According to the text, an infester grub burrows into the flesh of something (probably a person, given the game), where it stays for a month, before tunneling out
, requiring a DC 20 Fortitude save to avoid instant death (the impression I got was that failure doesn't just mean -1 hp, it takes you straight to -10). Given that, you obviously wouldn't want to let that thing reach maturity, and apparently you can find the thing inside someone with a Treat Injury check, but that raises a question: to make the check, you've got to be looking for...well...something, so what on Earth would inspire you to search somebody for a chestburster?Don't know if anyone's ever run afoul of this creature. As with most of the questions I ask, this stuff is just peripheral to my own games, and is mostly motivated by my own curiosity, so hopefully I'm not being a bother. :embarrass
The pain shouldn't be something the NPCs will note as more than a fleeting problem. NPCs shouldn't mention it unless that's in their character (plenty of people have no idea when they're having a heart attack. Plenty more will convince themselves they don't have one. Play that up a bit.)
Unfortunately, most PCs will become suspect when you inform them they have a small stomach ache...
The period imminently before the 'chest-burst' could be a calm before the proverbial storm, or a period of immense pain for the host... probably the former, if you plan to have the creatures survive realistically (I mean, who's going to ignore some guy rolling around in pain for half the day... or even an hour, for that matter?).
Perhaps the parasite unleashes a numbing agent to ease the pain of its progress... not intense enough for the creature to realize it is being numbed, but enough to cancel the pain... and possibly a bit more?
Hopefully that's what you're looking for.
Give it some symptoms. Obviously since it's latching onto the human's innards and drawing sustenance, the person in question would become significantly hungrier than normal. As it grows, so - I imagine - would random pains from within the creature. It'd start with stomach aches, then advance to stronger aches and internal stinging when the host moves in a way that the parasite doesn't expect (your tumble-happy fast hero would experience this regularly...)
The pain shouldn't be something the NPCs will note as more than a fleeting problem. NPCs shouldn't mention it unless that's in their character (plenty of people have no idea when they're having a heart attack. Plenty more will convince themselves they don't have one. Play that up a bit.)
Unfortunately, most PCs will become suspect when you inform them they have a small stomach ache...
That makes sense. The NPC infectees wave off whatever physical symptoms they have, and then after the PCs see an infester...emerge, whether or not the NPC survives, the PCs will probably want to make that Treat Injury check.
Perhaps the parasite unleashes a numbing agent to ease the pain of its progress... not intense enough for the creature to realize it is being numbed, but enough to cancel the pain... and possibly a bit more?
Ironically, according to the book, the creature does one better than that. It secretes endorphins and other hormones that strengthen the host and induce a sense of euphoria and invincibility. This translates to +2 Strength and Constitution, but -2 Wisdom.
The period imminently before the 'chest-burst' could be a calm before the proverbial storm, or a period of immense pain for the host... probably the former, if you plan to have the creatures survive realistically (I mean, who's going to ignore some guy rolling around in pain for half the day... or even an hour, for that matter?).
Actually, it seems to be the latter. According to the book, it takes 1d6 minutes for the infester (by now about two feet long) to chew its way out of the host's torso, and this is a period of excruciating pain (a worm the size of a dachshund chewing through your abdominal muscles would sting like a mother...).
That makes sense. The NPC infectees wave off whatever physical symptoms they have, and then after the PCs see an infester...emerge, whether or not the NPC survives, the PCs will probably want to make that Treat Injury check.p
This is when you play the evil GM and alert them to all sorts of silly conditions just to build up paranoia.
"Your stomach hurts a little, but it could be the Mcheartstopper you ate."
"You're feeling slightly nauseous after your night out."
Possibly make them roll fort saves for the flue going around... and make it be just a stomach flue for a couple of the party members.
Have fun. :P
Ironically, according to the book, the creature does one better than that. It secretes endorphins and other hormones that strengthen the host and induce a sense of euphoria and invincibility. This translates to +2 Strength and Constitution, but -2 Wisdom.
Ah, right. I really should pull out the Menace Manual before replying to posts like this one.
Well, there you go. NPC could justify the pains by relating them to some medication/energy drink/food their eating. Granted they'll lose confidence in their reasoning as the weeks pass... but then they might be afraid of going into the doctors and finding out it's cancer or something that's causing the pains of the creature inside, nevermind the buzz.
Of course if it doesn't hurt at all the entire time... that's kinda a buzzkill for all the paranoia you could put your players through. Who says the euphoria and stupidity has to come without a physical downside, though? :P
Actually, it seems to be the latter. According to the book, it takes 1d6 minutes for the infester (by now about two feet long) to chew its way out of the host's torso, and this is a period of excruciating pain (a worm the size of a dachshund chewing through your abdominal muscles would sting like a mother...).
True, I was talking about hours. This is talking about minutes... so it's not unreasonable as far as the creature escaping before detection.
Thats the territory of drugs, poisons, super over the top psychotic rage, etc.
So smart PCs are gonna associate those super annoyingly happy yet oblivious folks (or acting high as if on opiates or however you interpret those symptoms) start having critters jump out of their bodies in a gore-arific spray of blood and meaty bits.
That being said, though I don't have that book I love the concept of this monster. I think its a really cool adaptation for a parasite demonbeastie to have, the euphoria makes the host mostly oblivious to any other symptoms genius! Its so diabolically twisted I love it!:D
-DF