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<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Tony <postmaster@runequest.za.org><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> runequest@rpgreview.net<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Wednesday, May 6, 2009 11:05:37 AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> [Runequest] [RQIII]Razor Shells<BR></FONT><BR>I read a write up about a D&D sourcebook regarding wastelands, deserts,<BR>dried up seabeds etc in a magazine the other day. Well my sometimes<BR>overactive imagination kept me awaye that night. What kind of wierd little<BR>creature could I spring on my group in a dried up sea bed. Apart from<BR>petrified forests of coral, perhaps dangling tentacles of mutated<BR>symbiotic irikanjis (SP). Then it came to me, the razor shell, one that<BR>does not just look like a razor:<BR><BR>The nicely formatted article is on my site at<BR>http://www.runequest.za.org/article/articleview/189/1/0<BR>but below
is the description. I made most of it up, checked out what<BR>wikipedia said about normal razor shells and reference the ammonite in<BR>mythworld for some tips:<BR><BR>Razor Shell (Ensis arcuatus incognitus)<BR><BR>Not your regular razor shells that are often fished for in the sea bed and<BR>make a tasty shellfish treat, but a rather more sinister variety.<BR><BR>In the desolate wastes of a dried up sea bed lurk the razor shells. These<BR>are close descendants of the more mundane razor shells found under the<BR>seas sands, but have been forced to evolve as their habitat dried up.<BR><BR>The shells still eke out an existence beneath the harsh wastelands of the<BR>dry seabed and have managed to do so via some remarkable adaptations.<BR>Their original cylindrical, cut throat razor, shaped bodies have grown<BR>longer.. The bottom most section which is deepest in the sand sports long<BR>barbs, which help anchor it in place, but still allow it to burrow
forward<BR>(downwards). A denser and harder shell protects the organism from heat and<BR>water loss, allowing it to go for long periods without water, while also<BR>providing internal pockets wherein moisture can be stored in times of<BR>rain.<BR><BR>Its most remarkable and devious adaptation however is the means whereby<BR>the shell is able to sustain itself. Where its ancestor filtered the water<BR>for tiny organisms, no such contemporary nourishment now exists. Instead<BR>the shell has had to become a devious ambush predator. The upward facing<BR>portion of its body has developed a barbed harpoon tongue of razor sharp<BR>hard mother of pearl. This harpoon is held inside the shell waiting for<BR>pressure from above, the Razor Shell having positioned its top end just<BR>below the ground level. When sufficient pressure is applied, coiled<BR>muscles shoot the harpoon upward. This action is similar to that employed<BR>in the nematocyst of the hydra polyp
or jellyfishes stingers.<BR><BR>The razor is not as subtle in subduing its prey as a jellyfish however as<BR>it has no poison. Instead it relies on the devastating damage its harpoon<BR>does as it pierces its preys flesh. This is where the Razors length and<BR>anchoring barbs, as well as its extremely strong muscles, play their role.<BR>The part of the shells body that is attached to the harpoon can stretch to<BR>double its normal length. With the harpoon anchored in place, its prey is<BR>unable to escape and eventually succumbs to exhaustion, blood loss and<BR>shock. This does not mean that the Razor Shell waits for its prey to die;<BR>indeed thin feeding tubes extend through a small hollow at the tip of the<BR>harpoon and start to dissolve and devour the preys living flesh moments<BR>after the harpoon strikes.<BR><BR>While Razor Shells can grow up to a meter long and project harpoons that<BR>could be lethal to larger animals, their primary prey is
smaller animals.<BR>However they do not appear to be able to distinguish potential preys SIZ<BR>and often cause a nuisance as they lacerate feet or damage horses inner<BR>hooves and cause lameness. Most shells encountered are a more manageable<BR>size of roughly thirty centimetres, although there are always travellers’<BR>tales of monstrously sized shells that have skewered horses from beneath<BR>the ground.<BR><BR>Razor Shell<BR>Characteristics Average<BR>STR 2D6 (6D6)* 7-10 (25-30)* Move 1<BR>CON 2D6 7-10 Hit Points 10<BR>SIZ 1D6 + 2
5-6 Fatigue 19<BR>INT 2 3<BR>POW 1D6 + 4 8-9<BR>DEX 1D6 4<BR><BR>Hit Location Melee (D20) Missile (D20) Points<BR>Lower Shell 01-05 01-02 6/3<BR>Upper Shell 06-18 03-19 6/3<BR>Harpoon Tongue 19-20
20 6/5<BR><BR>Weapon SR Attack % Damage<BR>Harpoon 1 75+10 1D4 + 2 (1D4)#<BR><BR>Note: The shell lies in wait just below ground level and will shoot its<BR>harpoon directly upwards as soon as it perceives pressure from above. As<BR>such it has a very high probability to hit. Due to its position in the<BR>ground it will only be able to strike the lower limbs of large prey,<BR>whereas small prey can be struck in most logical hit locations.<BR># Damage is always impale damage. Treat as a regular impale but also note<BR>an additional 1D4 damage per round that the harpoon remains in the wound<BR>where the Razor Shell still lives and starts digesting its prey.<BR>* The higher STR score is to represent the shell anchoring itself in
the<BR>ground should its victim try to match STR on the resistance table in order<BR>to pull the shell from its burrow.<BR>Skills: Hide 100%<BR>Armour: 6 point shell armour.<BR><BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Runequest mailing list<BR><A href="mailto:Runequest@rpgreview.net" ymailto="mailto:Runequest@rpgreview.net">Runequest@rpgreview.net</A><BR>http://rpgreview.net/mailman/listinfo/runequest_rpgreview.net<BR></DIV></DIV></div><br>
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