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The Frog That Walked Like A Man
over 5 years ago
– Mon, Jan 14, 2019 at 05:54:21 AM
The Frog That Walked Like A Man
He walked down the street, garnering little attention. That was the whole plan. Not garnering. This emissary from a non-human race sought to fit right in and so far it was working. Working like a bracelet, as these people were wont to say.
Lamber Prawt, as he called himself, promenaded into the grocery store just like a person. He had trained well. They’d been watching humans since the beginning and he was proud to be one of the first to venture among them and pave the way for invasion.
Lamber purchased items for a gathering known as the “occasional gethertoget” later that evening. He made a point to buy no food items a frog would like. Fortunately there were few insect-based snacks.
He pulled into his lovely suburban driveway, hopped out of the car, then caught himself. That was exactly the kind of slipup they couldn’t afford.
His human wife greeted him with the usual “Hi, honey,” which he returned. Penty Prawt was the perfect suburban housewife for a duplicitous sea invader. She asked no questions, did as she was told, and left him on his own. In other words, like every other 1950s housewife. As always, she arranged snacks in a pleasing manner, which Lamber considered very “lily pad.”
The guests arrived, the usual three couples, and the gethertoget went as usual until the following curious exchange…
“Hey, you hear the news? Torrince Welchecker croaked,” stated public-relations man Don Pander.
“Oh, he was due to croak any time,” replied Morst Penley.
As he often did, Lamber Prawt excused himself and went to the bathroom. But it wasn’t for the usual Earth reasons. Carefully locking the door, he pushed his toothbrush in its holder like a lever, and the medicine cabinet mirror quietly turned, revealing a futuristic viewing screen. Lamber worked the faucet handles like knobs, and waves appeared on screen with a high-pitched squeal. An image formed; a terrifying froglike being, Ribbidus Maximus.
“Who calls on Ribbidus Maximus, leader of the anuradons? Oh, it’s you, Barump Phumf. What news of the surface world?”
“I have just heard something of alarm. One of our operatives has been exposed, Great Leader.”
“What? What is his name?”
“I know not, except he goes by the Earth name Torrince Welchecker.”
“Hmm, I will have to check and see who that is. Meantime, find out all you can. He may have to be… eliminated for the good of the invasion.”
“I shall, My Leader. Barump Phumf, over and out.”
Lamber returned to the gethertoget, finally leading the conversation back to Torrince. “So…. This Torrince…. You were surprised when he croaked?”
“I wasn’t,” said Morst. “Hey, we all have to croak sometime.”
Lamber tried not to look taken aback. As conversations resumed, he scanned the room, wondering who to trust. In his anxiety, he shot his tongue out at a fly, whipping it into his mouth. He looked about in panic, but no one had seen…. Except Don, who stared at him.
Lamber was quickly back in the bathroom, talking with Maximus.
“You fool. The human must be eliminated.”
“But the others, I now believe most of them are our people.”
“I will check on that,” spat Maximus. “Meantime, take care of that flywitness.”
When Lamber returned, he found Don Pander still looking at him strangely. Before the frog-being could think up a subterfuge, Pander asked to speak with him alone.
The privacy of the garage was perfect for Lamber. Once there, Don confided.
“Lamber… I’ve been a little worried about you lately. Maybe you’re working too hard.”
“Nonsense,” croaked Lamber. “I work no harder than any of you — I mean, us.”
“You need to relax more. Look, when a guy starts eating flies with a really long tongue—”
“I do relax, Don. Take this interesting hobby for instance.” Lamber led Don to his workbench, upon which rested an odd contraption.
“What the heck is that thing?” blurted the PR man. “What’s it do?”
“This,” said Lamber, pushing a button that zapped Don, who disappeared with a snap.
Back at the gethertoget, Lamber explained that Don had to go suddenly, which confused his wife who noted their car was still there. Soon, it was time for the guests to leave, which gave the stressed anuradon some relief.
As Penty cleaned up, her frog-husband finally got around to asking her the key question.
“Say, were you… shocked to hear that Torrince Welchecker could croak?”
“Oh no,” stated Penty casually. “I’d seen that coming for quite some time.” She chuckled, “In fact, with his lifestyle, if anyone was going to croak it’d have to be him.”
Waves of relief passed through the disguised frog-being that he had not felt since leaving the bottom of the ocean. “You have no idea how pleased I am to learn this, Penty. No idea.”
“Learn what, Lamber?” asked Penty, focused on washing dishes.
Lamber laughed a froggish laugh, no longer afraid.
“Not Lamber. Not anymore. Call me Barump.”
“Barump?”
“By the way, now that it’s out, what can I call you?”
“Lamber, what on Earth are you talking about?”
“This, my dearest.”
And with that, Lamber crouched and hopped a good 20 feet to the hallway. Penty dropped a dish and it shattered. Believing her not convinced, he came close to her and allowed his features to go froglike, particularly the wide mouth, inflating throat and eyes, which spread wide apart and bulged. Naturally, Penty screamed and ran.
Confused, Lamber chased after her into the garage, where she backed away from him.
“Stay back! Stay back, you — you horror!”
“Perhaps I was mistaken,” realized her ghastly husband who moved slowly toward her, forcing her to keep backing away.
“I’m sorry it’s come to this, my dear. You know too much.” Lamber kept coming, now in full-on hideous frog-thing mode.
His terrified wife backed into his workbench, hand feeling behind her for a weapon.
“I — I wouldn’t touch that—”
Zap, went Lamber with a snap.
Barump was a good one! Terrible loss for our people.
Behold! TEN DAYS REMAIN in this campaign, and soon we will begin our final week countdown. We are getting ever closer to attaining another Stretch Goal, which would be our 8th and quite remarkable! The final week is usually pretty exciting, so invite everyone you can think of to get on board and let's build toward a climactic finish!!
#TheyCameFromBeneathTheSea
#WorkingLikeABracelet!
#RibbidusMaximus
The Fin
over 5 years ago
– Sat, Jan 12, 2019 at 06:58:46 AM
The Fin
The Loose Limpet was one of the finer seafood restaurants in Coastal City, so it came as a surprise that a horrible murder was committed there, as opposed to a chain like Captain Guppy’s.
It happened in the wee hours as assistant head busboy Jep Feemer cleaned up after a night of exceptionally vigorous shellfish shucking. He had just dumped a pot of unwanted fish parts in the alley, according to stringent health department guidelines, when an ominous sliding sound caught his attention. Jep squinted, trying to see what might emerge from the darkness. When it did, he screamed…. It was to be his last scream at a monster.
—
Government man Newcott Waikes of the Department of Touristry had seen repulsive leftovers in his line of work, but these seafood-related mutilations really took the crabcake. Six in three weeks, all in one city, seemed more than coincidence, and if tourists heading to the shore were robbed of their fine-dining privileges, well… then he didn’t even want to know an industry like that.
Newcott needed to consult an expert, and in this case renowned gastroceanographer Dr. Leeka Marl. Beyond the fact that all the victims were killed by something sharp and fishy, she needed more evidence, so it was decided the two would go undercover as typical tourist couple, the Mottersons, and take in Coastal City’s seafood restaurants.
They started at Tres Bon Squid, which Newcott figured meant the Happy Squid, and went with several interesting choices, including the popular flaming eel and chocolate-covered clam.
They tried several more over the next few nights. All was quiet — if filling — until they dined at the Diamond Barnacle. After trying half the menu, including the clubbed salmon and muscle-capped herring, they decided to head back and compliment the chef.
They opened the kitchen door and immediately froze. There, impossibly, was what appeared to be a shark passing by on the other side of the counter. They quickly saw it was not a shark beyond the counter, but a single fin, atop the counter.
It slid with a repulsive squishy sound on the part at which it had been dismembered. The entire kitchen staff lay sprawled, hacked to pieces by the rampant fish part.
Newcott drew his government-issue Department of Touristry automatic (the Sightseer 26) and blasted away, but the beast’s hide resisted. It jumped to the floor and scooted toward them with a piercing scream like a buzz saw. Newcott and Leeka parted just in time as the finny horror flung itself between them and into the restaurant. They dashed after it, but it smashed through the glass of the front door and into the night, so abruptly a nearby diner spat oysters.
—
Dr. Leeka Marl had identified the culprit as the detached fin of a particularly large sawshark (pristiophoridae). Better still, she had retrieved a sample that she could study and run tests on. And there was no more satisfying scientific monster-hunting coup than studying and running tests on something.
Leeka was able to determine, somehow, that the rogue fin had been processed at Slim Chance Seafood, a plant on the outskirts of the city, run by a man named Cartorn Hippens.
—
Newcott and Leeka approached an ominous facility overlooking the ocean. They saw no workers in evidence which seemed odd for such a large structure. Inside the entryway they were met by a thin bespectacled woman, Miss Goods, who offered to give them the tour.
She proceeded to take them to an enormous processing room with bubbling vats and then turned to them and said, “Well, there it is, thank you for coming.”
“I’m afraid to tell you, Miss Goods,” said Newcott, “we’re here on official business… though I’m not really afraid.”
Miss Goods stammered that they’d need to make an appointment with Mr. Hippens who was presently unavailable. A sudden noise from somewhere startled her.
“That sounded like something falling over,” offered Leeka.
“Things are always falling over in the seafood industry,” said Goods. Then she cried out at another noise. “You must go. You fools. Don’t you see? Before it’s too late.” And with that the terrified woman bolted, her footsteps echoing among the vats.
Newcott and Leeka had no intention of leaving and crept among the big vats in the dim light from the very high windows.
A shrill cry cut the air. Miss Goods. Followed by a familiar squishy sound. Newcott and Leeka rushed to find her dead, an elderly man crouched beside her.
—
In his office, haunted fish processor Cartorn Hippens explained his obsession that led to the monster he’d created.
“It’s time I unburdened myself of this…. Long had I dreamed of the perfect canned seafood… Fish parts that could move of their own volition….”
“How is that a good thing?” asked Leeka.
“I finally achieved it using the fin of a sawshark. It was able to move about, to destroy….”
“Still not sure of the reasoning but please continue,” muttered Newcott.
“I soon realized how wrong I’d been. The fin — my brainchild — was the fin of my own subconscious. It took revenge on fancy restaurants it perceived to be my enemy. Now, even I can’t control it.”
Suddenly there was a loud bang on the door.
“It’s coming to destroy you,” said Cartorn. “It perceives you as enemies. There is no way to stop it.”
“There might be one way,” said Leeka, mixing several vials the talented gastroceanographer brought with her. “This is a powerful, fast-acting tartar sauce that just might do the trick.”
With a smash, the door caved, and in flew the horrific fin. It landed on the floor and began inching its way towards Leeka and her vial.
Before it could reach her, Cartorn Hippens grabbed the vial, doused himself liberally with sauce and lunged at the fin.
It was a terrible sight, fin and creator; the latter perished in a frenzy of cuts while the former dissolved, destroyed by the basic enemy of all seafood.
I gott say, I've loved all of the fiction that we've shared. Larry Blamire is hilarious.
VIDEO CHATS FROM BENEATH THE SEA!
Thank you everyone for sharing your love of this project and spreading the word to help recruit additional backers! We've got just over 12 days to go and 631 Backers have joined in so far. With more Stretch Goals ahead and an exciting few weeks in front of us, there's lots of opportunity to keep the momentum rolling!
And, if you're voice is getting weak from spreading the word yourself, here are some cool videos you can share that'll give you a temporary reprieve from doing all the talking while still getting your point across:
The Gentleman Sea Captain's Guide to Threats! from Beneath the Sea!
Caffeinated Conquests actual play of They Came from Beneath the Sea!
They Came from Beneath the Sea! Beginner's Guide from The Botch Pit
Please watch and share with your friends! Together, we can resist the undersea invaders...
(I think I may be switching sides!!)
#TheCameFromBeneathTheSea!
#Pristiophoridae
Backers Only Manuscript Preview #5
over 5 years ago
– Fri, Jan 11, 2019 at 05:31:16 AM
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
A Preview from Beneath the Sea! - Threats II: Enslavers!
over 5 years ago
– Thu, Jan 10, 2019 at 05:44:49 AM
Behold, dry-landers,
Yesterday we previewed BUT ONE of the deadly and diabolical threats you may encounter when participating in the simulation... I mean, when running a game of They Came from Beneath the Sea! We showed the dreaded Aqatepillar, one of the Destroyer-types featured in the Threats! chapter from the rulebook.
But there are other deadly dangers under the waves, with other objectives, motivations, and methods! And, as previously mentioned, not all of the undersea aliens get along... as evidenced in the relationship between today's creature feature - the pillbugs - and the Glowing People, who will be included in the full backer-only manuscript preview posted tomorrow!
I'm more of a Spy than a Destroyer or an Enslaver, so it's all good, my friends!
Enslavers
Enslavers are a broad class of beings, ranging from the at least passably semi-humanoid to the not very human at all, with nearly everything in between. The one characteristic these multifarious beings have in common? Their ability to invade, corrupt, and dominate the minds and bodies of others. Even the strongest-willed humans can be reduced to putty in their hands given sufficient time, forced into the service of humanity’s enemies.
Enslavers find their natural enemies in Mouths, those humans most firmly and fundamentally dedicated to discovering and promulgating information, most specifically the truth.
Mouths gain one additional die on all mental-based rolls made against Enslavers.
Enslavers gain one additional die on all social-based rolls made against Mouths.
Gigantic Pillbugs
“I was at the beach with my gal when those freaks showed up. They looked more like bugs than fish, like those gross silvery ones you can find when you flip over rocks. Definitely not something that should have arms and legs!
I freaked out. I tried to punch it, but it stabbed me with one of its stubby arms and I passed out. When I came to I was in the hospital, getting all different kinds of antivenom pumped into me. The gash it gave me required 12 stitches!”
— Travis Parker, the first civilian victim of the gigantic pillbugs’ venom, now deceased
The pillbugs are physically large and have a fearsome appearance. A gigantic pillpug is a bipedal creature, with a pair of arms and another set of shorter arms with no hands. Instead, the second arms end with a sharp nail, the injector used to deliver venom to any threat that comes into close range. A gigantic pillbug becomes twice as tall as a man if it unfolds its antennae fully.
Gigantic pillbugs are capable of communicating in human speech, but the words from their mandibles are often lies. It is possible their only purpose is revenge against their former enslavers, the Glowing People, and they have a desire to prevent another intelligent species from becoming their new slave race. Records show the aliens may have a concept of humor and can make pill-based puns.
While linguists and several laypeople agree that the pillbugs know enough of human language to communicate with mankind, enough for them to make attempts at joking, they show no understanding of human etiquette. Their way of introducing themselves contains no greetings of themselves or their race, instead they tell you how much they hate the Glowing People.
If one should manage to tolerate their brash behavior, a lone pillbug can make an interesting sidekick if asked to tag along. There are reports of lone pillbugs being seen in places where violence or death can occur, such as gang fights, boxing rings, even fishing boats. It is important that those who have enjoyed their pillbug companion’s company ensure they never cross paths with another of their kind. Once they do, their connection to their species’ hivemind will make them leave behind any friendships they’ve created in order to return to their vengeful pursuit of the Glowing People.
Gigantic pillbugs collect the bone plates of Glowing People and make necklaces of them, sending a clear message to any Glowing Person who happens to witness their accessories. A bone plate from a Glowing Elder is an especially prized possession, something that may be used as a chestpiece rather than a necklace.
Especially valued are bone plates carrying an intricate design. These bone plates display many individual variations, especially those of fully grown sessile slavers. The pillbugs have a complicated system for assessing the value of each bone plate.
However, the pillbugs never trade bone plates. All known cases where a person has attempted to trade with a pillbug for their bone plate ended with a head butt, then a desperate plea for an aspirin after waking up from a concussion. Each pillbug family keeps their own trophies as family jewels. Faking a bone plate, or altering it to make its pattern more attractive, are capital crimes. In fact, the pillbugs extend the punishment of falsifying battle memorabilia to mankind. Fake furs, synthetic materials, and other similar materials upset the aliens, but give them common cause with Amish communities.
Goals
The gigantic pillbugs know their former enslavers are kidnapping humans in order to shackle a new race. The lone pillbug cares greatly for the fate of the humanity, but the hivemind pillbugs focus solely on their species’ collective goal. Pillbugs are split between wanting to enslave the Glowing People for the cruel treatment of their race, or to exterminate them completely. However, they do agree on one thing — the Glowing People must pay!
Story Hook
For unknown reasons, James Bean, private investigator, was staking out the penthouse of successful businessman Stephen Siviid. When Bean’s body is found in a dumpster, his head cleaved by a sharp weapon laced in potent venom, the town starts talking: Is Siviid a killer? What does he have to hide? Are the scientists right when they describe the venom used in the attack as that of the infamous gigantic pillbugs?
System
These disturbing creatures come in two forms scientists have so far identified.
Adult Gigantic Pillbugs
The adult pillbug stands tall on its two back legs. Its back is covered in hard plates they boast are impenetrable. When the pillbug becomes an adult, it has the innate need to seek out the rest of its kind, and most continue to travel in groups that slowly expand in size. A few strike out on their own, perhaps to find more distant members and bring them to a secret location.
The pillbug is impressionable when on its own, with documented cases of people convincing a lone alien to join their cause and abandon the pillbug purpose.
All players making Persuasion and Manipulation rolls for characters interacting with gigantic pillbugs gain one additional die when there’s no other pillbug present in the scene. However, the die is lost if the bug sees another of its kind or a Glowing Person. Nobody knows why this is the case.
When there are at least three pillbugs present in a scene, all Persuasion and Manipulation rolls lose a die.
Skills: Athletics 2, Close Combat 3, Command 2, Survival 3
The different growth stages of the pillbug initially appear like an uncoordinated invasion of mindless alien animals eating everything. The larvae do not physically resemble the adult pillbug, and pillbugs blame the slavers for this mutation, claiming it’s the harsh result of generations without proper nutrition and attempting to make the race less independent so they can more easily be controlled. The young look more like a crossbreed of grubs and shrimp.
The smallest of this race are swimmers and live only in water, while bigger ones are amphibious but must stay close to water, and the largest can live on land or in water for as long as they want. Only after a few months and several molts do they take on an appearance similar to adult pillbugs.
Grubs lack the venom and armor of the adults, hence the threat level of the young pillbug decreases to Delta-5. They have, however, strong jaws that can make short work of human limbs and spit an extremely corrosive acidic saliva. With no technology or understanding of how to even use the most primitive of tools (other than consuming them for food) the grub is only a threat to unarmed civilians.
The number of eggs spread by the pillbug ships is enormous, and depending on the amount of food eaten, the pillbugs grow at differing rates. They eat younger pillbug stages if no other food is available, which guarantees that in the end only adult pillbugs will be left. In practice, the process efficiently converts a whole biosphere into a pillbug army.
Skills: Aim 2, Athletics 2, Close Combat 1, Survival 2
The pillbugs like to take advantage of their size and weight in close combat. They attempt to grapple their targets, using their limbs to pin them down and then use their stinger arms to inject venom.
Venomous Sting: The gigantic pillbug venom causes trouble for a period of several days, but isn’t fatal to healthy adults. Getting stung leads to extreme pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Its stinger arm easily penetrates leather. The stingers have a reach of one and a half feet, so they need to get close.
Their toxin is an Injectable Venom with a damage rating of 3, with a damage tag of Continuous (minute). On a successful hit, a victim must succeed on a Stamina roll or suffer the Paralyzed Condition for the remainder of the scene as excruciating pain wracks their body.
A Ball of Armor: True to their name, the gigantic pillbug can roll up to protect their vitals, turning into a ball of impenetrable armor. Their back armor protects them against any direct damage and they must either be coaxed to show their body parts that aren’t as well-protected or dealt with by using indirect methods (by using fire or gas-based toxins). The ball of armor conveys a +4 Enhancement against kinetic energy, such as bullets or rocks.
The grub stage has plates on its back, but isn’t hardened to match the toughness of the adult. Its protection grants a +2 Enhancement against kinetic energy. It will exhibit the same behavior as the adult and roll up in any danger where it feels it can’t feasibly fight off the threat.
Acidic Saliva: This ability is only used by pillbugs in the grub stage, allowing them to consume almost everything. Its acid is strong enough to dissolve and soften up the hardest of steel. The resulting burns from their spit are atrocious. Luckily, the acidic saliva can be diluted and washed away using water, but it does nothing to ease the smell of burning flesh that lasts for up to one week.
The acidic spit is contracted upon the grub biting a victim, or them spitting on anyone who threatens their existence. The longest range documented by grub spit is 10 feet and inflicts an Injury as the corrosive fluid dissolves flesh.
STRETCH GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENTS!
Well, this entire campaign was built and timed to deliver a Stretch Goal for esteemed backer Karpomatic's birthday - and together, we delivered! Great job, everyone! Lots of planning went into that! With that fundamental goal take care of, we'll continue with our Kickstarter campaign and see which other birthdays we can include...
Achieved! - KARPOMATIC'S BIRTHDAY WISH - A NEW SCENARIO - More adventure to be had with a new scenario PDF, added on to the rewards list for all backers receiving the They Came from Beneath the Sea! rulebook PDF.
At $35,000 in funding! - EXPANDED FLOATING FOES! - - A pailful of new threats and antagonists will be created and released as a Threat File! PDF, added on to the rewards list for all backers receiving the They Came from Beneath the Sea! rulebook PDF.
At $36,000 in funding! - DIGITAL WALLPAPER - Dress up your monitor with some amazing art from They Came from Beneath the Sea!, added to the rewards list for all backers.
At $37,500 in funding! - NEW MARINE MONSTERS! - A netful of new threats and nemisises will be created and released as a Threat File! PDF, added on to the rewards list for all backers receiving the They Came from Beneath the Sea! rulebook PDF.
We're going to post the complete Threat! chapter from the manuscript tomorrow, full of dangerous foes and evil antagonists! And, even though there will be a lot, you will want more! So, let's keep hitting Stretch Goals and celebrating birthdays, and add some more floating foes and marine monsters to the oceans of the 1950s!
#TheyCameFromBeneathTheSea
#KarpomaticBirthdayWish
A Preview from Beneath the Sea! - Threats!
over 5 years ago
– Wed, Jan 09, 2019 at 05:20:43 AM
Behold, Surface-dwellers!
Your Wet Kickstarter Concierge!
As promised, the first of two Threat! previews for this week, before sharing the entire Threat! Chapter from the manuscript on Friday. One of the best things about the antagonists and creatures from They Came from Beneath the Sea! are the different roles and motivations that they slot into - these creatures and aliens don't all want the same thing, aren't always working toward a common purpose, and don't necessarily pose similar threats. By mixing it up, you can keep the action and intrigue flowing in your game and working to build an entertaining story!
Threats!
Into every compelling narrative some tension must fall. The heroes, setting foot upon the stage of story, must face a challenge greater than themselves, or sometimes within themselves. The protagonist versus some intrinsic flaw in their own inner nature is one of the fundamental building blocks of narrative. So, too, is the valiant defender against an external threat. Supplication and deliverance, rivalry and vengeance, pursuit and daring enterprise, misfortune and disaster, love and self-sacrifice, all of these themes form one of the foundations of the plot.
The other corner of the foundation is the antagonists, which in this case are the They in the title of our enterprise. Much of both the drama and the humor of the stories to be played out upon the sound stage derives from these beings: the alien creatures from beneath the waves, the strange and previously unknown beings whose goals and ambitions for the surface world, and the human race, will likely form the core of any conflict. They are as many as, well, there are fishes in the sea, with their own forms, their own objectives, their own powers, and their own technologies.
They are all divided into several types — Destroyers, Enslavers, Invaders, Primordials, Spies, and other, more Terrestrial threats. Below you will find Them in all their scaly, web-fingered, slime-trailing, betentacled glory.
Threatening Health
Unlike your characters, threats do not incur Injuries. Aliens just have Health, and the number of Health Points an alien possesses reduces when damaged. When an alien reaches 0 Health, it either dies or lies prone, depending on the Director’s preference and the manner by which it was attacked.
Destroyers
Destroyers are the most physically powerful of all the alien types either naturally, due to their enormous size or their gifts of biological weaponry, or by design, mechanical beasts constructed by physically less-impressive aliens to wreak havoc on their enemies. Many of these creatures are fundamentally mindless, rendered aggressive and perilous to others by the manipulations and technologies of more intelligent creatures. Those that are, themselves, intelligent are among the most dangerous of their kind, capable of precisely directed violence and absolute carnage unimaginable by lesser beings.
Destroyers exist in fundamental opposition to Survivors, individuals who have been forged in the fires of conflict and violence.
Survivors gain one additional die on all physical-based rolls made against Destroyers.
Destroyers gain one additional die on all physical-based rolls made against Survivors.
Aquatepillars
“Oh, God! Send help! They’re coming out of the water! They’re…they’re eating every—”
— Transmission received by the Shimmering Point Police Department
Aquatepillars are horrible, mindless, rampaging beasts. They pull themselves up from the depths of the ocean and slither up on land, where they hunt relentlessly for food. They’ll eat whatever organic matter they find, including plants of sufficient size, but they seem to prefer meat. Their appetites are enormous — a few aquatepillars can work through a herd of cattle in less than an hour, leaving behind nothing but piles of foul-smelling excreta and a few undigested bells.
Aquatepillars resemble huge, writhing maggots. They appear in a variety of colors — some are dark blue with yellow splotches, some are bright red or green, some are pure black, and some are bone-white. Scientists assume that these colorations mark differences in species or native region, but so far the subject hasn’t been extensively studied (mostly because anyone that gets close enough to examine them tends to get eaten). The smallest aquatepillars are roughly 10 feet in length and two feet in diameter, but much bigger ones (up to 30 feet in length and 10 feet in diameter) have been reported. The really big ones don’t venture too far from the ocean, however; it seems they run the risk of collapsing under their own weight if they stay out of the water too long.
Aquatepillars don’t have visible eyes, but they seem to be able to sense living things. When they do so, they charge at the potential food source, emitting horrible gurgling and roaring sounds (scientists speculate that these roars might function as a primitive echolocation method; they’re not sure about the gurgling, though). The beasts aren’t fast, and anyone in a motor vehicle can escape them easily. Despite their slowness, aquatepillars aren’t to be underestimated. They’re relentless and tough, and hiding in a structure just ensures the beast will batter down the walls to find the tasty morsel within. Likewise, touching them is unwise. They are covered with fine hairs that irritate and blister the skin of any living creature that comes into contact with them. Repeated exposure can cause illness or even paralysis.
In the ocean, aquatepillars are far more dangerous. Their bodies undulate with a graceful rhythm, and they swim faster than most boats. They can expel water from orifices at either end to propel themselves in short bursts, or to breach the water and land on the deck of a ship. So far, they haven’t figured out how to smash into the hull of a ship in order to sink it.
One of the most interesting questions about aquatepillars is: If they really are analogous to caterpillars, what might they turn into? No chrysalid or pupate form of them has ever been discovered, but if they retreat into the depths of the ocean to enter this form, it would be very difficult for humans to find. An aquatepillar that emerges from a cocoon might take on butterfly-like (or manta ray-like) characteristics, might be able to fly, or might simply become a gigantic sea centipede with enough legs and pincers to rip ships and buildings alike apart. Prevailing thought dictates it better just to kill the aquatepillars whenever possible.
Rumors speak of other seaborn races hating and fearing aquatepillars. The Suspended, in particular, avoid them because the aquatepillar is one of the few creatures not bothered by the vast quantities of slime the Suspended create. Indeed, the aquatepillars seem to find it delicious, greedily sucking down the slime blobs and eels within.
Goals
The goals of aquatepillars are simple: consumption and metamorphosis. Unintelligent to human minds, this species of crawling, slithering creatures has communicated nothing more detailed to its prey.
Story Hook
After a spate of disappearances and eyewitness accounts, Tumbleton puts itself on high alert against the aquatepillar menace. When a few plucky heroes track these creatures to their shorefront lair, however, they find an injured aquatepillar trying to care for its larvae. It looks at them sadly, snuffling and shaking in fear.
System
The stats below reflect an “average” sized aquatepillar. The Director should adjust these stats in either direction for a larger or smaller one.
Setae: Aquatepillars have thousands of thin, bristle-like hairs on their bodies. Sometimes these hairs are easily visible, and sometimes they are fine enough that witnesses don’t notice them, but all aquatepillars have them. When living creatures touch these setae, their skin becomes itchy and irritated. Prolonged exposure can make organisms ill and even lead to paralysis. Roll four dice against a protagonist’s Stamina. On a success, the protagonist suffers an increased Difficulty on all actions until the area can be thoroughly cleansed. More severe effects (like paralysis or illness) should be reserved for supporting cast members, but might also appear as Complications.
