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The few beasts that survive are vicious killers, instinctive survivalists, and evaders of anyone they don't want for breakfast.
A few of these creatures are described below. Each beast is given a threat rating, which indicates its viciousness, ferocity, and size to the GM. If he wants to create a new creature, it should be classed as a Major, Minor, or No Threat.
MAJOR THREAT
Powers: Energy Sponge UN (limited to heat)
Invulnerability to Fire & Heat CL. 1000
Life Support SH-X
BACKGROUND: Ash-Crawlers live in and near the Fire-pits. They are disgusting beasts, three to four feet long, with pinkish bodies and 10 or 12 similarly-colored tentacles.
They move by crawling on their tentacles, often pulling themselves to high areas to ambush their prey. They are extremely rare away from the pits, but one to a dozen can be encountered within a quarter-mile of their homes.
These creatures live off the heat of the raging fires, attracted much as mosquitoes are to light. They can also be found in large numbers near (or clinging to) the furnaces of the underground mines or in the giant boiler rooms of any factory. They live by absorbing heat into their bodies to an almost limitless degree, due to their Life Support and flame invulnerability powers. They also enjoy a snack of fresh meat when available.
An attack is always vicious and mindless, with every effort taken to crush and devour the prey. Killed animals, including humans and Hunger Dogs, will be ripped apart as the creature tries to absorb the heat fom its victim's skin and blood.
When injured the Ash-Crawler may try to hide in an available fire, where it will be safe from most attackers.
MAJOR THREAT
Powers: Neural Manipulation MN
Thermal Vision EX
BACKGROUND: Glommers are rare, lizard-like beasts, originating in the underground of Apokolips. Their bodies are large and green, with two powerful forearms and a short tapered tail; they have no back legs. Their mouths are enourmost, and their eyes are small.
A Glommer is commonly used inside of a Pacifier robot. There, it is linked to the electronic nervous system of the machine, allowing the creature to walk about like a soldier in a powered suit.
A Glommer's normal habitat is among the darkest and wettest pits in the underground. They are solitary beings that will be sleeping when discovered. Their diet consists of lichen and mutated fish, but they can easily be taught to eat fresh humanoid meat.
If attacked, a Glommer will fight until it's reduced to 50 Health or less. At this point, it will retreat to the depths. Its first attack is always a Physical one; made with its mouth, and then followed by a Grappling attack with the tail. In most cases, the large mouth will completely cover the victim's head and shoulders, negating normal vision, speech, and hearing.
On the second and further rounds after a successful mouth attack, the Glommer's Mind Control is used. This power causes the victim's nervous system to lose control. The character will find his muscles spasming, and many power will be activated on their own.
For every round the Glommer's mouth is around the victim's head the power rank is rolled against Agility, Strength and each of the victim's powers. If the roll is successful that Attribute or Power goes out of control: all Powers activated themselves, Agility drops to SH-0. All control and full ranks will return one hour after the Glommer lets go.
MINOR THREAT
Powers: Spiderclimb RM
Elongation RM
Life Support SH-X
BACKGROUND: Sluds can be found in the lower levels of ruined buildings and at the base of rubble-filled craters. These creatures feed on stray animals and Hunger Dogs who are looking for salvageable tools. They were only recently discovered and are assumed to be the product of another of Darkseid's scientists' experiments. Soldiers have been seen hunting them for amusement.
A Slud looks like a translucent blob of gelatin, clear white or gray-green in color. Two glowing red orbs, its eyes, can be seen in the center. Its body grows by two cubic feet of volume for every man-sized meal it consumes.
When a Slud attacks, its skin sticks to the victim as it slowly sucks its prey into its body in an attempt to suffocate it. To break free, a character must roll their Strength against that of the Slud. Once engulfed (it takes one round for a small animal, three rounds for a human), the victim must make an Endurance feat roll or begin to lose ranks, unless they have Life Support. Unconscious victims are dissolved in the number of hours equal to their Endurance. Equipment is damaged but excreted after the victim's body is gone.
