Aberrant Flesh Amalgam

A monstrous result of Mortal folly

The result of Mortal ambition and a despicable level of ignorant folly, the Aberrant Flesh Amalgam is an emergent version of the Flesh Amalgam that continues to evolve the more creatures it consumes. Aberrant Flesh Amalgams are intelligent monsters capable of creating lairs for themselves, making them even more dangerous to face when within their own turf.

Description

Twisting, quivering, formless masses of gore that can stretch and twist themselves to fit through spaces as narrow as an inch wide, Aberrant Flesh Amalgams are capable of forming and deforming appendages at will. At the ends of these appendages, the creature can shift an array of teeth to form a bloody, gaping maw capable of biting and grappling its prey. Otherwise, the creature seems to be an amorphous bag of flesh, blood and gore, undulating and squelching as it moves, and with the texture of flayed Sapient flesh. The smell of death and decay permanently surrounds an Aberrant Flesh Amalgam and its lair.

Behaviour and Abilities

Aberrant Flesh Amalgams are amorphous monsters capable of moving through spaces as narrow as one inch wide without squeezing. They are able to move across most surfaces with ease, including along walls and ceilings, and are known to possess both Blindsight and Tremorsense. The stench of death surrounds them, and with that is emitted a poisonous substance that effects victims via inhalation. They are able to extend an appendage from themselves armed with rows of teeth, using them to bite and grapple potential prey before pulling them closer to their fleshy bodies. Once pressed against the monster, the Aberrant Flesh Amalgam will absorb the body into itself in an attempt to absorb both flesh and consciousness.
When within their lairs, Aberrant Flesh Amalgams are also known to be able to detect the heartbeat of a living creature within a mile of an open lair, though they cannot identify the location specifics. Additionally, the monster always knows the location of any living entity within its lair. It is capable of casting a variant of the Enervation spell, as well as subsuming dead bodies to heal itself, though only within the confines of the lair itself.
Aberrant Flesh Amalgams create lairs to reside within, before then engaging in attempts to feast. They may leave their lair in search of food, or in the case of the very intelligent ones, may set ambushes or traps to lure in adventurers. They are generally quiet hunters, though will make screaming sounds in an attempt to lure Sapients to them. The most perceptive of individuals could potentially be alerted to the approach of an Aberrant Flesh Amalgam by the squelching noise made by its movements.

Ecology

Habitat

Aberrant Flesh Amalgams can appear anywhere that a Sapient can tread, but are mostly found in places where dark or unholy experiments take place on Sapients. Alternatively, they will be intentionally released on a population by their creator and then left to their own devices.
These creatures will generally create lairs in underground caves or structures where lots of blood has been spilt, particularly those with many narrow, interconnecting passageways or ventilation ducts. They will fill these locations with more blood and gore, staining it, marking it with their scent, and making all surfaces slippery to walk on. Their lairs are permanently saturated with the smell of death, which lingers within a mile of an open lair.

Diet and Feeding

Aberrant Flesh Amalgams prefer to feed on the still-living bodies of Sapients, though they will feed on beasts and dead bodies if there is no other prey to be found. Additionally, they will seek out and consume Flesh Amalgams and Ocular Cacophanies that enter their territory with prejudice, seeking to add the collective consciousness of the victims to their own. The Aberrant Flesh Amalgam will swallow their victims whole, where possible, or will simply bite or rip off limbs if that is not possible. They will then evict materials made of stone or metal, usually badly degraded.
Aberrant Flesh Amalgams are clever, patient and ruthless hunters, able to lure oblivious Sapients into their lairs by leaving blood trails or by making screaming noises to attract rescuers. Alternatively, they will seek out prey by creeping through narrow passages or locations with lots of cover, then latching on to unsuspecting individuals and dragging them away.

Reproduction

Aberrant Flesh Amalgams are monsters that cannot reproduce naturally; they are generally created by Sapient hands or the will of Gods.

Taming, Harvesting and Taxidermy

Aberrant Flesh Amalgams cannot be tamed; they are driven simply by the desire to consume and evolve.
Killing an Aberrant Flesh Amalgam will leave behind a nasty, rotting blob of fleshy matter, a necrotic acid, and numerous teeth. While the teeth and flesh can be harvested, the flesh is not suitable for use as a reagent. The teeth could potentially be used as reagents for spells where the identity of the tooth's owner does not matter, however most are badly degraded having been constantly subjected to the interior acids of the Aberrant Flesh Amalgam. The necrotic acid left behind can be distilled and used as a generic acid that is particularly potent against flesh, but little else.

Locations of Known Specimens

Blue Wolf Mercenary Group Alpha House; Fuldair

Samples from an Aberrant Flesh Amalgam found beneath Fuldair are in the possession of the Blue Wolf Mercenary Group, who are known to be studying them in the hopes of better understanding how they can be defeated without excessive risk.