Plague Zombies
The zombie plague is one of the foremost diseases of the Imperium. It is similar in some ways to the (now extinct) rabies, once found on Terra, in that it uses victims to help infect others.
This neurone plague travels from person to person, subjecting each to its terrible effects. There is no other way to put it, other than it actually rots the brain, turning the recipient into a mindless beast, forced to wander aimlessly with no mind, and, as some believe, no soul.
Infection comes from a scratch or bite from an infected creature, or a 'plague zombie' as they are known. Some stronger humans (and animals) manage to fight of the disease, suffering only from fever or mild sickness. Others are not so lucky, and often victims of the disease die within hours. Well, not always die…
The corpse will open its eyes, maybe claw at relatives or doctors, and then shuffle out into the night, never to be seen again, if you're lucky, that is.
For although there is no remains of any emotions or higher thoughts in the zombie's tattered brain, the beast still needs to feed, and will do, on whatever it can. And of course anyone the zombie injures (or partially eats) will likely stand up to join its attacker. And so the horde, and the disease, grows.
Often plague zombies are missing limbs, as another zombie may have fed on them, or this may be a memento of the circumstances in which they became a zombie.
Plague zombies are generally found wandering on their own, or in packs. Sometimes mutants or other heretics may round up plague zombies and set them on captives or enemies. Some say Inquisitors use zombies for similar purposes, but all allegations so far have been denied.
Equipment: Sometimes a plague zombie may have picked up a club or metal bar, but generally they fight with their hands. The GM may even choose that the zombie had got hold of a gun, however they will probably only use this for hitting people with, and it is only chance if it goes off (using a gun in this way counts as a risky action).
Special abilities: Zombie Shuffle, No fear, Plague (see below for these abilities).
WS
BS
S
T
I
Wp
Sg
Nv
Ld
Speed
25
0
60
60
10
100
10
200
20
1
15+2D10
0
50+2D10
50+2D10
10+2D6
90+2D10
0+2D10
180+4D10
10+2D10
1/2
Zombie Shuffle: Plague zombies usually stagger around, not quite aware of their surroundings or what they should be doing. Occasionally, they will get the scent of blood or see something interesting, and so will lurch towards the attraction at high speed. To represent this, a zombie's only movement type is 'shuffle'- a 4D6 move in a random or GM determined direction.
No fear: A plague zombie has no emotions or worries about its condition, and so is immune to fearsome or terrifying creatures. It is also immune to pinning.
Plague: All plague zombies carry the zombie plague. This works as follows: Anything roughly humanoid, and alive (not robots, servo skulls etc) that takes damage from a plague zombie (this only applies to damage caused by fists or other natural attacks) may be infected with the zombie plague; roll a D10 on the table below after the battle.
1-2: Clear- After a few worrying days, the victim shows no signs of the plague, and is declared clear.
3-6: Fever- the character is feverish and ill for a couple of days. If used in the following game (which is unwise- they should get their rest) all their physical characteristics are halved, and 25% lost from mental characteristics.
7: Close call- after experiencing much of the symptoms of the plague, it is believed the character is lost. However he or she then suddenly recovers. Unfortunately, all is not well, as the neurone plague has managed to rot some areas of the character's brain. The character will need to pass a sagacity test to perform basic actions, and in other cases where sagacity is used, the characteristic is halved (these effects are permanent).
8+: Zombie time! The plague has succeeded in its quest- all higher functions of the brain are erased and a new plague zombie is added to the ranks. The character is now no longer a real part of the human race. All the character's stats and equipment are lost- determine a new set of plague zombie stats for it. The zombie will shuffle off into the wilderness, but first, roll a D6. On a 4+ it will attack a randomly determined warband member- sort out the combat immediately (the GM may wish for the zombie to attack a civilian or familiar instead, if it is relevant to the campaign).
NOTE: It is possible for the GM to allow the discovery of a secret formula or something similar, or perform brain surgery on a plague zombie, to return them to their former selves.
