Hungry Dreamer

An infected target takes 1d4 points oftemporary Constitution damage per failed Fortitude save.Infection can be cleansed instantly by a Heal check (DC 24),or any ofa number ofspells including remove curse, remove disease, dispel evil, heal, and restoration.A paladin’s resistance to disease also proves effective against infectious extermination.Ifthe infection is allowed to run its course,and the target’s Constitution goes to 0,it ceases its struggle—it doesn’t die,so much as it becomes transformed internally into a cruor.Its outward physical appearance slowly shifts to match that ofa cruor over a month’s time.The victim (already thinking craftily,like a cruor) may pretend to be unaffected until it can get away to make its change. It retains scraps ofinformation from its former mind,but no skills,spells,or special abilities,unless the DM determines otherwise.It may be possible to still save the victim,ifhigh-level magic or psionics is brought to bear,but this is up to the DM.

Freedom ofMovement (Su): A cruor benefits from a continuous freedom ofmovement effect,as the spell (see the Player’s Handbook).

Water Breathing (Ex): A cruor can breathe underwater indefinitely.

Medium Monstrous Humanoid

Hit Dice: 6d8 + 18 + 3 (48 hp) Initiative: +0 Speed: 20 feet AC: 16 (+6 natural) Attacks: Bite +8 melee Damage: Bite 1d4+3 plus poison Face/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet (30 feet with tendrils) Special Attacks: Mind-eating tendrils,poison Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 feet Saves: Fort +5,Ref+5,Will +9 Abilities: Str 14,Dex 11,Con 16,Int 11,Wis 18,Cha 11 Skills: Hide +8,Listen +15,Move Silently +4,Spot +15 Feats: Alertness,Toughness Climate/Terrain: Any Organization: Solitary or pair Challenge Rating: 5 Treasure: Standard Alignment: Neutral evil Advancement: 7–11 HD (Medium);12–20 HD (Large)

Desire smolders in the darting eyes ofa hungry dreamer, hinting at its never-ending appetite for living minds.

A hungry dreamer appears as a devolved humanoid that moves about on all fours,like a beast.Its flesh is clothed only in gnarled,bone-white hair that extends from its head and down its back like a mane.Dozens ofadditional hairlike tendrils extend farther from the mane,undulating through the air as ifpossessed ofa life oftheir own.A hungry dreamer’s eyes are expressive,and its mouth is agape with overlarge teeth,drooling poison.The creature appears hazy,even in bright light,as ifit walks partly outside the material world (or as ifit exists partly in dream).

A hungry dreamer is born ofa normal humanoid female whose nightmares led her too far into darkling corners of the dream world.There,the unborn child was touched by the Dark Plea.A hungry dreamer appears normal enough at birth,but as it ages,it slowly takes on its bestial qualities,grows its tendrils,and gains a hunger for the thoughts and dreams ofother living beings.Stolen thoughts and dreams are thought to fuel the growing presence of the Dark Plea itselfin the world. A hungry dreamer speaks the language ofits parents (usually Common).

Combat

Hungry dreamers rely on their hunger to defend them,biting only when opponents come within reach.Despite slouching along on all fours “naturally,” a hungry dreamer still retains many aspects ofits