Welcome to Monster Monday! This week we bring you the Galley Hungerer, a creature whose hunger will never be sated.
Galley Hungerer CR 5
Once human, this creature’s eyes are black as the void, reflecting no light at all, while its lower jaw extends unnaturally.
XP 1,600
CE Medium aberration
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft, scent; Perception +10
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dex, +3 natural)
hp 42 (6d8+12); fast healing 1
Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6
Defensive Abilities hungering void form, ice-heart reanimation
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft. or fly 30 ft. (perfect)
Melee bite +9 (1d8+6) or swarm attack (1d6 plus distraction and ouroboros psychosis)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks distraction, ouroboros psychosis, swarm attack
STATISTICS
Str 18, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 8
Base Atk +4; CMB +8; CMD 21
Feats Ability Focus (ouroboros Psychosis), Improved Natural Attack (bite), Weapon Focus
(bite)
Skills Acrobatics +12, Fly +11, Perception +10, Stealth +12, Survival +10;
SQ hungering void form, ice-heart reanimation
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Hungering Void Form (Su)
When a galley hungerer reaches half hit points it immediately transforms into its hungering void form. While in hungering void form, the galley hungerer gains the swarm subtype and counts as a swarm of Fine-sized creatures. It gains a fly speed of 30 ft. (perfect) and becomes immune to normal weapon damage. While in swarm form it uses its swarm attack instead of its bite attack. The galley hungerer returns to its normal form should it reach 0 or less HP or be restored to full HP. The galley hungerer can intentionally activate this ability by consuming its own flesh until it reaches half health.
Ice-heart Reanimation (Su)
When killed the galley hungerer does not stay dead. 24 hours after dying the galley hungerer is restored to 0 hp and starts to heal itself with fast healing, no matter the damage inflicted on its body. This can only be prevented by extracting the galley hungerer’s frozen heart and casting remove curse on it, or exposing it to direct sunlight. Sunlight filtered through glass or other barriers has no effect on the galley hungerer’s heart.
Ouroboros Psychosis (Su)
When damaged by the galley hungerer’s swarm attack a creature must make a will save DC 17 or contract ouroboros psychosis. This DC has been boosted by the galley hungerer’s ability focus. Additionally, if the flesh of the galley hungerer is consumed, or fumes caused by burning the galley hungerer’s corpse are inhaled, the creature must make a DC 15 Will save against the standard version of ouroboros psychosis.
Ouroboros Psychosis
Type: disease, inhaled, ingested; Save Will DC 15
Track mental; Frequency 1/day
Effect 2 Wisdom damage
Cure 2 consecutive saves
Resolution At 0 Wisdom, the creature transforms into a galley hungerer and begins trying to consume all nearby flesh.
ECOLOGY
Environment distant outposts in the void
Organization solitary or crew (5)
Treasure standard
In the void, it is suffocation that kills you first, but should you manage to avoid that and the perils of thirst, starvation is one of the greatest risks. Ships that are lost, or outposts that miss a supply delivery quickly run out of food. When food runs out there are few good solutions.
Despite the taboo, some crews turn to cannibalism.
The ouroboros psychosis and the galley hungerer often results, a creature twisted by its own hunger and driven mad, never fully able to satiate the newfound hunger it ventures out further trying to find new sources of flesh. Due to the events of their creation, the galley hungerers prefer the flesh of intelligent creatures, but in times of scarcity will attempt to devour any meat they can.
Acts of cannibalism do not always bring about the ouroboros psychosis, it seems to occur far more often in the depths of space, or in isolation from larger communities. Perhaps there, the gods of the void take interest in the depravity, or a strong sense of community and belonging is enough to ward against the transformative madness.
For whatever reason, those who are fully consumed by the Psychosis never seem to stay dead, as long as their frozen heart remains hidden within their chest. Clerics of Alula the Wandering Maiden suggest that it is only the power of the stars that can finally bring the tortured souls peace, and it is only this light which can melt the creature’s heart and finally put them to rest.
