicate through speech.
Limited Telepathy: Hive horrors can communicate telepathically with other hive horrors within 30 feet.
Skills: Remove any skills that allow a recall knowledge skill check. Remove Computers, Engineering, and Piloting skills.
Weapons: Despite having their memories stripped a hive horror retains the ability to use any weapon they were proficient with prior to becoming a hive horror.
Step 2: Remove Class Abilities
Hive horrors get none of the base creature’s class abilities granted by class levels or a class graft.
Traits: Convert the base creature to a combat array equal to their character level or CR. When converting to the base creature to the Combat Array – Main Statistics compare the creature’s original stats to the combat array and keep the greater of the two values. Choose new skills based on appropriate CR.
Step 3: Quasi-dead Creature Type
Hive horrors are once-living creatures animated by advanced technological and occult forces.
Traits: Ageless, darkvision 60ft., quasi-dead qualities.
Adjustments: +2 to Will saving throws.
Step 4: Necromorph Creature Subtype
This subtype is applied to quasi-dead and creatures related to hive-horrors. Although there are common types among necromorphs they all possess unique mutations. These are not included in the stat block of the base creature. For additional information on necromorphs see the Monster Rules section of this manual.
Step 5: Finishing Touches
The previous 5 steps are more of a starting point than a guideline to creating your own hive horrors. If you have been inspired by a book, movie, graphic novel or some twisted concoction of your own imagination I fully authorize you, the GM, to this template into something that fits your vision.
A hive horror is created every time necroplast fails to fulfil the Promise. Over hundreds of years the necroborg have created tens if not hundreds of thousands of these necromorphs and managed to keep them hidden until now.
Hive horrors retain few memories of their former selves after the transformation. They retain their intelligence but are no longer able to perform tasks that require concentration. It’s believed they are still self-aware or at least they know they used to be “normal”, but they don’t often remember who that normal person was. If forced to remember they might appear calmed for a short time before being overcome with anger at what was taken away from them. Unfortunately, hive horrors don’t seek vengeance on those that failed to deliver the promise. Their rage is misplaced on normal (non-necroborg) people.
If let loose on a normal community, they are homicidal maniacs. They start with start the carnage with the people they consider the weakest. Babies, children, elderly are all targeted before those who are obviously capable of defending themselves. They seem to be drawn to and are invigorated by fear.
Its fortunate for normals, hive horrors are only released when the Black Pontiff wants to implicate or frame another group for strife and warfare. It’s not uncommon to encounter hive horrors branded, tattooed, or even chipped with the markings of the nercoborg’s political or mystical rivals. This tactic has worked more than once to sway popular opinion in the Black Pontiff’s favor.
It’s because of the carnage reigned down when hive horrors released that they are rarely used offensively. Once they are released on a city or colony they cannot be controlled or stopped until every normal or hive horror has been slain. Since the necroborg cannot reproduce they can only increase their numbers and grow in strength by getting new converts to accept the Promise. Destroying an entire population is counterproductive.
Interestingly, term “hive horror” was coined by enemies of the necroborg since necroborg strongholds are commonly referred t as “hives”. Once you assault a necroborg strong hold you must be prepared to deal with the Hive. If you penetrate the hive without finishing the job the horrors will be released on an unsuspecting community.
Base creature
Base creature
Base creature
Base creature
Base creature, usually molted mix of skin and technology.
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