Lurker

(Version 1.00 - Last Modified: 07/12/2002)

History

The Lurker is one of the newest and deadliest Zerg strains and they were developed just prior to the invasion of Aiur. While the Overmind worked to create improved versions of the Zerglings, Hydralisks and Ultralisks, one of its Cerebrates, named Daggoth, developed a modification of a Hydralisk that would be used primarily for defense around a Hive Cluster. The increased defensive capability of a Lurker would give new Hive Clusters on Aiur a chance to survive until the Zerg swarm could reinforce every position. The basic genetic structure of a Lurker was the same as the Hydralisk, but it used genetic material discovered just prior to the invasion of Aiur. Due to the haste in preparing for the invasion of Aiur, the Overmind only modified existing Hydralisks into the new Lurker strain, instead of creating them from the Larvae, as was normal.

The Lurker can attack in several ways; it can attack using its traditional claws and powerful biting attack, but its main weapon is a long series of retractable spines that it can shoot in a straight path in front of it. A common tactic for Lurkers is to have a small cluster of five or six Lurkers that will wait until an opponent in traveling almost right on top of them before attacking. The opponent must fend off the attack from all 24 spine tentacles from creatures buried up to 200’ (61 m) underground. This type of ambush can quickly rip apart small groups of attackers especially those that are not capable of easily reaching the buried creatures.

Racial Statistics

• Alignment: None, considered to be an evil animal.
• Attributes:
  
  • I.Q.: High Animal Intelligence, considered an IQ of 6.
  • M.E.: 19 (16+1D6)
  • M.A.: 3 (1D6)
  • P.S.: 19 * (15+2D4)
  • P.P.: 10 (8+1D4)
  • P.E.: 15 * (12+1D6)
  • P.B.: 3 (1D6)
  • Spd: 10 (8+1D4)
  • * PS and PE are considered supernatural
• Size: 5’ (1.5 m) high, 7’ (2.1 m) wide, and 7’ (2.1 m) in length.
• Weight: 420 lbs (190.5 kg)
• M.D.C.: 135 in magic rich areas (PE attribute x5 +3D4x10)
• M.D.C. Armor Rating: See ability number 3, Armor, under the Natural Abilities section.
• S.D.C.: 100 in non-magic rich areas (3D6x10)
• Hit Points: 70 in non-magic rich areas (PE attribute x2 +2D4x10)
• Armor Rating: See ability number 3, Armor, under the Natural Abilities section.
• Average Life Span: 40 years after transforming from a Hydralisk.
• Horror Factor: 13
• P.P.E.: 60 (3D4x10)
• Magic Powers: None
• I.S.P.: None
• Psionic Powers: None
• Natural Abilities:
  
  1. Spine Tentacles:
     
     The Lurkers' main weapons are four spine tentacles that reach out from the creature’s upper carapace and attack opponents. The tentacles are made up very powerful muscles that are designed for not only damaging opponents but also digging through dirt and even solid rock. Each tentacle has a range of 500’ (152.4 m) and will do 5D6 M.D. when it hits its target. Reduce damage by 50% when used on targets that are more then 100' (30.5 m) in the air and reduce range by 50% when used through solid rock. The creatures have four spine tentacles and can attack up to four different targets with each attack per melee as long as the four targets are all within an arc of 10 degrees in from of the Lurker. Alternatively, the Lurker can use all four tentacles simultaneously against the same target inflicting 5D6x4 M.D. (or 2D6x10 M.D.) with each attack per melee. The creature has a bonus of +4 to strike with its spine tentacles. Each tentacle has 20 M.D.C. and once severed from the creature it will quickly decompose.
  2. Burrow:
     
     Many land-based Zerg creatures have the ability to burrow underground. This provides the Zerg some measure of protection from attacks and allows them to ambush unsuspecting opponents. The Lurker is better at burrowing then other Zerg creatures and can burrow up to 200’ (61 m) in soil, sand, and similar material and 20’ (6.1 m) in solid rock. Opponents have a penalty of -40% to their detect ambush skill when trying to find a burrowed Zergling.
  3. Armor:
     
     All Zerg creatures have incredibly tough exoskeletons that reduce the damage that they receive from any incoming attacks. Reduce all damage, either from normal or magical attacks, by 8 points. For example, if a volley of mini-missiles inflicted 66 points of damage, it would be reduced to 58 points of damage. Damage cannot be reduced below zero. The creature has an M.D.C. Armor Rating of 8 in magic-rich environments.
  4. Regeneration:
     
     A feature from the original Zerg creature, the Lurker can regenerate at an amazing rate, and can regenerate whole limbs and body parts. The creature regenerates at a rate of 6 M.D.C. per melee. It will take ten minutes to regenerate a leg, twenty minutes to regenerate an eye, five minutes to regenerate its jaw, ten minutes to regenerate a claw arm, and two minutes to regenerate each spine tentacle.
  5. Hive Mind Immunities:
     
     From the fact that at a basic level all Zerg share the same mind as the Overmind, individual Zerg creatures are very resilient to mental attacks. Any mind altering or mind affecting spells or psionic powers such as sleep, possession, or hypnotic suggestion will not work on a Zerg creature. This also functions as a permanent Mind Block on all Zerg creatures.
  6. Survival Instincts and Immunities:
     
     From the ingrained survival instincts that were developed by evolution and the Xel’Naga, and incorporated by the Overmind, all Zerg creatures are immune to diseases, toxins, poisons, and gases, both normal and supernatural. The Zerg are also unaffected by Horror Factor and Awe Factor and any attempts to intimidate them. With the assimilation of several space borne creatures, all Zerg can function completely normally in space, in an atmosphere, or underwater, with no maximum depth, with no penalties. Zerg creatures can survive temperatures between -200 to 500 degrees Celsius. Land based Zerg creatures have no way of propelling themselves in space besides pushing off from solid structures.


• Combat Skills: 4 attacks per melee, +6 to strike, and +4 to parry.
• Damage: A Claw Jab inflicts 2D4 M.D. with a W.R. (Weapon Rating) of 9, a Claw Slash inflicts 2D6 M.D. with a W.R. of 9, a Bite inflicts 3D4 M.D. with a W.R. of 8, and a Ram Attack inflicts 2D4 M.D. with a W.R. of 8. Increase W.R. of all attacks by +1 for every four points of supernatural PS above 18 (at values 22, 26, 30, etc.). In non magic-rich environments, attacks inflict S.D.C. damage, but normal PS damage bonuses apply.
• Bonuses: +5 to save vs. all types of magic, and +5 to save vs. psionics (counts as a non-psychic).
• Penalties: As Lurkers were designed for stationary defense while positioned underground, they are quite awkward on the surface and are unfamiliar with attacking targets while on the surface. They suffer a penalty of –10 to strike any target while they are on the surface.
• Natural Skills:
  
  • Land Navigation (60%)
  • Prowl (80%)
• Allies: The Zerg have no real allies, but since the death of the Overmind, several independent Cerebrates have banded together and given each other aid.
• Enemies: The Zerg have made many enemies over the millennia that they have been traveling throughout the galaxy.