Mutants In The News — "Season's Eatings" Edition

The riverside beaches of Rosario, Argentina are currently closed due to a Christmas day attack on bathers by ravenous piranha.  

Over 60 people were "bitten on the arms, feet, and legs" by the "very aggressive" fish.

—

We've blogged about the dangers of piranha before, and the story above is about #4 on My List Of Personal Nightmares.

"P" is for "Pointsetya"

Pointsetya

No. Enc.:  1d6 (1d10)
Alignment:  Neutral
Movement:  120' (40')
Armor Class:  5
Hit Dice:  5
Attacks:  1d3+2 (barbed vines)
Damage:  1d6 per vine + drain
Save:  L3
Morale:  10
Hoard Class:  XV
XP:  1,500

Pointsetyas are 5' tall, ambulatory plants with bright red petals, 2d4+1 serpentine tendrils, pulsating "brain stems" that dangle from their flower-masses...and an unquenchable thirst for blood.  Fortunately for denizens of the Mutant Future, pointsetyas have a defective germination cycle, and are only encountered in the winter months.

Pointsetyas lash out with hollow, suctioning barbs, and if 3 or more hit in the same combat round, the victim is pierced and constricted, and suffers an automatic 1d10 blood drain damage per round afterwards.  The plant can then lash out with its remaining tendrils at another target, or attack the grabbed prey again at a +3 To Hit bonus.  Pointsetyas are expert scent-trackers, and any bloodied prey who escapes their clutches will be hunted down and attacked at first opportunity.

Attracted to the vibrational frequencies of metals and plastics, pointsetyas hoard trinkets and artifacts.  They stash their "treasure" in the boughs of larger (and perhaps mutated) trees.

Mutations:  Free Movement, Full Senses (Smell), Mind Reflection, Mind Thrust, Natural Vegetal Weapons, Reduced Fertility [D], Temperature Control (Cold)

"M" is for "Malacargon"

Malacargon  ("Slimeseer")

No. Enc.:  1d3 (2d4)
Alignment:  Any
Movement:  45' (15')
Armor Class:  6
Hit Dice:  10
Attacks:  3 (2 fists, 1 radula, or weapon)
Damage:  1d4 / 1d4 / 1d10, or by weapon
Save:  L10
Morale:  8
Hoard Class:  XVIII
XP:  5,900

Malacargons are 6' tall molluscoids with protruding eyestalks and sticky, spongy bodies that truncate in a single locomotory "foot". They possess conical head-shells that reach 1'-3' in length, and the longer the shell, the greater a malacargon's social status.

Malacargons inject a Class 11 paralytic compound with piercing radular tongues.  And lacking skeletal structures proper, they are immune to bashing / crushing weapons and damage.

Malacargons see up to 1d12 hours into the future, instead of the typical 3 minutes from standard Precognition.  Lawful malacargons use their abilities to improve the generally bleak lives of Mutant Future denizens, while Neutral sorts barter their knowledge.  Chaotic types (which typically have reddish coloration, for reasons unknown) found cults and establish themselves as living gods.

The beings wear mysterious robes that protect them from dehydration, and any PC that acquires such garb can survive without ingesting fluids for 1d6+2 days.  There is a 30% chance, however, that the robe will irrevocably alter the character's DNA, and imbue 1d2 random Physical Mutational Drawbacks.

Mutations:  Damage Turning, Increased Balance, Increased Sense (Smell), Precognition (Modified), Quick Mind, Toxic Weapon (Venom), Vision Impairment [D]

"L" is for "Lilytiger"

Lilytiger

No. Enc.:  1d4 (1d4)
Alignment:  Neutral
Movement:  120' (40')
Armor Class:  5
Hit Dice:  6
Attacks:  4 (2 claws, 1 bite, 1 tail)
Damage:  1d4 / 1d4 / 2d8 / 2d6
Save:  L3
Morale:  11
Hoard Class:  VII
XP:  1,820

Lilytigers are stealthy, dual-limbed, carnivorous plants with inverted bodies that reach lengths of 10-12'.  They lurk in thick foliage, grassy veldts, and overgrown ruins, and Surprise on a 1-4 on 1d6.

Lilytigers ferociously attack with mandibles, toothy maws-within-maws-within-maws, and scissoring tails, and always pounce first on the PC with the lowest DEX score.

While immune to fire- and heat-based attacks, lilytigers are particularly vulnerable to herbicides and similar chemicals.

Mutations:  Free Movement, Full Senses, Increased Vision (Night), Poison Susceptibility [D], Reflective Cellular Structure (Fire/Heat)

"S" is for "Splicesaur — Serratops"

Splicesaur — Serratops

No. Enc.:  0  (2d4)
Alignment:  Neutral
Movement:  120' (40')
Armor Class:  3
Hit Dice:  12
Attacks:  3 (3 "blades")
Damage:  1d10 / 1d10 / 1d10
Save:  L6
Morale:  10
Hoard Class:  None
XP:  2,000

Serratopses are quadrupedal, herbivorous reptiles the size of Ancient rhinoceroses.  Bony spurs line their backs, and 3 ridged, blade-like growths adorn their snouts and neck-frills.

Those sliced by any 2 of a serratops' blades in a single combat round acquire the Hemophilia mutational drawback.  Serratopses themselves are immune to this effect (as their blood contains a hyper-coagulant), but their bodies are scarred from courtship rituals and simple accidents.

Only the boldest and/or stupidest predators target serratopses.

Mutations:  None

"M" is for "Mosca"

Mosca

No. Enc.:  1d4 (1d4)
Alignment:  Neutral
Movement:  90' (30')
        —Fly:  180' (60')
Armor Class:  4
Hit Dice:  10
Attacks:  3 or 2 or 1 (2 claws, 1 bite, or 2 projectiles, or 1 weapon)
Damage:  1d4 / 1d4 / 1d8, or 1d6 / 1d6, or by weapon
Save:  L11
Morale:  9
Hoard Class:  XVI + 1d2 Random Artifacts
XP:  5,900

Moscas are hunched, bipedal insectoids with bulbous eyes and piercing, prehensile snouts.  They are quite adept with Ancient artifacts and machinery, and always stash functional gadgets for emergencies.

The moscas' silvery, irridescent chitin deflects laser blasts, and the beings launch needle-like hairs at a range of up to 30'.  Thanks to 360-degree vision, moscas are never Surprised.

A mosca always knows when someone is lying.

Mutations:  Fragrance Development, Intellectual Affinity (Tinkerer), Narcolepsy [D], Neural Telekinesis, Reflective Epidermis (Lasers / Light), Spiny Growth (Medium)

Mutants In The News — "Well, They Already Knew How To Use Clocks" Edition

Dispelling the myth that reptiles are sluggish, lazy brutes with little going on behind their dead, soulless eyes, a new journal article discusses tool use in crocodilians.

Specifically, the critters cunningly balance sticks on their snouts...

...so as to lure nest-building birds to their dooms.

This behavior has been observed in both Indian crocodiles and American alligators.

Neat.

But, really, should we be all that surprised...?