Creature Conversions

by Laura Mumma

The Arn or Vrusk Dragon Bugs

To my knowledge the Arn and the Giant Arn (Mutated Dragonflies) first appeared in 1978 in the 1^st edition of Gamma World page 22 and page 53 by James M. Ward and Gary Jaquet. In addition, information was used from the 1983 2^nd edition of Gamma World by James E. Ward, Gary Jaquet, and David James Ritchie in this conversion for Star Frontiers.

The Arn

This 1 to 2 meters long dragonfly-like insect is native to the Vrusk home-world was brought to the Frontier as a pet. It is often used by small humanoids as a riding mount or beast of burden. Arns can be taught to hunt on command or deliver packages and messages. Arns cannot fly with more than 6 to 20 kilograms on their backs and must be caught and trained when young to be of any use.

The arn has large mandibles, which can bite doing 1d10 of damage. It can fly backwards, change direction in mid-air, and hover for up to a minute (10 turns). It possesses six legs, but cannot walk well. It eats any other small creatures (land, aquatic if on surface of water, or aerial) it can catch. They are usually found around marshes, lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic.

The Greater Arn

This is a larger species of the Arn. It is a larger, stronger, tougher species and has a scorpion-like stinger in the tail which does 2d10 damage plus injects a poison with intensity of S15/T5. This means that unless the victim is treated they will suffer 15 points of damage per turn for 5 turns. The Greater Arn's bite can inflict 2d10 of damage as well.

A Greater Arn is typically about 10 meters long and they are used as mounts by Vrusk. It is strong enough to carry two lightly equipped, human sized beings or a single Vrusk. Like its smaller cousin this creature needs a water source to raise its young and must be trained at an early age. It can fly backwards, change direction in mid-air, and hover for up to a minute (10 turns). It possesses six legs, but cannot walk well.

References

Gamma World, by James M. Ward and Gary Jaquet, 1978, TSR Rules,

Gamma World, by James M. Ward, Gary Jaquet, and David J. Ritchie 1983, TSR Rules

Star Frontiers, by TSR Staff, editing by Steve Winter, 1980, TSR

The Lurker Above

Lurker.jpg [1]

The Lurker Above creature first appeared in The Strategic Review #3 Autumn 1975. Next the creature appeared in the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons original Monster Manual 1977 by Gary Gygax. Following that it was an alien creature introduced to AD&D from a crashed space ship in Module S3 Expedition to the Barrier Peaks by Gary Gygax published 1980 but Module S3 was originally a 1976 Origins II tournament scenario. What this all means for referees and the Star Frontiers setting is The Lurker Above is really an alien creature from an unknown planet. In my setting when an alien ship crashed on Yaziria the creature became naturalized; Yazirians thus believe it is a native creature; actual planet of origin unknown.

Description

This terrible beast somewhat resembles a large manta ray. Its grayish belly is so textured as to appear to be stone, and the Lurker typically attaches itself to a ceiling where it is almost impossible to detect (PCs have only a 10% chance to detect it by eyesight alone) unless actually prodded.  In a large chamber there maybe as many as 4 of them, but normally only one is encountered.

The Lurker can creep along surfaces but very slowly. They move about by means of a gas, which makes them neutrally buoyant, and a flapping of their wing like appendages, which can be over 6 meters tip to tip. The size of this creature varies by its age from 1 to over 6 meters.

Generally PCs will be attacked by a Large to Giant Lurker, though a Lurker as small as 2 meters can easily attack an individual human sized or smaller PC. Lurkers can attack multiple victims at once if large enough, a 1 meter sized Lurker can still kill if it engulfs the head of its victim.

Despite the creature’s potential full-grown size and strength it is very light weight.  They are a stealth predator and surprise their prey. All INT rolls to detect them receive a -30 modifier. 

When disturbed the Lurker drops from the ceiling, smothering all creatures beneath in the tough folds of its “wings.” This constriction causes 1d10 STA damage per turn, and the victims will smother in 2-5 turns in any event unless they kill the Lurker and thus break free. Unintelligent, the Lurker will fight until dead. Prey caught in its grip cannot fight unless the weapons used are both short and in hand at the time the creature falls upon them.

The female Lurker lays glutinous sacks of eggs on the ground, and newborns feed upon vermin that can be found on cave floors.

This creature, though dangerous to pursue, has a hide that has become prized by Yazirians for a variety of uses.

References

The Strategic Review Volume 1, Number 3 Autumn 1975, Creature Features Presenting New Dungeons & Dragons Monsters For Your Enjoyment

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons original Monster Manual 1977 by Gary Gygax,

Module S3 Expedition to the Barrier Peaks by Gary Gygax republished 1980 but was available in 1976.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lurker_(Dungeons_%26_Dragons) [2]