Maggotae

These creatures are inside the organs implanted by the doctors in Malkuth's citadel, and have a mental link with Malkuth; they serve her purposes. They are colony creatures of many small worms. Each small worm can be killed by a scratch targeted at it. However, the person will take all damage that the worms do unless the person causing the damage makes a +10 effect or greater on the hand-to- hand combat targeting roll. They secrete drugs that: A. sustain the person's life despite the damage they do; B. counteract the pain that the person would otherwise experience from them (although the person can still feel them inside the person, and they can suppress the pain at any time); and C. cause mental alterations, including through minor hallucinations. They can see through their person's senses, and have access to all EGO-based skills (at a skill roll of 10) through their link with Malkuth. The maggotae see through the person's senses, and know everything that the person does; they have all the person's non-EGO skills.

The implanted colony will try to possess the person every 666 minutes, until the person gets rid of them; the Maggotae's roll is bonused by the maximum amount by which the person has lost a horror throw since the last successful possession. If it succeeds in this possession, Maggotae will control the body part. The person will also go one point away from zero in Mental Balance each time it succeeds; a Mental Balance of zero will go down by one. In this control, their aim is to push people toward Awakening, by whatever means are possible. For instance, a possessed tongue may say things that shock the person and those around the person. Possessed eyes will give a +5 to all rolls to see True Reality, or +10 if a shock would result. A possessed brain gives a +10 on all rolls to see True Reality, but also results in a -10 on Horror Throws. A possessed kidney or liver will not excrete hallucinogens, causing them to last much longer (depending on the hallucinogen). The colony itself can cause horror throws by chewing through the person's skin and coming to the surface. (If in a visible location, this reduces the person's effective COM to zero). If the person drops in Mental Balance, they may pick up appropriate Disadvantages (or Limitations) that are appropriate; these are usually Mental Disadvantages such as Depression or Schizophrenia. Enhanced Awareness may be gotten through a rising Mental Balance. A positive Mental Balance up to +100 does not affect Maggotae possession of any type.

If a possession attempt succeeds, they can attempt another possession roll. This roll is not bonused by Horror Throws, is against the higher of the person's CON or EGO, and cannot be negatively affected by Mental Balance. If the maggotae succeed, they spread to the nearest body part. Possession rolls against maggotae in multiple body parts are for all of them (in both types of throws); however, they are at a +5 to the maggotae's scores for every additional body part colonized. If all of a person's body is colonized, the person will die with their Mental Balance carried over into their next life. Malkuth can slow or stop this process if Malkuth sees fit.

Alternately to possessing another body part on the person with a successful roll, they can attempt to colonize a body part in someone else. This body part must be in skin-to-skin contact with the body part they have possessed. They can only possess human or once-human (e.g., Creature of the Night) body parts. To be colonized, the recipient must lose a possession roll like the one for possessing another body part, including all changes.

Their main defenses are to burrow to below the skin and to allow the person to feel the pain they would normally be experiencing. They will use these as necessary to protect themselves (or to advance the breaking of the Illusions), unless they are commanded otherwise by Malkuth.

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