Old Man Lucy's Bestiary

There are two primary types of hunters: those that hunt out of the need for food and other resources, and those that hunt for sport. The latter, some would argue, when done excessively and indiscriminately (ex. not caring about the state of the population of a certain species, etc.) can upset the balance of nature within an ecosystem. What then happens when nature doesn't let this go unpunished?

Many hunters tend to decorate their living space with a collection of parts belonging to their catch, parts commonly referred to as trophies. As a direct result of any disproportionate misery and pain a callous hunter has caused to the local ecosystem, and by consequence, to nature itself, the Trophy Golem is born; infused will and retribution in a body composed of preserved animal parts, the trophies the hunter has accumulated and so proudly displayed, held together by forces beyond, ready to fight tooth and nail, literately, to deal out the punishment mother nature sees fit.

What it does is seek its target, the hunter, in an aggressive and unrelenting manner. During encounters, it always keeps its attention on the hunter; it will indeed attack anything attempting to get in the way of its mission, but it will always prioritize the hunter, attempting to land whatever lethal attack it can, worrying not of its own self-preservation. As for the instinct and prowess the Trophy Golem has: it is a combination of those belonging to the types of creatures that make up its body. In a way, it is considered to have a form of super-instinct, harboring the techniques and strategies of a great number of creatures.

Due to its nature, being composed of pure rage and retribution, the Trophy Golem cannot be pacified. Skills and spells that typically allow the soothing  of a creature have no effect on it. There are only two ways a Trophy Golem will cease its aggression: it is either defeated in combat, or it has slain its target.

When applying it to a tabletop RPG campaign- if the group of PCs are far from the type that engages in actions that lead to such a creature being born or targeting them- weaving it into the campaign is a question of incentivizing the protection of a target being pursued by the Golem. The targeted individual could be an essential part of a mission, or the party could simply be none the wiser of the surrounding circumstances, thinking they're simply rescuing what is an innocent individual. Through clues and hints, however, they should find out why the construct chases its prey so passionately, eventually having the difficult task of choosing between continuing to guard the questionable individual or allowing natural justice to take place.

The Trophy Golem is a highly customizable creature. It adopts most of its stats and other properties from creatures found in the bestiaries of the game being played. Have the entries of the creatures that you want the Trophy Golem’s body to be comprised of during its creation.

Nature’s Vengeful Construct Setting: Fantasy HD: F~A, depending on number of creatures that comprise its body. Size: Typically Large

Base Stats

Aside from wisdom (which is that of nature itself), it adopts the highest score amongst those of the creatures it is composed of. For Speed, in particular as it relates to movement, it adopts that of the creature that makes up its legs.

Strength: ? Dexterity: ? Constitution: ? Intelligence: ? Wisdom: S Charisma: ?

Senses/Perception: ? Spell/Energy/Aura Potency: ? Stamina/Energy: ? Speed: ? Initiative: ?

Defenses

Aside from adopting the physical and evasive defenses defenses of the creatures that comprise its body, it also adopts any other special forms of defenses they might have.

Physique: ?

Evasiveness:?

Resistances

Any and all resistances from the creatures that comprise its body.

Varies: ?

Weaknesses

Any and all weaknesses from the creatures that comprise its body.

Varies: ?

Saving Throws

It adopts the highest score amongst those of the creatures it is composed of. It's mental, spiritual, and sensory resistances, however, are incredibly formidable due the strength granted by its mission from nature itself.

Fortitude/Endurance/Resistance: ? Evasion/Reflex: ? Mental/Willpower/Sensory: S

Attacks

It has access to all the attacks possible with the creature parts it it composed of, using the same attack formula listed on the base creature's entry.

Grapple: [F to S]

Skills

It adopts the highest score amongst those of the creatures it is composed of.

Loot

Trophies; the cost of each animal product that composed its body, specifically the price of already taxidermed/treated parts, minus any damage received, of course.

Sole Purpose

Being a creature that exists solely for its mission, once it has succesfully completed it- which is something it can confirm supernaturally (i.e, it is not fooled by attempts at feigning death by way of acting or illusions), it ceases to exist as a single entity, disassembling as the magic that bound each trophy together fades away.

Combined Instincts

The Trophy Golem is a highly customizable creature, typically being composed of body parts belonging to its target's trophies. Its stats, attacks, and even tactics are taken from the respective creatures it is composed of. Because of this, depending on the combination of creatures, the Trophy Golem can range from an decent threat to an absolutely formidable champion of nature.

Because of its nature, aside from its stats and actions, the Trophy Golem also has access to a large pool of instincts to help it on its mission. Mechanically, this means that you may apply many of the unique behaviors, actions, and maneuvers belonging to any of the species that comprises it, so long as they are physically possible.

Unrelenting Rage

Also referred to as FSU or "Suckers"

There are times when certain fluids become unusually scarce or highly demanded– water, oil, alcohol, blood, it all depends on the circumstances. Where there are those who transport or harbor these liquids, there are also those looking to steal them, and the Flying Syphon Unit is their primary tool. Based on mosquitos, Flying Syphon Units, more often referred to as "FSUs" or "Suckers", are tank-breaching, liquid-suctioning, 2500 lb. flying automatons.

Their primary function is to breach and syphon the liquid out of target containers, storing it in their thick, mechanical bodies before quickly fleeing the scene with their loot. To have as much capacity for a fluid's storage while still being able to remain in flight, they are designed with limited combat capabilities so as to not add unnecessary weight in the form of weapons. While they are designed this way, their suction system can and is used on foes when the circumstances call for it.

FSUs have an AI of their own, one that is programmed with some primary factors in mind: keeping out of harms way whenever possible, choosing a proper syphoning location, keeping up with moving targets, engaging in self-defense or the support of other units when the situation calls for it, and fleeing the scene in relatively safe manner when done with their objective. That being said, certain behaviors must be tweaked manually to properly optimize each unit for the specific circumstances of the mission– aggressive/defensive levels, distance kept from target before engaging, etc. Additionally, they feature manual-control capabilities, allowing an individual to micromanage their actions.

When engaged in combat, FSUs will primarily act in a defensive manner, leaving a heist's team to handle any threatening foes. If most of a heist's members were to fall during combat, their AI designates a select few units as guardians, starting with any yet-to-syphon units and then any already damaged ones. These now guardian units will aggressively engage any foes to allow other units to securely flee the scene with their haul.

While not technically designed for combat, an FSU's competent AI, thick mechanical body, and heavy duty syphoning makes it just as deadly as any other creature. Ultimately, however, they are only as threatening as the team utilizing them.

Usage Ideas

Earlier on, introduce FSUs being improperly handled by a group of amateurs so as to give your players a certain impression of them. Later on, astonish them with better utilized ones, ones with more efficient parameters and which are better escorted. Another way to make yet another encounter with them feel different is to have them be used for gathering blood from the living (perhaps for vampires), guaranteeing a squad with aggressive parameters.

Automaton

Setting/Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Heist, Sci-Fi, Mecha HP: C Size: Large

Base Stats

Strength: B Dexterity: B Constitution: C Intelligence: C Wisdom: [N/A] Charisma: F

Senses/Perception: B Spell/Energy/Aura Potency: [N/A] Stamina/Energy: C Speed: B Initiative: A

Defenses

Armor (Metal Plating): C Evasiveness: B

Resistances

Acidic: B

Weaknesses

Electric: C

Saving Throws

Fortitude/Endurance/Resistance: C Evasion/Reflex: B Mental/Willpower/Sensory: F

Attacks

[Melee]

>Prick >>Accuracy: B >>Damage: B >>A succesful Prick is often followed by Syphon (see below).

Grapple: B

Skills

Flight: A

Loot

Scraps– Steel plates, circuit boards, infrared scanners, syphoning engine, cables.

Infrared Vision

FSUs primarily make use of their infrared vision to detect where and how much liquid is inside their target container.

Syphon

After performing a Pierce attack, one specifically succesful in breaching the target, FSUs may begin to absorb the liquid content found inside during their next turn.

Taking full actions, the FSU's suctions at the rate of 5 galons per turn. Typically having a capacity for 25 galons themselves, it takes them 5 full rounds to fill up.

During this syphoning, a FSU's specially designed feet attach themselves onto their target for stabilization purposes. For rugged, uneven surfaces, their feet contain small barb-like features which allow them to latch on upon contact. For smooth surfaces, rubber suction cups assist with the stabilization.

The Syphoning action can be performed on biological creatures, specifically ones whose anatomy allows it. In such a case, the damage done per turn is directly dependent on their size.

Damage Chart:

Tiny: 320% of total HP per turn.

Small: 160% of total HP per turn.

Medium: 80% of total HP per turn.

Large: 40% of total HP per turn.

Huge: 20% of total HP per turn.

Gargantuan: 10% of total HP per turn.

Colossal: 5% of total HP per turn.

The liquid absorbed (typically blood), is routed through the inner pipes of the suction system and diverted to a special exhaust pipe for non-target liquids. A pierced character has no saving throw against the syphoning, which is extremely lethal, however, they may attempt to pull out from the FSUs Pierce before it may begin the process.

Being designed for larger targets, FSUs have difficulty grasping on to medium or smaller sized foes with their special extremities, and as thus, impaled creatures of this size may break free from the Pierce's hold just by simply using a full-round action. Larger targets, however, are susceptible to the specially designed legs' grasp and must break free by succeeding on a the system's appropriate roll for the task (difficulty: C) as their turn's Full Round action, after which they suffer some minor damage due to the leg's barbs.

Set to Manual:

While FSUs posses a respectable AI, there are situations in which one might want to assume manual control. FSUs allow for this feature, with an effective maximum range of exactly 3 miles (FSUs can recieve instructions from much further distances. This 3 mile limit is specific to efficient manual control, i.e. control without delayed or skipped inputs).

Automaton Traits:

A relatively harmless looking reptile turns into one of the desert's most feared threats during the right circumstances. Sunap's are native to the deserts of Asian-like countries, the locals naming them after a pun: the kana for sand (砂), which is read as "suna", made to sound like the onomatopoeia "snap", the distinct sound they make when they take a bite. These lightweight little reptiles use the strong winds and low visibility of sandstorms to lunge towards their targets, snapping off a chunk of flesh (their meal for the day) before continuing to glide onwards and out of harms way, giving almost no chance for their target to spot them and even less to retaliate. Because of the nature of their movement (which is dependent on the direction of the sandstorm's winds), even if they manage to miss out on feeding, a Sunap is unable to attempt more than a single attack on the same target.

What makes an encounter with these creatures so dreadful is the fact that they travel in large numbers, and while a single bite of a Sunap could be brushed off by the seasoned adventurer, a school of them could deflesh a medium creature in just an instant. Their hit and run tactic combined with the harsh conditions in which they make their move means encounters are usually over just a moment after they begin; their targets either successfully avoid becoming lunch, or they are devoured in an instant.

Sunaps lie waiting within sand most of the day; they do not have a particular feeding time, their sandstorm assault being the only time they expose themselves. Their instincts alert them of the sections of the desert with potentially strong winds, to which they will slowly crawl towards to and then remain in waiting.

Because Sunaps depend on sandstorms or similar weather conditions to survive, they are only found in deserts where the weather phenomenon is a regular occurrence. The locals of these deserts are accustomed to such circumstances and threats, their homes and businesses being properly sealed, and the people themselves always prepared to stay indoors on a moments notice.

Although Sunaps could, in theory, lie in wait on the desert's most popular routes and devour any who pass by, their lack of mobility without any sort of significantly strong wind current would afterwards put them in immediate danger of retaliation. Because of this, even when hungry, Sunaps encountered under these circumstances are relatively harmless, their instincts telling them not to feed as a form of defensive mechanism. The same could not be said, perhaps, for a starving bunch.

School of Desert Reptiles

Setting: Fantasy, Arid, Oriental Group: School of 20~30 HP: C Size (Singular): Tiny Size (School): Large

Primary Stats

Strength: D Dexterity: C Constitution: F Intelligence: F Wisdom: D Charisma: F

Senses/Perception: A Spell/Energy/Aura/Ability Potency: [N/A] Stamina/Energy Capacity: D Speed: F [Sandstorm Lunge: A] Initiative: D

Defenses

Physique: F Evasiveness: B Special (Sandstorm Lunge): S

Resistances

Sandstorm Effects: S

Saving Throws

Fortitude/Endurance/Resistance: C Evasion/Reflex: B [Sandstorm Lunge: S] Mental/Willpower/Sensory: F

Attacks

[Melee]

Single Bite >Hit Chance: D [Sandtorm Lunge: C] >Damage: C [Piercing] >>Applied when only a single Sunap manages to bite a target.

Collective Bite: >Hit Chance: B (Sandstorm Lunge: A) >Damage: A >>Applied when a large number of Sunap manage to feast on a target.

Grapple: A (Mouth Grasp)

Skills

Hide/Stealth (Desert Camouflage): S Jump: B

Loot

If their insides are examined, there might be jewelry and similar items from previous victims

School

Similar to fish, a large group of Sunaps acts in a school-like manner. For the purposes of combat, a School can be treated as a single foe, and as such, this entry covers a school's corresponding stats rather than those of an individual Sunap.

Desert Radar

Sunaps are extremely adept at sensing movement on sand, even over impressively long distances. They can detect moving individuals within 100ft. of their position.

Sandstorm Lunge

During powerful sandstorms or in the precense of strong winds, Sunaps are able to effectively lunge themselves towards their target by jumping in accorance to the wind's direction.

There are two primary ways Sunaps use this ability:

1. They will lie in wait, hidden under sand, threatening a line (in the direction that the wind is blowing to) of up to 90 ft. As a readied action, they lunge towards their target after confirming their movement. They glide across the air, their instincts having granted them the correct timing for the lunge to make contact with their target. When a character or creature's intended movement is declared and determined to be intersecting with their lunge's threatened range, both actions commence simultaneously. Unless any external circumstances affect the target's intended movement or that of the school of Sunaps (a change of direction, speed, or the presence of an obstacle), the Sunaps' lunge makes contact with the target.

2. The Sunaps will lunge towards the direction that the wind blows despite not having any present targets, gliding for miles and miles until coming in contact with one. In both cases, upon making contact with a target, they immediately attempt to bite down (their primary attack), and upon being resolved, they continue to glide onwards (the remainder of their gliding movement for the turn) and out of harms way.

Sunaps will not lunge at a target unless the gliding distance remaining after their bite is at the very least 20ft.

Sunaps have very little control after their initial lunge. While the strong winds do enable them to angle their bodies as to glide upwards or downwards (to return to the ground), they offer very little control over horizontal movements. Sunaps hidden among wet sand or affected by a strong, downwards force (such as increased gravity) are unable to perform the Sandstorm Lunge. Sandstorm Lunge does not typically provoke any attacks of opportunity in systems that contain that mechanic.

Desert Camouflage

Because of their size and colors, even after exposing themselves, Sunaps are difficult to detect. A successful Spot/Perception/Detection check with a difficulty of "A" is required to detect them above sand, increasing to "S" difficulty during a sandstorm.

During a sandstorm specifically, even after becoming aware of them, their camouflage causes non-AOE attacks directed at them to have a 30% of missing.

Successful Sunap Encounter

Minute Bats are magical constructs whose origin varies depending on your campaign setting, however, they are typically sentries in charge of protecting the household of higher undead such as vampires and lich. They get their name from their Countdown ability, which spells out doom for their victim after a single minute. 

A Minute Bat will typically lie still within their master's home, specifically in spots where they blend in as just another wicked-looking ornament. They wait for intruders to walk within their ability's range, and even after binding to them, they'll remain in place unless threatened.

If attacked, a Minute Bat will try to keep an airborne distance of around 15 feet from their target, enough to stay out of harms way, yet not have their link severed by a fleeing victim moving beyond its maximum range. Otherwise, if the location allows for it, they will hide behind columns, tables, chairs, or other furniture, although they will avoid bringing danger to any their master's most prized possessions if they happen to be present in the room.

From their still position, they will rarely go after someone who managed to somehow pass by them without stepping within range, unless they have instructions to explicitly do so. All in all, they are usually just one of many layers of protection the wicked might have in their home, and one that is meant to be more passive than aggressive. Malevolent Furniture Setting: Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal HP: D Size: Tiny

Base Stats

Strength: F Dexterity: C Constitution: D Intelligence: C Wisdom: C Charisma: C

Senses/Perception: A Spell/Energy/Aura Potency: C Stamina/Energy: C Speed: N/A Speed (Flight): C Initiative: B

Defenses

Armor (Wood & Metal encased Glass): C Evasiveness: B

Resistances

Electric: B

Weaknesses

Sonic: C (Affects Glass)

Saving Throws

Fortitude/Endurance/Resistance: C Evasion/Reflex: B Mental/Willpower/Sensory: B

Attacks

[Melee] >Crash >>Accuracy: C >>Damage: D Minute Bats rarely if ever engage in physical combat. Instead, they opt for utilizing Countdown.

Grapple: N/A

Skills

Acrobatics: A Stealth: S

Loot

Self; The craftsmanship put into it and the danger in acquiring an unbroken one makes them sought after by collectors. Otherwise, shattered ones are worth the value of their significant materials, which are usually 2 tiny rubies and 5 pounds rare metals.

Suspicious Appearance

Any successful observation (difficulty: C) done on the Minute Bat reveals one peculiar detail about the Minute Bat. It is brought to the attention of the player that the liquid it contains is found at the top of the hourglass rather than the bottom, unaffected by gravity. Whether that observation alerts the player to the Minute Bat's potential danger (before its effects commence, of course) remains to be seen, but at the very least, it becomes a curiosity that the character is aware of.

Sense Life

A Minute Bat can sense living creatures within 40ft. of it, also being able to feel their exact location.

Countdown

If a living creature of any kind has passed within 5ft. of a Minute Bat, this nefarious hourglass may attempt to bind itself to the being's soul. Their target makes a willpower or similar resistance roll (difficulty: A), which, if failed, means the Minute Bat has successfully bound to them.

From this point onward, the blood within its hourglass starts pouring down from the top chamber to its lower one, signalling the start of the Countdown effect: a slow draining of the target’s life force, the flow of blood representing the time left before their doom.

The victim has exactly a single minute to either destroy the Minute Bat or find a way to sever their connection to it before dying, with every passing turn, loosing 1/6 of their total HP. This link between them will only remain active as long as both are within 40 feet from each other. If at any point the effect is interrupted, such as by stepping out of the Minute Bat's range, the victim is freed from the bind and the Countdown’s effect, although this does not return any amount of health drained.

Countdown is considered a magical effect, and as such can be affected by the usual things that affect magic.

Turning the Minute Bat upside down will not affect the blood’s flow or the time left it represents. In such a case, the blood can simply be seen continuing to flow upwards against the laws of physics.

A Minute Bat whose glass shatters may not use Countdown and typically flees. Only one Minute Bat can be bound to the same target at a time, and a Minute Bat may only bind itself to a single target at a time.

The effects of Countdown will only work on constructs, androids, or similar lifeforms if and only if your setting considers these types of beings to have some sort of “soul”, even if it is of a different nature from that of other living beings (for example, a setting that establishes that once an AI is advanced enough, it forms or harbors a type of consciousness and vital force which can be affected and interacted with in a similar way that the soul of a biological being can).

Construct Traits

Puppetrees are spawned from trees located in well-known suicide locations- for example, forests adjacent to countries whose rule is so poor or cruel that its citizen's are driven to take their lives on the regular. Similar to other scourge, the severe and concentrated suffering of these victims is the catalyst for their existence; the Puppetree’s being the self-hung.

Puppetrees possess the ability to uproot themselves and wander their habitat in quest of fresh bodies, something they do once their current ones deteriorate beyond their liking. They are known to attack anyone deemed fit as a replacement for their current "puppets". These entities often exhibit preferences for a certain species or gender, ignoring those who do not meet their criteria during their search. Certain Puppetrees exhibit even more idiosyncratic preferences, limiting their selection to individuals of a specific social class, size, or even clothing arrangement.

In combat they primarily make use of their puppets. Typically, their proficiency in controlling these corpses is influenced by their age, although exceptions exist. Those situated in regions with frequent exposure to combat tend to improve their skills more rapidly. Additionally, if necessary, they utilize their roots and branches for combat, employing tactics similar to other animated trees: ensnaring opponents with roots and striking or impaling them with branches.

Puppetrees enjoy challenging each other to puppet combat as both a form of entertainment and practice. Those that have recently acquired new corpses will often be so eager to test them that they will actively roam their surroundings until they find a suitable challenger a pursuit that continues until they are thoroughly satisfied.

On some occasions, the profound misery that imbues a Puppetree with life doesn't evoke a thirst for revenge against the harsh world that led to its creation, but instead, it inspires a desire to express the sorrow of such circumstances through artistic performances and music. This tendency commonly arises when the original bodies that bred life into it belonged to musicians or other types of artists who, throughout their lives, conveyed their frustrations and sorrows through their art. As a result, many of the forests housing Puppetrees emit melancholic tunes, almost as if to caution travelers about the pervasive sadness within.

Puppets

The corpses that a Puppetree collects for use in battle are referred to as its puppets.

Puppets have their own distinct attributes which vary depending on the corpse utilized as well as what it carries.

A Puppet's defenses is the combination of both the corpse's durability and the Puppetree's own dexterity in handling them.

Strings

To manipulate its corpses, a Puppetree commonly employs four to five separate "strings", typically the rope that the individuals used to take their own lives. That being said, the specific number and material may vary according to the subject chosen as a puppet.