ShadowrunCritters
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ParacrittersThe following list describes some of the Awakened animals that roam the Sixth World. Many are the Awakened or goblinized variant of ordinary animals, while some are metahumans that have been transformed by the Human-Metahuman Vampiric Virus (HMHVV). The origin of some other species are mysteries that have yet to be explained.
BarghestThe barghest resembles an over-sized mastiff, either pure white or pure black. Its short fur lies flat on its body, creating the impression that its hide is naked, and spines protrude the length of its back. Its eyes shine red, and its teeth glow slightly in the dark because of luminescent bacteria in its saliva. It hunts alone or in pairs during breeding season; at other times it hunts in packs of twelve or more. various corps have attempted to domesticate the barghest as a guard animal, but results so far have been hit-or-miss.
Devil RatCompletely hairless, the nocturnal devil rat grows up to a meter in length (including tail) and weighs as much as 4 kilograms. Hunting in packs of up to thirty individuals, their prolific breeding rate, combined with their innate immunity to most poisons, makes exterminating them nearly impossible.
GhoulGhouls are metahumans infected with the Krieger strain of the Human- Metahuman Vampiric Virus (HMHVV). The virus causes the victim to lose all body hair. The skin becomes a rough, scabrous hide, and the fingers elongate, with the nails hardening into claws. Teeth become sharper and more pronounced, while the eyes develop a white film of cataracts. The transformation destroys the victim’s intellect in some cases, but many ghouls remain quite intelligent. Ghouls feed on the necrotized flesh of metahumans, along with that of other animals. They tend to hunt in packs of anywhere from six to twenty. They live in isolated areas apart from humans and metahumans, but close enough for them to feed on the dead. Graveyards, mortuaries, and illegal chop shops are common ghoul haunts.
Hell HoundThe hell hound is a coal-black dog with red-rimmed eyes, standing 0.9 meters at the shoulder and weighing more than 100 kilograms. An efficient predator, the hell hound hunts in well-coordinated packs, but rarely takes on anything larger then itself, and uses its ability to breathe fire against significant threats.
MerrowWith its humanoid upper body, tapering torso, and slender but strong tail, the merrow vaguely resembles the mermaids of classic fairy tales. Its long forelimbs end in three-fingered hands with opposable thumbs. A long mane covers its neck, and a series of extended spinal vertebrae runs the length of the torso. Despite the dermal bone that armors its lower body, the merrow’s tail is remarkably flexible. Merrow are known to use simple tools, and many para-zoologists believe them to have metahuman levels of intelligence.
SasquatchThis gigantic humanoid stands almost 3 meters tall, yet weighs only 300 kilograms. Sasquatches are typically covered with black or dark brown body hair, but older Sasquatches have silver-tipped fur. Curious and peaceful by nature, Sasquatches fight only when attacked. The United Nations officially recognized Sasquatches as a sentient species in 2042, and since then several Sasquatches have migrated to the cities, where their gift of sound mimicry allows them to make a lucrative living in the entertainment industry.
ThunderbirdA day creature, the Thunderbird resembles a red-brown eagle, but with a wingspan around 3 meters. Able to generate and project a lightning blast, the Thunderbird relishes the static-charged air of electrical storms.
VampireVampires are humans infected with HMHVV. Vampires prey on sentient beings, absorbing the life essence of their victims along with the victim’s blood. More conscientious than other infected metahumans, vampires are able to restrain their hunger. Some vampires refuse to drain from an unwilling subject, while others revel in their role as predators and killers. Vampires become sick within the hour if they consume anything but blood, and they have particularly bad reactions to alcohol. Many vampires display magical ability, and the transformation sometimes unlocks hidden magical potential. Such vampires are capable of learning and using magic just like a human. Vampire sorcerers are most likely the source of some legendary vampiric powers, such as the ability to change into animals or to mesmerize victims.
WendigoA wendigo is an ork infected with HMHVV. It appears as a white-furred humanoid standing about 2.3 meters tall. The nails of its hands have hardened into claw-like weapons, and the canine teeth are very pronounced on both the lower and upper jaws. Wendigos feed on the flesh of humans and metahumans, from which they also derive psychic sustenance. Typically they induce victims to participate in a cannibalistic feast. This creates an apparent psychological dependence in the victim, who then helps the wendigo in spreading its habit, thus creating a secret society of cannibals. The members of the groups are unaware that they ultimately will become meals for the wendigo, which seems to prefer the Essence of such corrupted spirits. Wendigos are all Awakened and use their magical skills to enhance their hunting. Some wendigos use illusion magic to disguise themselves and walk unseen among their prey.
DracoformsDracoforms refer to the various types of dragons found around the world. These are large saurian creatures of tremendous intelligence, and they match or exceed the mythological legends of the areas of the world where they reside. What little is known about them comes from interviews with the late great dragon Dunkelzahn. Most dragons are solitary creatures, avoiding unnecessary contact with other races, but of late several dragons have taken more public roles in the Sixth World.
Common Powers
Eastern DragonsEastern dragons are native to Asia. An eastern dragon’s head and body measure about 15 meters in length. Its height at the shoulders is 2 meters. Its tail is an additional 15 meters long. It has a serpentine shape, with a broad, low head adorned with a fringe of whiskers along the chin and rear portions of the skull. Multiple pairs of horns rise from behind the eyes, and a pair of barbules descends from beneath the pronounced nasal region. Scaly armor covers the body, neck, and tail, which are surmounted by a ridge of membrane connected spines. The highly dexterous paws are four-fingered (though some variants may possess three or five fingers per paw), with each digit ending in a large claw. The most common pattern of eastern dragon coloration is iridescent green with golden whiskers and belly scutes, but various other color patterns have appeared.
Feathered SerpentsFeathered serpents are native to South and Central America, as well as Africa. A feathered serpent is a long-bodied dracoform with one pair of wings and one pair of limbs. Most feathered serpents are 20 meters in length from head to tail and have a wingspan of 15 meters. Their contour feathers and prominent feathered ruff are often a dazzling rainbow of colors. Membranes stretch between the extended finger bones of their large wings. Behind the wings is a pair of limbs that end in paws. These paws have five digits, one of which is an opposable thumb, giving it sufficient dexterity to manipulate objects. Many specimens have a tail spine connected to a venom sac, or similarly equipped fangs.
LeviathansLeviathans, or sea dragons, are found in deep saltwater habitats. A leviathan’s serpentine head and body measure approximately 25 meters in length. It has four stubby limbs equipped with powerful webbed claws. Though they have opposable thumbs on their forelimbs, leviathans have poor manual dexterity. Slow and clumsy on land, a sea dragon is capable of swimming swiftly and gracefully using the movement of its body and limbs. Leviathans are capable of breathing both water and air, though no leviathan has ever been seen on land. The long, flat head is equipped with powerful jaws, as well as a strip of long kelp-like hair running down its dorsal ridge. Leviathan scales are small and fine, compared to their land-dwelling brethren, usually an iridescent blue-green in color, lighter toward the belly and slightly darker toward the spine.
Western DragonsWestern dragons are native to Europe and some parts of western Asia. A western dragon’s head and body are 20 meters long. It stands 3 meters at shoulder height, its tail is 17 meters long, and its wingspan is 30 meters. The western dragon has four limbs and a pair of wings. Its horned head is mounted at the end of a long neck. Only its forepaws exhibit opposable digits, with the hind paws adapted into feet. Dorsal spines and/or membranes may be present. The western dragon is usually a single color, though darker along the spine and with a pale belly. Some specimens have dermal armor formed of bony plates, in addition to the normal heavy scales.
Great DragonsGreat dragons are extremely large specimens, often up to 50 percent larger than typical dragons in dimensions and measurements. All species of dragons have great dragons among them. Size is usually the best indicator of a great dragon, but it is not entirely reliable. All great dragons are highly intelligent, being conversant in at least one human language, and often many. They are also magicians of great power. Great dragons are major power players and far removed from the petty affairs of the streets. In addition to all the innate and individual powers of their species, great dragons also possess an additional power: Meta-human Form. This is described as follows:
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