Sea Lurk

(Version 1.00 - Last Modified: 12/05/2003)

Description

Although the Isles of the Deep are a constant problem in the oceans and seas of Chiron, they are by no means an insurmountable one. Special defenses were developed by the Nautilus Pirates soon after their first encounters with the swarming sea creatures, which decreased their ability to swarm into a colony and attack the unarmed civilians inside. Although there was no way to decrease their deadliness when encountered by a lone foil, the Isles were not considered the threat they used to be. Unfortunately, as the factions on the land quickly learned, the planet was constantly innovating new ways to kill the colonists. For the Nautilus Pirates, this new innovation came in the form of even larger types of the Isles and a relatively small, but quick creature called a Sea Lurk. The Sea Lurks were relatively small compared to the large ocean-going ships used by the Pirates and the other factions, but they often attacked in large numbers, often with an Isle of the Deep. A common tactic that the alien creatures developed was to attack a solitary ship with an Isle of the Deep to preoccupy the ship's defenses and then swarm over the hull with a large number of Sea Lurks to attack the crew directly. Many ships have been lost over the years to this tactic.

The Sea Lurks are reminiscent of the Mind Worm Locusts, but they are not as long, don't have wings, and have a large fin on the top of their bodies'. Sea Lurks have a greenish orange skin color and the skin is very smooth to the touch, with small, almost invisible segments. Although the Sea Lurk is known to be an evolution of a Mind Worm, the Sea Lurk has a large, powerful mouth. With very sharp teeth, the Sea Lurk is capable of biting through a ship's hull if given enough time. Since Sea Lurks eat by absorbing their foot through their bodies, like all Mind Worm type creatures, its mouth is purely a weapon created by the planet.

Like the Mind Worm Boil, there are three different types of Sea Lurks: Larva, Mature, and Demon. The Larva Sea Lurk first appeared in 43 AL and was used in devastating combinations with the Mature Isles of the Deep. The Mature Sea Lurks appeared in 93 AL presumably in response to the new submersible foils developed by the Nautilus Pirates. Finally, the Demon Sea Lurk appeared in 133 AL although with the Demon Isle of the Deep and has been successful at destroying any solitary ship they encounter. With the appearance of the Demon Sea Lurks, the Nautilus Pirates no longer allow ships under the control of the government to travel alone, although privately owned ships are allowed to, but are cautioned of the dangers beforehand.

Although the Nautilus Pirates have been able to capture a number of Sea Lurks, they do not have the technological ability or natural understanding to breed them in captivity. Although the shipping of all the factions have come under attack by the Sea Lurks, no other Human faction has seriously tried to capture them. However, unknown to the Human colonists, one of the two Progenitor factions is trying to capture as many Sea Lurks as possible in lieu of building a real navy. So far they have captured and bred nearly a thousand of Sea Lurks of all sizes, and their facilities to mass produce hundreds of the creatures per year are almost finished.

Racial Statistics

Please note that the stats provided below are for a Larva type Sea Lurk. Modifications for the other Sea Lurk types are provided in the Natural Abilities section.