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Description
Purple Worms burrow deep
beneath the ground in a constant search for food.
They sense vibrations at 20 meters and move to
attack. Generally only adult specimens 2.4 meters to
2.7 meters in diameter and 12 to 15 meters long, are
encountered. They return to their lairs to rest, and
there they expel such indigestible waste as metal
and mineral crystals.
A purple worm attacks by
biting, and an Outstanding Success indicates the
creature has engulfed its victim. A mature purple
worm can swallow whole a creature as large as 240 cm
or so tall and up to 180 cm wide, or vice versa. Any
creature swallowed will be dead in 1D6 minutes (12
to 72 turns). The worm will digest its meal within
two hours, and at that time the creature is totally
gone and cannot be raised from the dead. Note,
however, that a creature swallowed can try to cut
its way out of the purple worm's stomach. The inner
armor value of the worm is (½), but each turn the
creature is in the worm it subtracts one from the
damage each of its attacks does. This subtraction is
cumulative, so on the second round there is a -2, on
the third a -3, etc.
Additionally, the purple worm
has a poisonous stinger in its tail. This weapon is
only used in rear defense, however, or if the worm
is fighting large or numerous opponents in a very
spacious area which will allow it freedom to use its
stinger. The sting causes 4D hits of damage when it
hits, and the poison causes an additional 2D hits
per turn.
Mottled Worm:
The mottled worm is an aquatic variety of the purple
worm. It inhabits shallow bottom muck but will
surface for prey. It otherwise conforms to the
characteristics of the purple variety. |
