Quasi-Phorcysite

The quasi-phorcysites are neither an ancestry nor a culture, but the result of an incomplete process of transformation. In the furthest depths of the oceans dwell the Phorcysites, beings that resemble humanoids with cuttlefish heads. These creatures propagate their species by implanting an egg inside of a host body, which must be an intelligent humanoid. The egg hatches and becomes a parasite, slowly consuming various bodily and brain systems of its host, replacing them with its own ever-expanding network of tissues. After a long and painful transformational process, the host’s head slowly transforms into a phorcysite’s distinctive cuttlefish head and the host becomes a phorcysite.

One out of a thousand victims possess an innate magical resistance towhich stops the process part way through. The result is a partially transformed creature who retains much of its original nature, yet also now has several new traits unique to the phorcysites.

In order to create a quasi-phorcysite, you must first create a character as they exist prior to being implanted with the phorcysite egg. To represent the partial transformation process, choose two of the traits below and replace two traits from your character’s original ancestry, not including Age, Size, or Speed. If your ancestry only has one trait beyond those three, then remove that one trait and select two of traits below, adding them to your ancestry. Your creature type remains what it was prior to the transformation.

Ancestral Traits

Creatures partially transformed by phorcysite parasites tend to have skin that is somewhat translucent and slick, like a sea creature’s, though not the gelatinous skin of the full phorcysite. This skin can subtly change color, providing a degree of camouflage. Quasi-phorcysites also often have six small, prehensile tentacles growing from their jaw, each roughly a foot long. These tentacles have suckers on them and bony hooks at their ends, which can grapple foes. Like full phorcysites, quasiphorcysites also sometimes possess certain innate psychic abilities. Finally, some quasi-phorcysites develop an affinity for underwater environments.

Camouflage. Your semi-translucent, slimy skin changes color to match your environment. You have advantage on Stealth rolls that depend on not being seen.

Face Tentacles. Your facial tentacles are strong enough to grapple foes. When you take the attack action, you can make an unarmed attack with your tentacles against the target as a bonus action, if they are within five feet of you. On a hit, you can choose to grapple your foe rather than doing damage. The target’s escape DC equals 8 + your proficiency modifier + your Strength bonus.

Phorcysite Magic. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the shield spell once with this trait, without requiring a material component. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the detect thoughts spell once with this trait, without requiring a material component. You regain the ability to cast these spells with this trait when you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Submarine Affinity. You gain abilities associated with the phorcysite’s deep sea habitat. You can breathe air and water and have a swim speed equal to your speed.

Cultural Traits

There is no specific quasi-phorcysite culture. You retain the cultural traits you possessed prior to being infected.