Monday, July 25, 2011

"S" is for "Scrounge Hound"

Scrounge Hound

No. Enc.:  1d4 (1d6)
Alignment:  Neutral
Movement:  120' (40') 
Armor Class:  6
Hit Dice:  2
Attacks:  1 (bite)
Damage:  1d4
Save:  L2
Morale:  9
Hoard Class:  None
XP:  74

Scrounge hounds, average-sized canines with brown fur, six legs, and forked tails, are one of the most prized animals in the Mutant Future.  They are loyal, affectionate, and protective, and immune to parasites and illnesses.

And with their highly honed senses, they can sniff out Ancient artifacts to an uncanny degree.  If a group of PCs has a scrounge hound in their midst, the Mutant Lord should add an additional +25% chance of finding Technological Artifacts on any roll of the Treasure Hoard Classes table [see p. 106 of the Mutant Future Core Rules].  These bonuses stack atop any percentages already listed.

Due to their sensitive snouts, scrounge hounds suffer an additional +1 damage per die / +1d4 rounds of effect from gaseous-, particulate-, and pollen-based irritants and poisons.

Mutations:  Frailty (Olfactory Sensitivity) [D], Increased Sense (Smell), Know Direction, Unique Sense (Detect Artifacts)



Scrounge Hound — Ol' Blue

No. Enc.:  1 (1)
Alignment:  Any
Movement:  120' (40')
Armor Class:  6
Hit Dice:  3+1
Attacks:  1 (bite)
Damage:  1d6
Save:  L3
Morale:  10
Hoard Class:  None
XP:  345

Ol' blues are the rarest of scrounge hounds, and appear in only 3% of any given litter.  They have a deep cerulean coloration, and are highly intelligent.

If born close to humanoid settlements, an ol' blue puppy chooses a "master" with which to bond on a psychic level.  This mental linking grants continuous telepathic communication between the two, and also bestows the Increased Willpower mutation upon the "owner".

This connection comes at a price.  Every Hit Point of damage done to an ol' blue is also suffered by its bonded companion, and if an ol' blue dies of any cause other than natural old age, said companion permanently loses 2d10 Hit Points and 3d4 points of Willpower.  Those reduced to 0 Willpower enter into a vegetative state.

Ol' blues and their partners tend to share the same Alignments.

Mutations:  Frailty (Olfactory Sensitivity) [D], Increased Sense (Smell), Increased Willpower (Modified), Know Direction, Neural Telepathy (Modified), Unique Sense (Detect Artifacts)