Monster Specification

Giant Ticks

Typical Monster Level ("ML"): 1 to 6

Typical Number Encountered: 2d4

Usual Alignment(s): E/C, E/N, N/C, N/N

Description: big 8-legged Ticks (flat spider-like invertebrates) with a hard Capitulum (head) and a dorsal carapace (Scutum) which protects the top and sides of the forward portion of the Idiosoma (body).  If the body is bloated with blood, the creature appears like a bloated Spider with prominent distended veins over the body.

Habitat: Green Areas (avoids Swamps), Jungle, Desert  (in vicinity of remote Watering Holes / Oases), Chaos, Dreams, Madness

Language: none.  If it Detects a potential Blood source, it emits a low-pitched repeated vibration below the usual threshold of hearing by most People and most Animals, to awaken / alert other Giant Ticks in its vicinity.

Chars: Co 3d6, Wp 2d4

Movement:

Fighter Abilities:

ML/3, FRU AMR    D = 25 + (5ML) %    RD = 5 + (5ML) %    5 + (5ML) HP

Attack Modes:

Bite @ A = 10ML %, DAM = 2d4 if DAM >=5 inflicted locks on to victim and:

1. Drains Blood @ 1HP General Damage / sec.  Need to Stun / Incapacitate / Kill Tick to stop it.  Tick can cease draining blood at will, and can drop off victim at will after it has ceased feeding.  Max. capacity can drain = Tick's HP * 5; and
2. 10ML% chance of Cause Disease @ BTS=55+5ML% [Co] with Disease Level = ML: if 10ML% chance is rolled victim makes a st vs Disease per sec. the Tick is Attached and actively Draining Blood.

HitLoc Table:

ADS:

Effects of Specific Damage:

Does not Bleed, but may Leak drained Blood awhere specified above:

1. HPs of Ingested Blood Released /mr = (DAM_body – DAM_body@70%) * 10% of ingested HP/mr (FRU).
2. Anticoagulated altered blood will extend over 1ft² / HP, onto contiguous surfaces, dripping and flowing downwards as appropriate.
3. Inflicting ≥ 140% DAM to a Tick’s Loaded Body filled with ingested Blood, if it has not already been Damaged sufficiently to Leak, will cause it to Burst, spraying anticoagulated altered blood over everything and everyone within 10ML/3 ft., dripping and flowing thereafter as appropriate.
4. Animals or People Tasting or Swallowing the Blood from a Diseased Tick must save vs Cause Disease (as above).
5. Partially digested anticoagulated altered blood is perceived as Blood, by Beings attracted to, or repulsed by, Blood.

Thievish Abilities:

M on Th Activities:

• AfB, AfS, AbS 20ML%
• Detect Movement 15ML%, Detect Vibration (equiv. spec to Hear Noise but not blocked by walls/doors) 20ML%
• Camouflage 20ML%
• Jump 20ML% (to Attack or overcome obstacles only)

Defensive ThL = 0

Other Abilities / Powers / Notes:

1. Giant Ticks rest camouflaged on rocks or vegetation close to trails or paths, or in the vicinity of water sources, in groups keeping within approx. Max.ML*10 ft range.
2. Spider Cultists and appropriately trained or otherwise experienced individuals may recognise that they are not Spiders. Ticks do not weave Webs.
3. Tick-borne Diseases are relatively slow-onset, affecting Mental and Sensory Stats and will cause Joint Pain.  Onset of symptoms commences Caeriad 3 after infection, triangling thereafter. Mental Chars take  -(t-1)(t-2)/2 per t Cds after infection, until cured. Pain Levels increase by +(t-1)(t-2)/2 per t Cds until Cured.  Mental Effects of Pain Levels are summated with Mental Chars minuses.  Disease Levels are not cumulative. Only the highest Disease Level applies (which is relevant for Cure Disease Spells / Powers / Effects), but the Disease Level has no influence on course or manifestation of the Disease.
4. Tick-borne Disease is not Contagious, but can be spread to other Living People or Animals if they eat infected individuals or physically taste their blood. Tick-Borne Infecting Organism(s) require a Living vector or victim, and will cease to cause further disease in any way, within 1Cd of the death of their Host.
5. Able to survive for decades without source of nutrients or fluids, by entering Hibernation state after approximately ½ yr since last feed. Detect Blood, Movement or Vibration abilities continue to be active during Hibernation. Will awaken from Hibernation in d20 sec on successful Detection of any of Detect Blood, Movement, or Vibration.
6. Giant Ticks are Fire Vulnerable.

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