Psionic Assaulters

[Dragoner]

Psionic Assaulters

From Book 3, page 37:

"Psionic Assaulters: Telepathic carnivores (1D in quantity) will initiate an automatic attack on the party of adventurers. All persons not psionically shielded are immediately rendered unconscious and will recieve 2D+6 hits. Psionically shielded individuals undergo combat as indicated in the psionics rules. Psionic assaulters always achieve suprise."

Event Forest Trapper 50kg 15/7 cloth +1 5 Thrasher A0 F9 S0

This is a hybrid organism, part animal and part plant, found only camouflaged amongst other vegetation, consisting of a dense "root ball" with multiple legs covered in tendril like hairs which it uses to dig into the soil. It also has 2D 10m thorny vines which it will drop on unconscious prey to ensnare it, the thorns act as hypodermic needles to drain the prey's blood. Though, with very limited mobility, thrash with the vines, or if it seems threatened, dig itself out and flee. Within it's tough, densely woven root ball, lies a rudimentary nervous system and a fiberous nerve center or "brain", near this brain is another fiberous organ which originates the psionic assault. Removed, dried and ground up, this organ contains a component of a psionic enhancer drug and is very valuable on the black market (one assaulter will produce 1kg of the substance at which black market value is 20,000cr). This organism reproduces by planting seeds from it's vines in the corpses of it's prey, in the spring time it produces beautiful purple with red stirated flowers, thus giving it it's colloquial name: "The Death Blossom."

 

[Dragoner]

At some point, I plan on posting a graphic in the gallery, comments are welcome however, thanks!

 

[Keklas Rekobah]

Psiren

Psi-Spider (Psiren, Psirachnid, Biguggie)

Very Rare
Appearance: A brown arachnid, about 5cm across, with eight 20cm legs.

This solitary spider-like creature uses its psionic ability to impress upon the mind of its prey that whatever the prey animal is looking for is somewhere within the vicinity of the Psiren's jaws. Mouse-sized prey is consumed whole almost immediately, while larger prey is injected with a paralyzing venom. This venom induces paralysis in humans after 1D minute (roll 2D under END to avoid). Once paralysis sets in, the Psiren will drain enough blood to inflict 1D of physical damage unless prevented or killed. Paralyzed victims will be unable to breathe on their own for 3D minutes, suffering 1D physical damage from suffocation per minute unless breathing is restored or respiration is induced by artificial means. If no such aid is provided, and beginning 4 minutes after paralysis sets in, roll 2D below INT each minute to avoid loss of 1 point of INT from anoxia, and 1D each minute for 1 to 6 physical damage. If INT drops to zero, then the victim is irretrievably "Brain Dead". If STR, DEX and END drop to 0 (or below) then not only is the character merely dead, but he's really most sincerely dead.

Predators will be sensed, and receive the impression that wherever the Psiren is, it is not the place to be.

The psionic ability 'Shield' or a Psi-Shield helmet will block the attractive and repellent abilities of the Psiren.

Psirens and Tree Kraken avoid each other, even though their territories may overlap.

(I've been using this creature off and on again for the last 30 years, originally in my first AD&D campaign. Enjoy!)

 

[Dragoner]

Interesting, so you have used this as the psionic assaulters event?

 

[Keklas Rekobah]

Yes, but not often. I prefer the Brain Screw, the Nerve Runner, and the Lurker-in-the-Dark.

The Brain Screw is essentially a skull-penetraing nematode on par with the Earwig of legend. When it detects psionic activity, it attacks the psionic character, burrows under the scalp, and then slowly penetrates the skull in a 'corkscrew' fashion. Once inside the brain, it lays eggs and dies. The eggs hatch in 1D+6 days, when the larvae begin to feast, reducing the host's INT attribute by 1D per day. When INT reaches 0, the host is completely brain-dead. Once the host is dead, the larvae leave the host's body in search of a safe place to digest and mature. They are found in rainforests, and seem to attack only the psionically-endowed.

Nerve Runners are actually a primitive amoeba-like creature that enter the body through exposed nerve endings, such as at the site of a cut or scrape. As such, they are not technically psionic. Once infected, the host begins to feel an intense burning sensation within 1D hours, originating at the site of infection and slowly spreading upward along the nerves towards the brain. Only during this initial phase will Medical Drug cure the victim, after which time, Medical Drug is useless. Otherwise, the burning sensation can not be blocked without rendering the victim unconscious. After another 1D hours, the entire sensory nervous system is involved, and the victim can not be rendered unconscious at all. It takes 1D more hours for the victim to die ... a slow, agonizing death.

The Lurker-in-the-Dark is a semi-intelligent stalker resembling a Terrestrial cheetah with black fur and small, bat-like eyes. It homes in on prey psionically, favoring those who are asleep, sick, or wounded. Then it waits for just the right moment, such as when the victim is alone, pounces, and attempts to bite through its victim's skull or neck before its victim can alert others (attack roll is 2D for 12 to succeed, 2D damage otherwise), then drags its victim off to eat it. The LitD is nocturnal, and is practically blind during the day.