Infestor (4e Monster)

The infestor is a intelligent zerg horror that works to actively spread the influence of the swarm by infesting those vulnerable to its corruption. It resembles nothing so much as a gigantic slug with glowing fluid sacks and a tentacled maw. It is always accompanied by an entourage of infested humanoids and typically fights alongside other zerg strains which it commands telepathically. Despite its bulk, the infestor has evolved the ability to burrow swiftly and silently through the ground. Its greatest strength by far, however, is the terrifying arsenal of powers that it uses to hinder and subvert enemies of the Swarm.

Infestor Tactics
The infestor approaches with surprise, if possible, burrowing up from beneath. It immediately attempts to ensnare an enemy that appears weak-willed with its neural parasite attack and uses an action point to use fungal growth. On subsequent rounds, it unleashes fungal growth as often as possible, commanding its allies to fight for it when it cannot. The infestor stays out of melee, if possible, spawning more defenders as needed. If the tide turns against it, the infestor will burrow and flee, engaging at a later time with reinforcements.

Infested Defender Tactics
Each infested defender is an unquestioning, selfless servant to the infestor that spawned it. They hold the line, blocking and grabbing enemies of their master to keep them at bay. If possible, they will drag a grabbed creature into a zone of fungal growth and hold them there.

Infestor Lore
A character knows the following information with a successful Nature check.
 * DC 15: Infestors are grotesque, burrowing monstrosities that infest their victims, making them slaves to the swarm. Infestors rely heavily on their minions, as they are vulnerable to attack in close quarters.
 * DC 20: Slaying an infestor's minions is no guarantee of peace, since it always seems to have more tucked away in its massive body. The infestor is able to bestow its putrid corruption upon its surroundings, making the very earth poisonous.
 * DC 25: Using a specialized tentacle on its back, the infestor can overwhelm a living creature's mind, bringing it under the infestor's sway. A terrible fate awaits any who aren't granted the mercy of a bloody, violent death at the hands of its infested minions... instead being slowly transformed into another of it's servants.

Zerg Infestation
Those drawn into the infestor's corrupted body are immediately infested. They begin hearing the whispers of the zerg hive mind, making it difficult to work at cross-purposes to its will. They become ill as their bodies begin to mutate, lacking the direction of an infestor though, it can only go so far. Veins of a yellow-brown hue run beneath their skin, forming a laticework of corrupted tissue, their eyes becoming orange as putrid, black fluids leak from every orifice. Finally thier mind is overcome and they fall under the sway of the hive mind, seeking to complete their transformation. Their bonds of friendship and loyalty are not yet completely purged -- though they may be shunned, due to their obvious infestation -- however, they will let nothing stand in the way of their newfound alegiance to the swarm.

Encounter Groups
Infestors are encountered with other zerg and always accompanied by an entourage of infested.

Level 15 Encounter (XP 6300)

 * 2 Infestors (with 8 infested defenders)
 * 4 Winged zerglings

Souces
StarCraft Wiki: Infestor