Myzoform

Large aberration (shapechanger), chaotic evil

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 123 (13d10 + 52)
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	17 (+3)	18 (+4)	19 (+4)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)

Skills Arcana +7, Deception +3, Stealth +6
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages all
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Shapechanger. The myzoform can use a bonus action to polymorph into any Small or Medium humanoid or back into its true form. Other than its size, its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.
• Amphibious. The myzoform can breathe air and water.
• Innate Spellcasting. The myzoform’s innate spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15). The myzoform can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
  • 2/day each: acid arrow, blindness/deafness, confusion, darkness
• Mimicry. The myzoform can mimic the voice of any humanoid whose memories it has absorbed. A creature that hears the voice can tell it is an imitation with a successful DC 13 Wisdom (Insight) check.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The myzoform makes three tentacle attacks.
• Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d10 + 3) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 13). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained.
• Leach Mind. The myzoform latches its many lamprey mouths on a creature grappled by it and feasts on its memories. The creature must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 40 (9d8) psychic damage and permanently loses 1 minute’s worth of memories, which are replaced with an indistinct haze. On a success, the creature takes half as much damage and doesn’t lose memories. Creatures that are immune to being charmed don’t lose memories.

ABOUT

Myzoforms come about when a mundane lamprey is accidentally exposed to strange and powerful magics-be it from the monstrous aboleths, wild sorcerers, or even natural sources. As a result of its exposure, the lamprey becomes presapient, allowing it to feed on and digest creatures’ memories as easily as a normal lamprey sucks blood.

When such a pre-sapient lamprey attaches itself to another pre-sapient lamprey, the two create a kind of feedback loop as their minds interconnect and feed on and regurgitate one another’s increasingly broken and bizarre memories.

The lampreys then look for more lampreys to turn into their body, and the process snowballs until a myzoform is born.

At this stage, a myzoform can survive on its own experiences and memories, but most myzoforms find themselves addicted to the fresh memories of other creatures. These thirsty creatures are often found haunting towns, cities, and other urban centers rich with potential prey on whose minds they can absorb.

When a myzoform strikes from the shadows and latches onto the mind of an unfortunate local, they absorb everything personality, memories, knowledge and leave in their wake only an amnesiac.

The most gluttonous and malicious myzoforms have fed on countless minds throughout their lives, and they might contain hundreds or even thousands of consumed personalities. As the number of minds inside them increases, only the most powerful myzoforms can stay in control; most eventually break down and self-destruct as their collective minds become a civil war of different fears, ideologies, and motivations.

Although some myzoforms can be genuinely malicious, those are rare. Many myzoforms feel highly guilty over their nigh unstoppable impulse to feed on other sapient beings.

Some rationalize their behavior by saying they can’t control their impulses, while others might try to cure themselves of their curse and seek outside help to overcome their insatiable addiction.