Karaban Swarm Creatures


Karaban swarm creatures are highly insectile in appearance, with a hard, chitinous shell covering their bodies, six large, multifaceted eyes, and four razor sharp mandibles. Their eight, long, triple jointed, very sharp tipped legs add to the impression. However, they are not quite insects, as their exoskeleton is composed of Kriodikeratin, a substance considerably harder and denser than chitin, and, in addition to their exoskeleton the bodies of the swarm creatures are supported by an internal skeleton of the same material. Their muscular efficiency is a good deal greater than that of insects, which enables them to perform typically insectile feats of endurance, speed, and power, despite their relatively enormous size, as the swarm creatures reach around a meter and a half in length, and a little less than that in height.

Some theorists have postulated that the Karaban swarm creatures are actualy intelligent, with a hive mind coordinated by a central intelligence. However, while evidence of their intelligence can be found, there is little data to support the contention that it is of a hive mind nature. Despite the fact that they have demonstrated some evidence of intelligence, coordinating attacks against fleeing prey, and using tools if necessary, the swarm creatures have never developed any form of culture or civilization, as they are simply too hungry to stop and thing about things of that sort.

The swarm creatures spend their waking hours in a ceaseless hunt for food, except during late summer, when they spend a night in search of mates, an effort which burns up their energy reserves and kills them. This lifestyle tends to lead them to rather simplistic hunt and kill world view, as they have no time for more abstruse speculations. Swarm creatures are highly impatient beings, driven to perform everything as quickly as possible.

The muscular power of the Karaban swarm creatures is provided by their super efficient muscular system. However, in order to keep that system fueled, the swarm creatures must constantly eat. Quiescent by day, encased in solid chitinous cocoons, buried below the surface, the swarm creatures scour the forests of Karbakul of all life during the nighttime hours.

The Karaban Swarm creatures group in swarms of 20-400 members, which move through the forests of Karbakul, killing and eating anything that did not conceal itself well enough to avoid detection. The various forms of local wildlife have become masters of concealment, and in order to survive, the Karaban swarm creatures have become masters of detection, able to find enough of those creatures to survive.

Unknown off their homeworld, the Karaban swarm creatures are seen as a deadly menace on Karbakul. The Trent Systems, the Imperial fragment in control of Karbakul, has attempted massive defoliation, contamination of the groundwater, and biowarfare in order to eliminate the swarm creatures, but these efforts have proven unsuccessful. The garrison on Karbakull is protected against their attacks by a number of defence mechanisms, which have thus far proved successful in deterring or defeating swarm attacks.
Dexterity: 5D+2
Brawling Parry 6D+2, Dodge 6D+2, Running 7D
Perception: 4D
Search 6D+2, Sneak 5D
Strength: 5D
Climbing/Jumping 7D, Brawling 6D, Stamina 6D

Move: 27
Average Size: 1.43 meters tall, 1.54 meters long

Special Abilities:

Climbing/Jumping: Due to the nature of their legs, Karaban swarm creatures can jump sixteen times the length and height of humans of equivalent strength and skill.
Natural Weapons and Armor: The swarm creature's shells give them a 3D bonus vs. physical attacks, and 2D vs. energy damage, but decays rapidly once the creature is killed. The swarm creature's legs inflict STR+3D+2, and their bite inflicts STR+2D damage.
Heightened Senses: The swarm creatures can detect life forms through their acutely enhanced perceptional array. In game turns they gain a +2D bonus to their search rolls when trying to detect living creatures.

Weaknesses:

Fear of light: While light does not cause any actual damage to the Swarm creatures, they hate and fear it, as it represents the day, when they are vulnerable. Karaban swarm creatures tend to avoid well lit areas.
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