Over-Category: Biophage
Kingdom: Animal
Beings that are biophages are those who eat and survive by the consumption of other living and materials or various nutrients that reside in the earth or native terrain. Animals are nonhumanoid creatures that are a natural part of the fantasy ecology. Some of them have magical powers, but most are unintelligent and lack any society or language. Animals include all varieties of ordinary animals with several subtypes: amphibian, arthropod, avian, mammal, primeval, and reptile. Many animals have zero scores for mind or spirit. Unless otherwise noted, animals of zero quality will automatically fail any preservation save. The notable group exception is primeval animals. Perhaps one of the most powerful defenses of the dire beasts is their resistance to Mind and Spirit attacks. Any preservation save of involving sleep, charm or fear will automatically save for all members of the primeval sub group.

Assassin Beetle (Arthropod)

These are four-legged insectoids around 8 inches long. They offer no direct combat threat. However, they attempt to reproduce by implanting eggs into living humanoid hosts while sleeping. The victim is permitted a body preservation save (DC 11) as if this were poison. If failing the save, the new beetle grows for d4+4 days, after which the pain sets in as the larva attempts to gnaw its way out of the host. This inflicts 1 body point of damage per hour. No natural healing occurs during the infestation, but magical healing will work. The bug keeps eating until the host reaches zero, where in the new insect emerges in an “Alien-style” fashion. Remove Disease will kill the larva. Also, if it cannot eat its way out within 12 hours, the bug dies and is passed from the host about 8 hours later. However, there is still no natural healing occurs until the bug has been passed. An assassin beetle is almost always a solitary creature.

Body:	4 ( STR:0, AGIL:1, RESIL:2 )
Mind:	0 ( LOGIC:0, PERC:0, JUDG:0 )
Spirit:	0 ( WILL:0, FAITH:0, MUSE:0 )
Movement:	Not defined in data
Size Category:	Tiny
Protection Points:	0
Guard Roll Dice:	d4 & d4