Biozombie (3.5e Template)

Biozombie
Summary::Biozombies are not quite true undead. They are creatures which have been infected and whose virus now controls their very actions and thoughts.  Their bodies now shamble mindlessly, spreading the virus which continues to animate the body by replacing rotting vitals with infected biomass.  They are technically living creatures, but mutated and little more than infected tendons and bone surrounded by a collapsing shell of meat.

Perhaps the most terrible thing of all is the virus takes control of the body but the body's brain remains semi-function. Its primal desires kick in, and as the virus does not have any need to feed or maintain its host its host quickly becomes starved, and its mind dominated with the need to eat. The virus takes advantage of their hunger, using bites to spread to a new host to continue the cycle.

The biozombie virus is responsible for the transformation. As the body decays, more and more flesh is consumed by the virus until it forms a vine-like structure of roots around the bones and muscles of the creature, structures which resist rot and keep the failing structure moving. Eventually it decays into dust, but by then it has likely killed everyone else.

Creating a Biozombie
Biozombie is an aquired template which can be formed by any corporeal non-construct non-undead creature with a skeleton or exoskeleton, and can (and often do) form after the creature has died, provided the body is intact.

Hit Dice
HD from class levels remain, but biozombies are incapable of performing anything but simple actions and so many class features may be unavailable. They cannot use any spellcasting, powers, spell-like abilities, Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except for Balance, Escape Artist, Intimidate, and Ride), the Concentration skill, or any abilities that require patience or concentration, nor can they cast spells or activate magic items that require a command word, a spell trigger (such as a wand), or spell completion (such as a scroll) to function. Everything else remains the same.

Size and Type
The creature type changes to aberration. Do not change HD, BAB, saves, or skill points.

Speed
The creature loses speed as if it were wearing medium armor (so 30 ft. becomes 20 ft. and so forth). If the creature already has its speed reduce on account of wearing armor, or possesses unhampered movement in medium armor like a dwarf the speed is not further reduced.

Armor Class
Biozombies gain +4 natural armor.

Attack
Biozombies gain an unarmed strike thanks to their Improved Unarmed Strike bonus feat, which can be any part of their body, often slams with their limbs or bites. As an unarmed strike, they gain additional attacks for high BAB.

Special Attacks
Disease : The unarmed strikes of the biozombie carry the biozombie rot disease. It only infects through piercing or slashing injury, or direct contact with a creature wounded by piercing or slashing damage (that is, exposed wounds).

Biozombie Rot—Injury (typically bite), Fortitude DC 10 + 1/2 HD + Con, save negates, incubation period 1d3 hours, damage 1d4 Con and Cha. If either constitution or charisma hits 0, the ability damage is removed, the creature gains the biozombie template, and they probably go out to bite someone's face off.

Special Qualities
Reanimated Traits : Biozombies are not really undead in the traditional sense, but they possess many of the same qualities. They are mindless and are thus immune to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects). They are immune to fatigue, exhaustion, poison, sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease, and death effects. They are immune to ability damage, ability drain, and energy drain, but can take non-lethal damage and critical hits as normal for their original creature. It cannot heal damage on its own, and is immune to both positive and negative energy, though it can be healed through the repairSpC series of spells and by those possessing the Craft Construct feat. It is immune to any effect that requires a fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects or is harmless), is not as risk of death from massive damage, and is immediately destroyed when reduced to 0 hp or less. It is not affected by turn undead, rebuke undead, raise dead or similar reviving attempts, though once it is destroyed the creature who was infected can be revived as normal. They are proficient with its natural weapons, all simple weapons, and any weapons mentioned in its entry and are proficient with whatever type of armor (light, medium, or heavy) it is described as wearing, as well as all lighter types. Biozombies not indicated as wearing armor are not proficient with armor. Biozombies are proficient with shields if they are proficient with any form of armor. Biozombies do not breathe, eat, or sleep, but they are often hungry and will attempt to eat any non-biozombie they can reach.

Abilities
Str +4, Dex -2, Con +4, Int -, Wis -2, Cha 1

Skills
Biozombies loses all skills.

Feats
A biozombie retains only feats which modify or relate to simple actions such as attacking: for example Combat Expertise, Two-Weapon Fighting, and Cleave, but not Dodge, Skill Focus, or item creation feats.

Environment
As original creature

Organization
Biozombies do not have a society, they exist only to fulfill its host base needs and spread the virus.

Challenge Rating
CR::+1 CR

Treasure
As base creature

Alignment
Always True Neutral

Advancement
By HD

Level Adjustment
Level Adjustment::--