Centipede, Spinal

This lengthy, segmented horror has a clear membranous exoskeleton and is covered in a viscous slime.

Spinal Centipede CR 2

XP 600
Skilled
N Small vermin
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0

DEFENSE

AC 16, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +2 natural, +1 size)
hp 16 (3d8+3)
Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +1
Immune mind-affecting effects
Weaknesses vulnerability to fire

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft.
Melee bite +6 (1d4 plus attach), sting +6 (1d3 plus poison)

STATISTICS

Str 10, Dex 17, Con 12, Int -, Wis 10, Cha 1
Base Atk +2; CMB +1; CMD 14
Feats Weapon Finesse B
SQ malleable, replace spine

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Malleable (Ex)

The spinal centipede’s body secretes a flammable lubricating jelly, allowing it to fit into narrow areas with ease. The vermin takes no penalty to its speed or checks when squeezing in an area that is one size category smaller than its actual size. The vermin can squeeze normally through an area two size categories smaller than its actual size.

Poison (Ex)

Bite injury; save Fort DC 12; frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect 1d4 Dex damage; cure 1 save. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Replace Spine (Ex)

The spinal centipede can crawl into, consume, and replace the spine of any dead humanoid creature as a full-round action. This animates the corpse of the creature into a zombie (as the animate dead spell), except the zombie possesses the vermin type instead of the undead type, and is not healed by negative energy or harmed by positive energy. Three times per day, the spinal centipede can reproduce a larva from a humanoid creature’s corpse. After 1 day of gestation, the larva grows into a new spinal centipede. The original spinal centipede has no control over its spawn.

ECOLOGY

Environment underground or urban
Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3-6)
Treasure incidental

Spinal centipedes have a unique and terrifying method of reproduction. They paralyze prey with a neurotoxin before eating their way through the victim’s spine. From there they seize control over the creature’s nervous system and lay larva that gestate within the cavity. Animating the corpse into a farce of life, the centipede can keep it mobile for days or weeks, depending on the rate of decay. During this time, dozens of fast-developing larva grow to maturity, bursting free to find new humanoid hosts. Infestations of spinal centipedes are often confused for spreading plagues of zombies. While the ends are similar, the small confusion can cost many lives when trusted methods of combating undead completely fail.