CREATURES: THUNDERCROWN ~ THUSK

THUSK 5 (15)

Thusks are servants of the Zhatinoth. But what precisely is the Zhatinoth? Only thusks
know, and they’re either unable or unwilling to do more than proclaim their allegiance to it.
But if the actions of thusks are any guide, the Zhatinoth is an entity or principle that directs
adherents to eat up all life whenever and wherever it’s found, because that’s what thusks do
when they discover plants, animals, or humans. Perhaps the attempt to consume flesh is a
means to a greater end. If so, those who are eaten might discover that greater purpose in
their “transcended” (eaten) state.
A thusk has a massive head some 6 feet (2 m) in diameter supported on several thick,
armored, and spiked legs. Its two eyes are small and mean, but its mouth is wide and filled
with several layers of mismatched sharp teeth. Lines of rigid light are scribed across a
thusk’s flesh, branding it with an inexplicable purpose or classification.
Motive: Hungers for flesh
Environment: Alone or in groups of three to five
Health: 20
Damage Inflicted: 8 points
Armor: 1
Movement: Long; long when climbing
Combat: A thusk bites with its terrible mouth. If it inflicts damage, the victim must succeed
on a Might defense task or be held partly in the chewing mouth, automatically taking
damage each round until they can escape.
If a thusk uses an action to open its mouth and emit a horrifying screech that coincides
with rapid pulses of light from the illuminated lines covering its body, all foes within
long range who fail an Intellect defense task are stunned, losing their next turn, as
incomprehensible images and concepts take root in their minds. This inflicts an
additional 8 points of Speed damage (ignores Armor) to out-of-phase creatures.
Interaction: Thusks speak many languages, including the Truth. However, all they GM Intrusion: A
ever verbally communicate is, “We serve the Zhatinoth.” It’s possible that the character subject to
screech-and-light attack is actually a higher method of communication, but humans the screech attack is
usually experience the information transferred as mental trauma. implanted with a visual
Use: Using a device that transmits sound, a skilled nano “befriended” a thusk after memory of a specific
location they’ve never
discovering it frozen in a greenish cocoon. The nano uses the thusk as a mount, but
seen before. The image
worries that his sound-control device is starting to show signs of breaking down. continues to haunt the
Loot: A thusk might have a cypher or other valuable caught in its teeth from past victims it PC, and will do so until
has eaten. they find it.

165