CAVE LURKER

From the Stars Without Number Compatible – Alien Database

Pincers. Pincers are the main offensive natural weapon of a cave lurker. They can easily pierce through a non-combat suit and thus ignore any armor bonus provided by this type of equipment.

Filament. The cave lurker secretes a sticky chemical substance from a pair of glands located in its pincers. These filaments hang from the ceiling and are barely visible (DC 10 Notice skill check). A living being caught in the filaments must roll a successful DC 8 Exert skill check to get free. Failing the skill check cause the filament to wrap around the target, thus increasing the DC by 1 point for every failed attempt. A trapped target cannot move from its position, but retain mobility of its limbs. Only when the DC reaches 12, the target is completely wrapped by the filament and unable to do anything but breathe or scream.

COMBAT & TACTICS

Cave lurkers are passive hunters. They hunt as standard spiders do, and wait until prey remain trapped in their filaments, and only then do they proceed with feeding. Once prey is trapped in one filament, the cave lurker immediately approaches the target and releases more filament to trap and immobilize the target.

DESCRIPTION

Cave Lurkers are cockroach-like creatures measuring 1 to 2 meters. They are protected by a hard chitinous plating and possess from 4 to 6 pairs of legs. They vary in color from white, to yellow with some specimen developing semitransparent and glass-like chitin. They have a couple of pincers located in front of their body, even if some specimen have developed an extra couple of smaller pincers.

HABITAT

This life form can evolve in the subterranean environment of almost any planet, with a preference for geologically active ones that still produce internal heat and have liquid compounds trapped inside the crust.

BIOLOGY

Cave lurkers have a slow metabolism and are capable of digesting almost any organic compound. Their sticky filaments are an extremely sophisticated biological invention and are extremely valuable on the market. A single cave lurker can secrete 2d10 meters of filament per day, with each meter of filament worth 5 credits on the market. Cave lurker filaments make excellent raw materials for strong fibers and decent
electric conductors. The filament must be properly treated before being employed for any technological solution. Many Hi-Tech corporations hire local farmers to harvest the filament.