Rescued Aliens: The Trompa

By Owen K.C. Stephens and Steve Miller

You can never have too many aliens. At least, that's what the designers of Alien Anthology believe.
Once they put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), they just couldn't stop, and before long, they had
more aliens than they could fit into theAnthology. Some of them, sadly, had to go - but they didn't go
far. In fact, we've got one of them for you right here!

Presenting the last in a series of four special articles featuring material that just couldn't be crammed
into Alien Anthology. In this installment, we give you the trompa.

Trompa

The massive trompa is a bipedal, 3-meter-tall predator mostly found on heavily forested worlds,
although scouts have also reported arctic and desert trompa. The trompa is covered in shaggy fur, but
generally acclimates to moderate climates. Its heavily muscled arms hang almost to its knees, ending in
razor-sharp claws a third of a meter long. Large horns growing from its head curve down and jut out
near its chin. A trompa's thick, shaggy coat of hair is generally blue, brown, or green. Trompas closely
resemble wampas in both name and physiology, and most xenobiologists speculate that the two species
are cousins.

Although they are fairly intelligent carnivores, they are not particularly able hunters. Trompas tend to
live in environments where food is plentiful and they do not need to go to great lengths to find a meal.
Their heightened hearing helps them find prey. When hungry, they generally just charge and attack the
first creature they hear. Since trompas tend to be larger and more powerful than other creatures on
their worlds, this method usually works. In leaner times, trompas sometimes become more cunning,
lying in wait at watering holes and feeding grounds. They are not normally territorial, but do defend
their lairs fiercely.

Trompas are solitary creatures and don't form long-lasting family bonds. Adult trompas are very
independent creatures and resist all efforts to domesticate them. Trompas can only be trained if found
at an early age. Some circuses keep tame trompas as part of their entertainment. Handlers must be
careful to keep the creatures calm, however. A trompa that is wounded, hungry, or annoyed becomes
dangerously unmanageable (increase all Handle Animal DCs by 10). Sometimes the sounds of
civilization, such as the hum of droids and computers, upset adult trompas.

In combat, a trompa swings its massive arms to claw opponents and then moves in closer to attempt a
bite. Like wampas, a trompa only makes one claw attack each round, as its massive swings prevent it
from using both claws simultaneously. A trompa occasionally grapples its opponent, holding it tight and
squeezing it into unconsciousness. In another shared trait with wampas, trompas prefer to take their
prey alive, dragging it back to their lair to consume at their leisure.

Trompa: Forest predator 6; Init -2; Def 16 (+10 natural, -2 size, -2 Dex); Spd 16 m; VP/WP 63/44; Atk
+12 melee (1d8+6, claw), +7 melee (1d6+6, bite) or +2 ranged; SQ Low-light vision, track; SV Fort +11,
Ref +3, Will +2; SZ H; Rep 1; Str 26, Dex 6, Con 22, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 12; Challenge Code: D.
Skills: Listen +4, Search +4, Spot +4, Survival +4.
Feats: Power Attack, Track.
Special Qualities: Keen Senses -- A trompa's hearing and sense of smell are excellent. They get a +4
species bonus to Listen checks and a +4 species bonus to Spot and Search checks where scent could be a
factor.

Basic information about the trompa is adapted from Game Chambers of Questal.