SHATARAK
You can’t see it, not at first. But you can feel it, rumbling through levels of reality you never
Realm crashers are
rumored to have once
been peaceful creatures,
but after the destruction
of their entire plane in a
dimensional mishap, they
became vengeful rovers,
looking for something
called “the Key.”
GM Intrusion: The
character hit by the
realm crasher’s massive
tail is struck so fiercely
that they are sent flying
an immediate distance
and lie stunned, losing
their next action.
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knew existed until this moment. Something is smashing the barriers that normally keep
alternate realities separated, and when it finally appears, it is revealed as unbelievably
massive.
A shatarak—also called a realm crasher—stands about 30 feet (9 m) tall. Realm crashers
usually appear only in areas where transdimensional effects are in use, including phasing.
They seem intent on destroying the entity or device involved in creating the effect, though
that may be a side effect of their true, unknowable purpose.
Motive: Destroying creatures and devices that allow transdimensional travel
Environment: Almost anywhere
Health: 40
Damage Inflicted: 6 points
Movement: Long; can transition between dimensions as an action unless attacked
Modifications: Speed defense as level 4 due to size.
Combat: A realm crasher attacks with an impressively large tail and can target up to four
creatures (standing next to each other) with a single attack.
A realm crasher can also attempt to cut a furrow in reality that sucks up energy in cyphers
and artifacts. When it attempts to make such a tear, it moves up to a short distance in a
round, and anything it comes within immediate range of is attacked. Each target must
succeed on a Speed defense task, or one cypher (or, if they have no cyphers, an artifact)
on their person is drained of all power. Devices
that have some kind of transdimensional effect
are preferentially drained. If the targets have no
devices, this attack has no effect.
Interaction: Shataraks can sometimes be bribed with
numenera items that have transdimensional
effects, but they’re generally not interested in
other kinds of interaction. They speak their own
language, mostly subsonic whistles and clicks.
Use: A nano who got lucky and captured a realm
crasher is using the beast as a subject in
experiments related to crossing dimensions.
Meanwhile, reports accumulate from nearby
villages of a rampaging monster of
enormous size that is there one minute and
gone the next.
Loot: A shatarak may have a few cyphers and
even an artifact, but usually only because it
hasn’t destroyed them yet.
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