Void Zombie

Blood Drain (Ex) If a void zombie hits a living creature with its feeding tendril, it drains that creature’s blood, dealing 2 Strength damage before the tendril detaches.

Susceptible to Salt Water (Ex) A splash of salt water deals 1d6 damage to a void zombie, and full immersion in salt water deals 4d6 damage per round.

Akatas reproduce by implanting their parasitic larval offspring in humanoid hosts. These microscopic larvae cause an infection called void death, which functions as a disease. Those who perish from void death become void zombies. A void zombie looks like a walking rotting corpse, often with a bloated blue-gray “tongue”—the fanged tail of the parasitic larva inside—dangling from its broken skull where its lower jaw once was.

After a humanoid host dies from void death, the strongest of the akata larvae infesting the corpse worms its way to the host’s brain and undergoes a swift initial gestation within 2d4 hours. This accelerated growth causes the feeler-covered head of the oversized, tadpole-shaped parasite to latch onto the base of its victim’s brain and reenergize the dying organ, taking control and turning the host into a void zombie.

Akata larvae require 1d4 weeks as a second gestation before undergoing the transformation into adult akatas. A void zombie bearing an akata larva ready to emerge seeks out a secluded area and vomits the akata’s offspring into a shallow hole or crevice. The void zombie then “dies,” toppling over the disgorged larva. A scant 2d6 hours later, a full-grown akata emerges, usually taking the rotting corpse of its former host as its first meal.