Skulking Cyst (CR 4)

Small Undead
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Initiative: +4 (Dex); Senses: blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., Listen +11, and Spot +11
Languages: Common, does not speak


AC: 19 (+1 size, +4 Dex, +4 natural), touch 15, flat-footed 15
Hit Dice: 4d12 (26 hp)
Fort +1, Ref +5, Will +6
Speed: 30 ft., climb 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
Space: 5 ft./5 ft.
Base Attack +2; Grapple -2
Attack: Intestine loop +6 melee
Full Attack: 2 intestine loops +6 melee
Damage: Intestine loop 1d4 plus attachment
Special Attacks/Actions: Attach, blood drain, spell-like abilities
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 19, Con -, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 16
Special Qualities: inescapable craving, resistance to fire 5, undead traits, +2 turn resistance
Feats: Alertness; Weapon Finesse
Skills: Climb +15, Hide +23, Listen +11, Move Silently +19, Search +8, Spot +11, and Tumble +7
Advancement: -
Climate/Terrain: Any
Organization: Solitary or concentration (3-9)
Treasure/Possessions: Standard

Source: Libris Mortis

Attach (Ex): If a skulking cyst hits with an intestine, it latches onto the opponent's body. An attached skulking cyst has an AC of 15.

Blood Drain (Ex): A skulking cyst drains blood, dealing 1d4 points of Constitution damage in each round it remains attached. Once it has drained 7 points of Constitution, it uses its necrotic cyst ability. After that, it drops off and attempts to skitter away into a shadowed corner or other hidden location.

Inescapable Craving: A skulking cyst has an inescapable craving for blood, which it satisfies by using its blood drain ability.

Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day - darkness; 1/day - necrotic cyst. Caster level 3rd.

Skills: A skulking cyst has a +8 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently (already calculated into the statistics above).

A creature of shadows, a skulking cyst prefers to launch attacks on lone victims from dark ceilings and sewer grates.

A skulking cyst is disgorged from the rotting corpse of a living creature, born of a necrotic cyst that eventually kills its host (see the necrotic cyst spell,).

A skulking cyst prefers shadows and dark corners, only revealing the horror of its form when it strikes lone victims from hiding. Though often cloaked in the detritus of a previous victim, the skulking cyst's true "heart" is a 1-foot-diameter spherical sac that contains fluid and semisolid necrotic flesh, which slowly undulates as if in a mockery of breath.

A skulking cyst does not speak, but it understands Common and the languages its fleshy carapace originally spoke in life.