VILKA - By Rich Graves
FREQUENCY: Very Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOUR CLASS: 3/Special
MOVE: 18"/Special
HIT DICE: 4/Special
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2/Special
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4/Special
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Possession
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Fire resistant
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Very
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Neutral (Evil)
SIZE: S
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: V/500+5 per hit point
In its true form, a Vilka appears as a dark, small, tubular blob covered
with many long and short tentacles that are constantly in motion. When
attacking (always done in secret and with one individual), a Vilka will
attempt to wrap itself around the face of its humanoid victim and enter the
body through the mouth. If it is successful (victim must make a saving
throw versus death), it will complete its occupation of the host creature
within 1 segment. At first the host will act in a manner that is not
completely inconsistent with its own personality. However, over time those
around the possessed person may notice new traits in him or her that were
not there before. After one full day of possession, the person will begin
behaving aggressively and irrationally toward the people around him or her.
After two days, the possessed will begin to indulge excessively in all
manner of things, from food to sex to alcohol, often attempting to take
control of those around them through threat and intimidation. While
possessed, the host creature will be able to take up to 50% more damage than
they would normally be able to sustain before being killed, and will only
take half damage from fire based attacks. If the victim's body becomes
excessively damaged (down to 20% of total hit points), the Vilka will
disengage itself from combat and attempt to find another host as soon as
possible, preferably in secret.
If the Vilka is encountered in its natural state before it has possessed a
humanoid body, it can attack twice per round for 1-4 points of damage, and
will be totally immune to any fire based attack. It will never fight to
the
death, and will attempt to run for cover if it loses more than half its hit
points.
Removing a Vilka from its host is an extremely difficult task. A wish,
limited wish, or alter reality spell will remove the creature, and every
cure disease spell that is cast on the host will cause the creature 1-12 hit
points of damage.
Vilka's can be encountered anywhere, and are rumored to have originally come
from subterranean areas deep within the earth. This may be due to their
natural dislike of sunlight, and desire to always be in dark, wet places.
If, in the unlikely event, a Vilka is killed through the use of multiple cure disease spells while still inside the host victim, there is a 50% chance that the host will immediately undergo violent gut-wrenching spasms which will result in the dead Vilka being vomited up in 1-2 turns. If a dead Vilka is not vomited up, the host becomes violently ill for 3-6 days (total bed rest required) during which time they will pass the Vilka through their systems and make a full recovery.