Worm-that-Walks

[Arin]

Creature type:	Aberration
Creature Subtype:	Worm that Walks
Habitat:	Dependent on the creatures forming the body.
Disposition:	Dependent on the creature eaten by the swarm.
Diet:	Dependent on the creatures forming the body.
Magically Proficient:	No

Sometimes the dead don't stay dead. Sometimes a person will return as a ghost. Sometimes the body rises or becomes reanimated as a zombie, ghoul, draugr, or skeleton. And then there are the worms-that-walk.

Contrary to what many who know of them believe, a worm-that-walks isn't necessarily made up of worms. Some are made of leeches, some of beetles, even the rare one made of small birds. All are connected by the fact that they are swarms of creatures that, for whatever reason, have adopted the intelligence and appearance of one of the common intelligent races.

Most often, the reason for their formation is that the creatures making up the worm-that-walks had all fed on a particular person's corpse. The creatures were then linked together in a hive mind replicating (or, some argue, controlled by) the person whose body they had devoured.

No one knows the exact means by which this phenomenon occurs, and those who attempt to replicate it often fail. The creatures themselves (if a swarm of vermin could collectively be considered a creature) are very rare, implying that their formation is a highly uncommon event.

As for appearances, that can vary wildly from 'individual' to 'individual'. Some are almost indistinguishable from a normal member of the race, only given away by details visible on very close inspection. Others resemble nothing more than vaguely humanoid swarms of vermin. It's thought that these differences in shape represent the strength of the hive mind, or maybe its skill in manipulating its component creatures.

Given people's adverse reactions to the creatures often making up a worm-that-walks, they will often employ loose clothing and hoods to hide their appearances, with the less-normal looking ones often using masks and gloves to further hide their forms.

One odd quirk of these creatures is their total lack of an internal mana pool. Even powerful magi who 'return' as worms-that-walk find themselves entirely reliant on mana crystals to power their spells. It's not uncommon for a spell-casting worm-that-walks to have dozens of small mana crystals stored away in the swarms that make up their bodies.

Killing a worm-that-walks is an exceptionally difficult task. Even those made up of larger creatures like small birds lack the centralized vital systems that most creatures possess. Often a sword slash or crossbow bolt will only kill or injure a few members of the collective, leaving hundreds or thousands perfectly unharmed and willing to take their place. Not only that, but the creature is also capable of dispersing its body to escape harm, and if even one member of the swarm survives it will reform its body over anywhere from a few days to a week. Obviously, the length of time required means most of these creatures only disperse themselves as a last resort.

If one must kill a worm-that-walks, it is advised to use spells or attacks that engulf a large portion or even the entirety of the creature.  However, using explosives on a dispersing specimen is not advised, as the force of the blast could fling some vermin away where they could escape and reform the swarm.