Bodysnatching Fungus

Spider Climb. The fungus has a climbing speed equal to its walking speed.

Damage Transfer. While attached to a creature, the fungus takes only half the damage dealt to it (rounded down), and that creature takes the other half.

Light Sensitivity. When beginning its turn in bright light, or when it enters bright light on its turn, the fungus must make a DC 15 Charisma saving throw. If it fails this save, it must immediately move to the nearest unoccupied space of dim light or darkness, and cannot enter a space of bright light until its next turn. This does not apply if the fungus is inside a creature.

Reproduction. If the fungus successfully hijacks a creature, takes it to a suitable place and kills it, more funguses will emerge from the creature's corpse after a week. The number of funguses is dependent on the size of the creature.

• If the victim is small, 2 funguses emerge from its corpse.
• If the victim is medium, 1d4 + 1 funguses emerge from its corpse.
• If the victim is large, 2d6 funguses emerge from its corpse.
• If the victim is huge, 3d6 funguses emerge from its corpse.
• If the victim is gargantuan, 4d6 funguses emerge from its corpse.

Spore Puff. The fungus emits a cloud of spores, forcing all creatures within 5 feet to make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. Any creature that fails this saving throw receives 5 (1d10) poison damage. If this damage would reduce the creature to 0 hit points, the creature is instead reduced to 1 hit point and paralyzed for 1d10 minutes. The fungus is immune to its own spores and those of other bodysnatching fungi. Creatures that do not need to breathe are immune to this effect.

Attach To Face. The fungus leaps at a creature of small size or larger within 5 feet, forcing them to make a DC 14 strength or dexterity saving throw (the creature's choice). If the creature fails, then the fungus attaches itself to their face and occupies the same space as the creature. If the creature moves, the fungus moves with it. At the beginning of each of the fungus's turns, the creature to which it is attached receives 4 (1d8) poison damage. If this damage would reduce the creature to 0 hit points, the creature is instead reduced to 1 hit point and paralyzed for 1d10 minutes. A creature within reach of the victim (including the victim) can use its action to make a DC 14 strength check against the fungus, prying the fungus off the victim's face on a success.

Hijack Creature. The fungus crawls down the throat of an unconscious, stunned or paralyzed creature within 5 feet, giving it total cover from effects originating outside the victim. The fungus takes control of the victim's body - the victim is still conscious, but cannot speak, cast spells or control its body. If the victim was paralyzed by the fungus's poison, they are no longer paralyzed. While the fungus is in control, the victim's dexterity score is halved, the victim's movement speed is halved, and the victim is very obviously not okay to any observers (they move like a marionette puppet and look straight into the sky at all times, their face frozen in agony). Any action taken by the fungus uses its own proficiencies, not the victim's. If another creature attempts to pull the fungus out of the victim's body, this requires an action to make a DC 21 strength check. If the victim is restrained, stunned, or paralyzed, the DC to succeed is reduced to 15. If the check succeeds and the fungus is removed by force, the fungus immediately dies and the victim is left unconscious for 1d8 hours, regaining control over their body on a success. If the victim is stunned or paralyzed while hijacked, another creature can use its action to attempt to make a DC 17 wisdom (medicine) check to carefully remove the fungus. If this check succeeds, the fungus immediately dies and the victim regains control of its body immediately. If the fungus manages to take the victim to a suitable place and decides to kill the creature, the process of doing so takes one hour.