Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Spawn Of Devastation Drive-In — 'Day The World Ended' (1955)



Environmental Hazard:  Mutamists

The atomic apocalypse did far more than turn deserts into glass and cities into cinders, as the weather itself warped into hellish storms of preternatural power and fury...

...YET NOTHING WAS WORSE THAN THE MUTAMISTS, ACRID CLOUDS THAT TRANSMOGRIFIED ALL WITHIN INTO HIDEOUS, CARNIVOROUS ABOMINATIONS!!!

The Mutant Future is awash in billowing, stinging fogs known as mutamists.  They can form in any terrain, but are more prevalent in wilderness environs.

Any Pure Human caught in the mutamists must make a Saving Throw Versus Energy, or begin to metamorphose into something...wrong.  The skin becomes thick and scaly (as the Natural Armor Mutation).  They no longer need to hydrate, and processed food becomes foul-tasting and noxious...yet they are always ravenous.

And this burning hunger becomes so strong, so all-consuming, that in 1d4 days, the afflicted can sense the heartbeats of all living creatures within a 1 mile radius ("Prey Sense").  It soon becomes apparent that only one thing will alleviate the cravings:  living flesh.  (Carrion just dulls the cravings for 1d4 turns.)

After 1d4 months, those altered by the mutamists fully transform into the monstrous 3-eyed quorms [see below].

Mutamists affect animal life, too, and induce rampant mutations (usually multiple limbs, horns, fangs, and claws) and the same savage appetites.  Bizarrely, equines are completely immune to the effects.




Mutamist Effects on Chipmunk, Dog, and Monkey
Immune Equine



Quorm

No. Enc.:  1 (1d8)
Alignment:  Neutral or Chaotic
Movement:  90' (30')
Armor Class:  3
Hit Dice:  10
Attacks:  3 (2 claws, 1 bite)
Damage:  2d4+2 / 2d4+2 / 1d6
Save:  L10
Morale:  10
Hoard Class:  XI
XP:  9,400

Quorms (also known as "quormen") are demonic-visaged beings with a savage hunger for living flesh.  Their bulbous, pointed heads sport prominent horns, oversized ears, and 3 unblinking eyes.  Stunted, malformed extra limbs flail limply from their shoulders.  They can detect any and all living things within 1' mile.

A quorm's armored hide makes it completely immune to conventional bladed weapons and firearms.  And its hardened metallic claws are so sharp that they puncture flesh and armor with ease, allowing for a +2 To Hit and +2 Damage rolls.  Quorms are completely immune to all toxins, diseases, and effects from radiation.

Quorms form loose-knit bands dominated by the strongest individual, and they will often war amongst their own kind for territory and prey.  They are cunning enough to target isolated communities, and generally lurk on the fringes to pick off solitary victims.

Despite their carnivorous proclivities, quorms are drawn to those they knew (particularly romantic partners) in their pre-mutated lives.  They use their telepathic abilities to commune with their loved ones, and try to draw them to their lairs to resume some tragic mockery of their former relationships.

Quorms cannot survive in regions devoid of pollutants or contamination.  They suffer 1d10 damage per round when placed in sterile, "healthy" conditions; in fact, exposure to clean water is enough to kill them outright, as "pure" rain burns their hides for 2d6 damage per round.

Mutations:  Enhanced Vision (Night Vision), Epidermal Susceptibility (Clean Water) [D], Frailty ("Contamination Dependence") [D], Mental Telepathy, Reflective Epidermis (Radiation), Unique Sense ("Prey-Sense")








4 comments:

  1. Coincidentally, I watched this movie just this Saturday. Yes, on purpose.

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  2. Thanks for doing this one. I do need to watch this again soon as well as the inferior made-for-TV version IN THE YEAR 2889.

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  3. @Mr. Trey: Heh, indeed! :)

    @Mr. Tim: The Corman catalog is always worthwhile--any time, any place!

    @Mr. Eltf: No, thank YOU. The support and enthusiasm has been delightful!

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