Xenos
Over the fifteen years following the War on Form, the landscape of the world was drastically changed by Stock terraforming. The terraforming process worked by introducing Silver energy into the planet's different ecosystems which, due to the alien element's powerful influence on nature, caused rapid changes throughout the landscapes. Among these, were the physiological changes to the native animals and creatures of Earth. Over the years, animals were transformed by the alien influence to grow larger, with altered hunting styles, enhanced their natural intelligence, and in some cases mutated them beyond recognition. Some grew aggressive and savage, while some remained docile and in some cases were even domesticated. They evolved rapidly and in strange ways to create whole new breeds, changing from herbivores to carnivores, blended animals together, and flipped the old way of understanding these creatures upside down. These creatures became known as Xenos, and for years have been growing, breeding and spreading across the new Wilds of the planet Earth.
Brachyura Bear
Description: Brachyura Bears are solitary Xenos with damp short brownish red fur, tightly packed underneath underneath a thick exoskeleton. A hybrid creature of crustaceans and the North American grizzly bear, they are distinguishable by their large pincer-like claws, pointed ears, hard shell, and protruding mandibles along the jaw. Females can weigh up to 770 Kilograms while the males can double that, and tower over a standing human by a number of feet.
Nature: Brachyura Bears are solitary by nature and are comfortable in a number of climates. They have an insatiable appetite that causes them to be on the constant prowl for nourishment. As omnivores a Brachyura Bear's diet consists of a number of different plant life, algae, smaller game and .have been known to hunt other predators, however they do prefer easier prey near lakes and streams. Like many bears of old, the Brachyura Bear hibernates throughout the winter seasons, tucking away with small groups in caves or sinking to the bottom of a lake to lie upon the bottom. If awoken during hibernation the Brachyura Bear becomes extremely hostile and will attack with a relentless rage. When attacking the Brachyura Bear will rise up on it's hind legs and collapse down on its opponent with all its weight and sharp claws. Generally this is the only moment where they are vulnerable as their thick exoskeleton shell keeps them protected from most threats.
Brachyura mate only every third spring which is often a dangerous time to venture into their territory as both male and females become more aggressive and volatile. Brachyura cubs are left to survive alone almost immediately after birth and come to maturity quickly.
Environment: The Brachyura Bear are native to North America and thrive in densely forested areas as well as mountainous areas. These Xenos are proficient on both land and water and can stay submerged for months at a time. As apex predator's they don't tend to be stealthy and instead roam their territories with the confidence of a powerful killer.
Stats
Strength: High
Dexterity: Low
Constitution: High
Intelligence: Middle
Wisdom: Low
Charisma: Middle
Skills: Body Slam, Ferocious Roar, Swimming, Marathon
Harvesters
Description: Harvesters are the name given to a peculiar Xeno species that mutated from an insect pathogen fungus. The Xeno fungus takes control and animates the flesh of recently deceased animals and causes the bodies to roam through an area. When the fungus comes in contact with organic matter it spreads a thin white webbing over the area and fuses the flesh together with the Harvester body. This causes Harvesters to take on my different looks as the Xeno fungus adapts new parts of muscles and tissue to its mass.
Each Harvester is adorned with a small antenna growing from the top of its head that it uses to navigate by sensing organic matter in its vicinity.
Nature: Harvesters are drawn to death and often amass around battlegrounds, adding the flesh of fallen humans to their form. Harvesters are generally slow moving and not aggressive but are often attributed to the spread of disease as they carry rotting flesh from place to place. When attacked they will defend themselves, and they can be particularly hard to kill being that their bodies are made up of already deceased tissue. Even when completely dismembered Harvesters will reform over time and continue their slow walk toward the dead. Fire is a proven method to eliminate the Xeno fungus but creates toxic fumes that can cause severe illness for those who are not properly protected.
A Harvester's general behavior leads them to search out new flesh to consume, add to their bodies and continue on. Their shapes are constantly changing as old tissue rots away or is consumed, and new pieces are added to replace what was lost. Harvesters are not outwardly hostile but can be very aggressive in their desire to search out and consume the flesh of the deceased and have been known to wander in large herds toward human settlements who do not properly dispose of their dead.
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Environment: Harvesters first appeared in Southern Asia but have since spread to the entire Eastern Hemisphere with some few sighting in the Americas. They prefer flat plains and find some terrain difficult to traverse due to their slow moving anatomy, but with a strong enough desire have been known to scale mountains and cross large bodies of water. Harvesters don't fair well in climates with extreme heat nor cold.
Stats
Strength: Low
Dexterity: Low
Constitution: High
Intelligence: Middle
Wisdom: High
Charisma: Middle
Skills: Spread Disease, Relentless, Sense Presence
Adder Hare
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Description: A Xeno breed mutated from the common Scottish Hare that grew into a predatory creature to survive the now volatile environment brought on after the War on Form. Adder Hares stand approximately up to an average humans knee. They have long and keen ears with black eyes adept at seeing through darkness. Their furry faces are often black, brown or white while their bodies are hairless and are either greyish white or copper toned with black patterns. They have short furry tails and venomous bulbs across their necks and torsos.
Nature: Unlike other Hares, the Adder Hare is carnivorous and spends nights hunting down smaller rodents to eat. With powerful hind legs Adder Hares can sprint across forest floors with immense agility and can leap throw the air reaching heights of 15 ft to pounce on prey. Adder Hares have earned their name in Scotland from the viper of similar name due to the venomous bulbs the Xeno grows across their hairless bodies. When threatened the Adder Hare can release the venom to incapacitate and even outright kill some of the Xeno's natural predators. While the venom isn't deadly to humans it can cause paralysis when it comes in direct contact with skin. Adder Hares however are not immediately aggressive toward humans and in some instance have even worked with human colonies as companions. Working often as hunting partners or using their keen hearing to act as sentries of settlements, warning them of potential dangers. Some humans have even taken to using Adder Hare venom as a weapon against their enemies, a hunting tool and even in small doses as a spice.
Adder Hares are generally nocturnal but can function well during the day and burrow shallow tunnels in cliffsides as shelter.
Environment: Adder Hares are native to the Scottish Isles and surrounding areas. They prefer forested areas or small cliffs where they hunt smaller rodents and insects for nourishment. They have been known to be domesticated by some human colonies.
Stats
Strength: Low
Dexterity: High
Constitution: Low
Intelligence: High
Wisdom: Middle
Charisma: Middle
Skills: Keen Hearing, Leap, Hunting, Maneuverability
Crawler
Description: A Seer created Xeno, Crawlers are Silver infused hybrids of Earth animals designed to patrol the domains of different Seers. Crawlers are a mix of different animals that have been experimented on by Seers and have Silver bound into their flesh in order to garner direct control by the Seer. They crawl on all fours across different terrains and charge toward their target with mouths filled with an assortment of teeth.
Nature: Crawlers were a popular creation of many different Seers around the planet. The simple measure of bonding Silver into different creatures allowed for the Seers to have direct control of their domains patrols without having to commit the resources of a Stock Warrior. Crawlers are generally expendable and easily made by fusing together different animals and sometimes humans to with Silver and creating mindless husks. These Xenos run on all fours with incredible speed and bite down on their targets, locking their jaws afterward to drag down their prey. Because they are fairly easy to kill, Seers often rely on swarming enemies with Crawlers in hopes of overwhelming them with numbers rather than technique.
Environment: Crawlers excel in any environment but require the direct control of a Seer to function, and so are limited to the area domain surrounding a Seers Spire.
Stats
Strength: Low
Dexterity: Middle
Constitution: Low
Intelligence: Middle
Wisdom: Low
Charisma: Low
Skills: Sprint, Lock Jaw
Rawas Bovine
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Description: The Rawas Bovine is a Xeno mutated from the Atlantic Salmon and common cattle. Covered in a light pink hide with a mix of tough leather and scales the Rawas Bovine has dorsal fins on both its head, rump and a longer finned tail. They could grow to an overall height of 1.6-1.8 m, and body length of 2.3-2.6 m with a typical Rawas Bovine weighing 2,000 lb.
Nature: Rawas Bovine tend to graze through rice fields, shallow waters and near rivers where they eat forages, mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies and worms. Their amphibious nature makes them adept at travelling through shallow water and they have been known to be able to dive up to twenty feet to graze lake floors.
Rawas Bovine travel in herds for safety and can defend themselves with powerful kicks, grazing attacks with their tails and can form a vicious stampede when provoked.
Unlike other cow breeds Rawas Bovine do not produce drinkable milk but humans have been known to use them for food, and used their hide for armours.
Environment: Rawas Bovine are native to South Asia and prefer damp environments to graze. They can survive in deeper waters and wild ones have been known to migrate up stream each year.
Stats
Strength: Middle
Dexterity: Low
Constitution: High
Intelligence: Low
Wisdom: Low
Charisma: Low
Skills: Stampede, Kick, Swimming
Atlantic Hydra
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Description: An aquatic reptilian Xeno, with a long neck, sharp talons, pointed tail and massive wings, the Atlantic Hydra is a dangerous creature. This Xeno has reflective scales across their 90 foot long body with enormous red hued wings that help it propel through the water.
Nature: Not mush is known about the Atlantic Hydra, as they appear only sparingly and few people survive the encounters. Despite their massive size and aggressive nature, Atlantic Hydra are more prone to eating krill and small schools of fish than larger game. Their lack of teeth make it so they reserve their diets to large quantities of smaller creatures or make it so they have to completely pulverize their meal before eating.
Atlantic Hydra propel themselves through the ocean with massive wings and have been known to launch themselves skyward gaining altitude at incredible speeds before crashing down to the water. Even though they don't tend to feed on humans they seem to take pleasure in destroying vessels and marooning people they encounter. Once they have obliterated a ship they often bump against the humans, swatting them about while letting out a low ominous cry to draw other sea creatures that are more suited to make a meal of the humans.
Atlantic Hydra swim the Atlantic in solitude, the females leaving behind eggs in their wake for males to later fertilize. Due to their size and aggressive nature it can be difficult for an ecosystem to sustain many Atlantic Hydra at one time.
Environment: As the name would suggest, Atlantic Hydra exist throughout the Atlantic ocean and prefer to submerge themselves in the depths of the waters. They have been known to launch themselves into the air where they can spread their massive wings to glide through the air before returning to their ocean home. There have been instances of Atlantic Hydra approaching closer to the shore, usually when they are looking for entertainment in the form of destruction.
Stats
Strength: High
Dexterity: Middle
Constitution: Middle
Intelligence: High
Wisdom: Middle
Charisma: Middle
Skills: N/A