Supplanter [LINKS] (Patreon)

Despoilers of Body and Brain

Of all the members in the ooze family, few are more feared and reviled than the aptly named Supplanter. Many a party has been caught off guard by a pack of supplanters and been forced to witness the gruesome sight of their friends turned into jelly-filled sacks of flesh. But the nightmare has only begun as their former allies turn towards them with empty eyes, their bodies puppeted from within. Each fallen comrade is a new enemy; each lost soul a testament to their might; each scream a note forever lost to oblivion. 

Ambush Predators. Striking from blind spots behind or above their prey, supplanters specialize in surprise attacks against frailer adventurers. Once they wrap themselves round their victim, the ooze’s grip proves difficult to break as it fights off those who attempt to remove it. Though a single supplanter poses little threat to experienced parties, they often move in swarms slowly curling their quarry before striking as a unit for maximum efficiency, demonstrating a degree of group intelligence. 

Body Thieves. Without doubt, the most horrendous trait of a supplanter is its ability to enter another being's body, replacing their internal functions with itself. As it eats its way into each and every crevice of the flesh, its prey becomes little more than a fleshy container for the ooze to manipulate at will. With distended limbs that shift and morph with every movement, the ooze puppets its new host body with the intention of destroying its former friends. 

Intentions Indiscernible. One of the more mysterious aspects of this species is an apparent side effect of its bodily theft; once it has taken over a host it begins to speak. While mimicry is a common tactic for predators, the ooze appears as capable of conversation as its host was in life, yet its mentality and morality is so alien to the common tongue that proper communication appears impossible. Some believe that with time and a proper medium, perhaps these specimens could one day be communicated with in a manner never before imaginable. 

The damp caverns continue to drip with water perhaps older than you, falling drops splashing into puddles from all sides. As you step forth, a particularly loud drip lands upon your shoulder, curiously heavy and viscous. Upon further inspection, you realize that what you assumed to be water instead appears red and jelly-like. As you turn your eyes upwards towards the source, squelching of movement previously undetected catches your ears moments before the ooze drops from above. 

Images | PDF