diff --git a/code/controllers/configuration.dm b/code/controllers/configuration.dm
index 7125eeec282..1e95c7b8977 100644
--- a/code/controllers/configuration.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/configuration.dm
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@
 	var/assistantratio = 2 //how many assistants to security members
 
 	var/traitor_objectives_amount = 2
+	var/shadowling_max_age = 0
 
 	var/max_maint_drones = 5				//This many drones can spawn,
 	var/allow_drone_spawn = 1				//assuming the admin allow them to.
@@ -260,6 +261,9 @@
 				if("jobs_have_minimal_access")
 					config.jobs_have_minimal_access = 1
 
+				if("shadowling_max_age")
+					config.shadowling_max_age = text2num(value)
+
 				if("log_ooc")
 					config.log_ooc = 1
 
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/shadowling/shadowling.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/shadowling/shadowling.dm
index f5fc513744a..439d3cb237d 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/shadowling/shadowling.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/shadowling/shadowling.dm
@@ -201,11 +201,23 @@ Made by Xhuis
 /datum/game_mode/shadowling/check_finished()
 	var/shadows_alive = 0 //and then shadowling was kill
 	for(var/datum/mind/shadow in shadows) //but what if shadowling was not kill?
-		if(!istype(shadow.current,/mob/living/carbon/human) && !istype(shadow.current,/mob/living/simple_animal/ascendant_shadowling))
+		if(!ishuman(shadow.current) && !istype(shadow.current,/mob/living/simple_animal/ascendant_shadowling))
 			continue
 		if(shadow.current.stat == DEAD)
 			continue
 		shadows_alive++
+		if(shadow.special_role == SPECIAL_ROLE_SHADOWLING && config.shadowling_max_age)
+			if(ishuman(shadow.current))
+				var/mob/living/carbon/human/H = shadow.current
+				if(H.get_species() != "Shadow")
+					for(var/obj/effect/proc_holder/spell/targeted/shadowling_hatch/hatch_ability in shadow.spell_list)
+						hatch_ability.cycles_unused++
+						if(!H.stunned && prob(20) && hatch_ability.cycles_unused > config.shadowling_max_age)
+							var/shadow_nag_messages = list("You can barely hold yourself in this lesser form!", "The urge to become something greater is overwhelming!", "You feel a burning passion to hatch free of this shell and assume godhood!")
+							H.take_overall_damage(0, 3)
+							to_chat(H, "<span class='userdanger'>[pick(shadow_nag_messages)]</span>")
+							H << 'sound/weapons/sear.ogg'
+
 	if(shadows_alive)
 		return ..()
 	else
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/shadowling/special_shadowling_abilities.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/shadowling/special_shadowling_abilities.dm
index 353fd328f4c..bc58db4b064 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/shadowling/special_shadowling_abilities.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/shadowling/special_shadowling_abilities.dm
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ var/list/possibleShadowlingNames = list("U'ruan", "Y`shej", "Nex", "Hel-uae", "N
 	range = -1
 	include_user = 1
 	action_icon_state = "hatch"
+	var/cycles_unused = 0
 
 /obj/effect/proc_holder/spell/targeted/shadowling_hatch/cast(list/targets, mob/user = usr)
 	if(user.stat || !ishuman(user) || !user || !is_shadow(user || isinspace(user)))
diff --git a/config/example/config.txt b/config/example/config.txt
index d575635baeb..2dcd5da6573 100644
--- a/config/example/config.txt
+++ b/config/example/config.txt
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ PROBABILITY EXTENDED 2
 PROBABILITY NUCLEAR 3
 PROBABILITY ABDUCTION 0
 
+# MAXIMUM SECONDS SHADOWLINGS CAN REMAIN UNHATCHED BEFORE THEY TAKE DAMAGE
+SHADOWLING_MAX_AGE 0
+
 ## Hash out to disable random events during the round.
 ALLOW_RANDOM_EVENTS