Begedhi Parasite

Tiny plant, neutral evil

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 36 (8d4 + 16)
Speed 10 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	16 (+3)	15 (+2)	7 (-2)	10 (+0)	15 (+2)

Skills Deception +6, Stealth +7
Damage Resistances piercing
Damage Immunities acid
Condition Immunities prone
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages –
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Control Host (During Infest Only). The parasite can control its host by issuing telepathic commands. The control is imperfect, and the parasite must make a Charisma (Deception) check against the passive Insight of any observers to hide the strangeness of its presence. Individuals who are intimately familiar with the host have advantage on their Insight score. While infesting a host, the parasite doesn’t act on its own, it merely directs the host’s actions. When the host attacks the parasite can choose to attack with its vines, but the host suffers 3 piercing damage every time it does so as they burst forth from its body.
• Create Seedlings (During Infest Only). When the parasite’s host dies, the parasite can break open its outer shell and release root buds into the corpse. This kills the parasite, and 1d4 begedghi seedlings sprout from the corpse 1 week later.
• Infest. The parasite can enter the mouth of an unconscious or paralyzed creature. Once inside, it gestates for 1 week, during which time any spell or effect that cures diseases kills the parasite. After this gestation period, the parasite gains access to the host creature’s memories and can use Control Host. Removing the parasite from this point on requires the host to be reduced to 0 hit points, then an effect that cures disease can kill the parasite and free the host. Confer Regeneration. After one week gestating in a host, the parasite grants the host the ability to regain 5 hit points at the start of its turn, if it has at least 1 hit point.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The parasite makes two vine attacks.
• Vine. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.

ABOUT

Thorny vines wriggle from this green, egg-shaped plant. Tumescent boils cover its surface and occasionally burst creating a nauseating scent.

Subversive Progeny. Begedhi parasites exist as extensions of their mother plant, but still act as autonomous creatures with a tremendous ability to absorb knowledge and memories from their hosts to mimic them. Since it requires a week for parasites to fully overcome their hosts, mother plants maintain a larder of infected victims in a secluded place and release them when a week has elapsed to spread their progeny. Mother plants cannot regrow parasites, so they die once they have released all their “children.” Parasites can maintain a symbiotic relationship with their hosts for up to five years, allowing them to spread throughout the stars without having to draw undue attention to themselves. The only telltale sign of a begedhi-infected host is a small mote of green in one of its eyes.