Scraplurker
Hi again. This month we have the Scraplurker art. This mutant humanoid was created by Brandon Goeringer and illustrated by William McAusland. It was used for a free PDF (
http://www.rpgnow.com/product/127604/Scraplurker-Creatures-of-the-Apocalypse-6?manufacturers_id=762 )
Enjoy!
WM
The dreaded Scraplurker is a formidable foe of excavators and scavengers alike. This pink flesh colored aberration is vaguely human in appearance except for the bulbous putty-like skin that covers its entire body. The backside of this ruin dwelling monster appears to be hunchbacked due to a large mound of pliable flesh. It has, white shaggy hair, red globular eyes, a sharp toothed maw and retractable claws that serve as its main source of offensive weaponry.
An infant Scraplurker, with only a thin layer of putty skin, will start to collect small rocks and pieces of metal only hours after birth. It begins applying these items into its skin which hold fast, quickly hardening into a thin outer protective shell that also aids in camouflaging the beast whilst it conceals itself in destroyed buildings. Only vicious when cornered, infant Scraplurkers quickly run from intruders or other predators.
As the Scraplurker becomes a juvenile, it turns more hostile, and exhibits longer claws and fangs, as well as its improved debris armor. During puberty the young horror molts away its putty-like exterior only to regrow even more putty as it gains in size. This increased skin allows for larger pieces of debris and scraps to fuse with its body. Its slowed down metabolism now allows it to stay completely motionless for long periods of time as it awaits prey to come within striking distance.
Having a shell of possibly worthwhile relics and other trinkets attached to its frame, its hide also serves as bait; a dangerous ruse for the foolhardy excavator or scavenger with an eye for shiny things. Once the curious prey is close enough, the Scraplurker lunges forward attempting to shred the prey with its sharp claws and teeth.
A juvenile of this species will eat creatures of relative human size or smaller, and, as it is growing extraordinarily fast, is always ravenous from hunger and will attempt to immediately consume its defeated foe. Juvenile Scraplurkers have 2 Stealth skill points and an 11% chance of a mutation from the table on page 4 of this creature listing. A defeated Juvenile will have d3 loot items fused to its back. See the Scraplurker loot table on page 5, this document. They can be found hunting alone or in packs of 3d6 in number.
Once Scraplurkers are of adult size, they will often join others of their kind in a mixture breeding den and killing zone. A typical ruined building with an infestation of Scraplurkers will house anywhere from 7 to 16 (3d4+4) adults. They each spread out amongst the fallen structure, staying within 3 meters of one another, using their camouflaged backs of relics to enhance their stealth. This allows for gang sized take downs of numerous prey at one time or the chance to tackle larger meals that are too far big for a single Scraplurker.
Though they only make hissing snarls as they attack they do appear to have a form of communication amongst themselves. Their large claws are tapped on concrete, brick or wooden flooring in a pattern that seems to mimic a crude form of Morse Code. Response tapping has been heard from survivors of Scraplurker ambushes right before the attack, seemingly a signal that is one of the last things the poor souls hear before their own shrieks of horror. Adult Scraplurkers have 3 Stealth skill points, a 14% chance of a mutation, and offer up d4+1 items from the table on page 5 of this document.
Rumors from many regions tell of larger Brute Scraplurkers. Supposedly, this strain of Scraplurker have a genetic mutation that allows them to grow to huge sizes with increased strength and thick hides with massive amounts of debris attached to them. Tales of relic vehicles and ancient fire hydrants springing up on top of a mound of teeth and claws, slashing whole excavator groups to shreds are not too far fetched. Their huge size has made them slower on account of the amount of kilograms of debris these beast-men now collect, cladding them in an almost impenetrable husk of junk. This shell of rock, trees, metal bars, relics, pipes and other large scrap has also become a terrible weapon as the Scraplurker has learned to slam its back and massive weight down on prey, squashing them onto the pile of rubble. Excavator bodies that meet this grizzly fate are often kept in the debris to further lure potential meals.
Brutes can stay motionless for months at a time due to their remarkably slow metabolism. These enormous Scraplurkers have 3 Stealth skill points, an 18% chance of having a mutation, and carry 2d6 items of interest fused to their backs.
The origins of these humanoids are unknown, although it is widely believed they were made as a bioengineered weapon to retake lost buildings and fortifications. During these ancient wars, Scraplurker units would slowly sneak into these destroyed positions and help in the counter assault to reclaim the area by ambushing hostile combatants, lessening their numbers, and terrifying those who remained. Although clever hunters, they are dim witted otherwise and have no concept of trying to employ the relics they adhere to their backs.
Get the free PDF which includes the Scraplurker's mutations, stats and loot table right here:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product/127604/Scraplurker-Creatures-of-the-Apocalypse-6?manufacturers_id=762
