Earthdawn 4E: Anatomy of a Creature 15 - Badlands Antlion

This is the fifteenth 4E Anatomy of a Creature, an ongoing series about Earthdawn Fourth Edition. Introduction and Index.

Everything contained here is the work of a fan and not associated with FASA Games.

The badlands antlion is a truly grotesque abomination. Those adepts who have encountered it and survived swear it must be a Horror construct, though this is not true.

These creatures tend to range from five to eight yards in repulsive height, though much larger have been seen. Including an airship reportedly lost to an immense badlands antlion, though this seems far fetched and the tale of a crew trying to hide their negligence for insurance. Their form is vaguely cone-like, with a flexible appendage at the point and three massive maws at the base. Covered in a variety of "skins", including scales, bone, tough and scarred flesh, chitin, and more, and possessing a vast array of surprisingly lengthy tentacles, those lucky enough to survive may not ever forget their encounter.

The flexible appendage at the top is the only portion of the badlands antlion above the surface as they wait for prey. It is remarkably malleable and can change to a variety of colors, allowing it to lure anything curious in the area. Some adepts have even indicated they can make noise, accurately replicating cries of distress. When suitable prey arrives, they emerge, creating a steep slope pointing to it's open mouths. Its powerful tentacles capture any prey which attempts to escape.

There is some conjecture they may not be as rare as common wisdom holds, but there simply are not many survivors to speak of them. Despite being heavily associated with the Badlands, these have been seen outside of the desolate region.

Badlands Antlion

Challenge: Warden (Tenth Circle)
DEX: 8       Initiative:                 10       Unconsciousness:      110
STR: 18      Physical Defense:  14       Death Rating:               130
TOU: 20     Mystic Defense:     20       Wound Threshold:    30
PER: 8        Social Defense:      19        Knockdown:                 NA
WIL: 9       Physical Armor:    14         Recovery Tests:           7
CHA: 4       Mystic Armor:        14
Movement: 2 (Burrow 6)
Actions: 4; Bite x3: 23 (27), Tentacles: 28 (22)
Powers:
Ambush (10)
Awareness (14): As the skill, Player's Guide, p. 129
Disturbing Number of Eyes and Tentacles: The Badlands antlion cannot be Blindsided or Harried through mundane means, such as surrounding it. Magical effects, including the Distract talent and spells, function normally.Enhanced Sense [Touch] (4): The badlands antlion may make Awareness tests against anything touching the ground within 100 yards.
Grasping Tentacles: The Badlands antlion’s tentacles have a range of 20 yards and are entangling weapons. Any target successful attacked by a tentacle is dragged two yards towards the Badlands antlion, six yards if they are knocked down. Instead of causing damage with the Damage test from a tentacle, the Badlands antlion can cause the target to make a Knockdown test with a Difficulty equal to the Damage test result.Resist Pain (2)
Sinkhole (Free): The Badlands antlion uses this as a Free action when it uses its Ambush power. This creates a steeply sloped area around the Badlands antlion in a six yard radius. At the beginning of each round, any target within this area must make a Knockdown (8) test or be knocked down.Stealthy Stride (20): As the skill, Player's Guide, p. 170
Special Maneuvers:
Grab and Bite (Badlands Antlion, Tentacles): The target must be adjacent to the badlands antlion at any point during its turn.
Provoke (Opponent, Close Combat)
Pry Loose (Opponent, Close Combat)
Sever Tentacle (Opponent): The attacker may spend two additional successes on an attack test to destroy one of the badlands antlion's tentacles, freeing a grappled victim.
Squeeze the Life (Badlands Antlion, Tentacle)