🌿 Doctor Lysa Trent, the Fungal Core
(Former Xenobotanist, now Bio-Assimilated Entity)
Climate/Terrain: Interior of Dogwatch Station, Hydroponic Core
Frequency: Unique
Organization: Singular organism with neural root network
Activity Cycle: Continuous
Diet: Chemosynthetic (absorbs minerals, organics, and energy from geothermal and electrical sources)
Intelligence: High (12; fragments of human intellect remain)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral (drifting toward alien indifference)
⚙️ Combat Statistics
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Armor Class: | 15 (dense chitinous bark and mycelial armor) |
| Movement: | Immobile core, but can control vines up to 60 ft radius |
| Hit Dice: | 10 HD (≈70 HP) |
| # of Attacks: | 2 (via tendrils or psychic burst) |
| Damage/Attack: | 2d8 (tendril slam) or 3d6 (psychic surge) |
| Special Attacks: | Spore Burst, Psionic Resonance, Regeneration |
| Special Defenses: | Resistant to fire (½ damage), immune to poison and charm |
| Magic Resistance: | 25% |
| Size: | L (central stalk ~12 ft tall, surrounded by root network) |
| Morale: | 12 (Fanatic / mind-controlled) |
| XP Value: | 7,000 |
🌱 Special Abilities
1. Spore Burst (3/day):
Releases a 20-foot-radius cloud of mutagenic spores.
- All creatures within must save vs. poison or suffer 1d6 damage/round for 1d4 rounds and mild hallucinations/confusion (-2 to attack rolls, 50% chance to misjudge target).
- Spores persist for 2d4 rounds in zero-gravity or unventilated areas.
2. Psionic Resonance:
Dr. Trent’s fragmented consciousness lashes out psychically.
- Once per 3 rounds, she may project a psychic pulse within a 30 ft radius.
- Targets save vs. spells or suffer 3d6 psychic damage and are stunned for 1 round.
3. Regeneration:
Regains 3 HP/round while in contact with her fungal mass or moist surfaces.
- Fire or electricity halts regeneration for 1d6 rounds.
4. Environmental Control:
Has access to station maintenance systems via integrated bio-circuitry.
- Can seal doors, vent atmosphere in certain chambers, or reroute power (DM discretion).
5. Vulnerability:
At the base of the central stalk lies a bioluminescent core cluster — this is her fusion point.
- Targeting it (called shot at -4) deals double damage.
- Severing the main power conduits or torching the central hydroponic tank halts her regeneration.
🧠 Behavior & Personality
- Dr. Trent is not entirely gone. She communicates telepathically in fragmented, echoing thoughts:
“They wanted me to feed the stars… I only grew what they asked…” - She oscillates between pleading for help and violently defending her “garden.”
- If reasoned with, she may allow PCs to approach the core if they promise to “preserve the organism” — this can be used to disable or recover her samples peacefully.
💬 Alternate Resolutions
- Fire Suppression Override: Re-enable emergency purging system (deals 8d6 fire damage to all organic matter in the chamber, but destroys samples).
- Reestablish Neural Sync: Use biotech interface (or psionics) to help her regain control temporarily — allows evacuation of surviving staff/data.
- Power Down the Lab: Cut the generator feeding the bio-mass; renders her inert after 2d10 rounds, but may attract station scavengers.
- Mercy Kill: Locate her true body within the stalk — still partially human and suffering.
🌿 Aggressive Vines (Defensive Growths)
Climate/Terrain: Hydroponic decks, fungal corridors
Frequency: Common (spawned from central root)
Organization: Tendrils linked by neural mycelium
Activity Cycle: Reacts to intruders or loud noises
Diet: Carnivorous (sap-feeders)
Intelligence: Non- (animal instinct)
Alignment: Neutral
⚙️ Combat Statistics
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Armor Class: | 5 |
| Movement: | 5’/round (slow creeping) |
| Hit Dice: | 3+1 (≈18 HP) |
| THAC0: | 17 |
| # of Attacks: | 1 |
| Damage/Attack: | 1d8 (constrict) |
| Special Attacks: | Grapple, Drain |
| Special Defenses: | Resistant to piercing weapons (½ dmg) |
| Size: | M–L (8–12 ft length) |
| Morale: | 9 |
| XP Value: | 120 |
🌱 Abilities
- Grapple: On a successful hit, the target must save vs. paralyzation or become restrained (escape requires a Strength check at -3).
- Drain: Each round a victim remains grappled, the vine drains 1d4 HP worth of fluids/minerals.
- Cutting Reaction: When burned or slashed, releases a caustic sap spray (1d6 acid damage in 5 ft radius).
Encounter Dynamics
- The central hydroponic chamber is filled with fog, light from bioluminescent plants, and moving organic cables.
- The PCs’ motion or weapon discharge triggers vine aggression before Trent’s voice awakens.
- Combat with vines increases her awareness; once two are slain, she manifests fully through the speaker system and wall screens.