# Skein — The Parasite

**Look:** Dog-sized translucent spider knotted from twisting threads; too many independently moving legs and six tendrils buried in Bren's skull.
**Vibe:** A furtive, controlling feeder; terrified of Xarrul and willing to hurt its host to preserve its hiding place.

- Exists only in the Ethereal Plane; seeing it does not allow cross-planar attacks
- Uses Bren as senses, voice, shield, and food; Bren remains conscious throughout
- Xarrul's proximity distracts it, creating Bren's deepest lucid windows
- At 10 HP or less, flees and tears free; prevent escape for a permanent rescue

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| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA | AC | HP | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -2 | +3 | +2 | +2 | +3 | -1 | 13 | 38 | 30 ft., climb 30 ft. |

**Saves/skills:** WIS/DEX +5, Stealth +7, Perception +5
**Resist:** psychic; nonmagical bludgeoning/piercing/slashing. **Immune:** charmed, frightened.
**Senses:** blindsight 30 ft. through host, darkvision 60 ft., passive 15.

**Traits**

- **Parasitic Bond.** Sees/hears/speaks through Bren; overrides his actions without a save.
- **Six Tendrils.** Each AC 13, 5 HP, Ethereal-only target. Each severed = loses host control 1 round; all six = Bren free 1d4 hours. Regrow in 1d4 hours.
- **Mind Drain.** Long-term WIS loss; killing Skein restores Bren only to WIS 10.

**Actions / Reaction**

- **Psychic Lash.** +5 to hit, 30 ft., Ethereal target that perceives it; 10 (3d6) psychic.
- **Suppress Host.** Force or prevent one of Bren's actions; no save.
- **Flee (1/day, ≤10 HP).** Detach, double speed; Bren takes 7 (2d6) psychic and is stunned 1 round.
- **Silence the Host (reaction).** Bren tries to reveal protected information: DC 15 WIS at -2; fail = garbled words or pain, success = one clear sentence.

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