Durability

Action Check

Move

crawl 1

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Reaction Score

Description

Land sharks move by burrowing through loose sand or gravel. Their pectoral claws only assist them with this movement; they could not move in this manner without the aide of a special form of telekinesis. Land sharks mentally provide themselves with "air bubbles" by creating an empty space, centimeters in width, between the upper body and the sand. These air bubbles allow the sharks to breathe for a limited time even when completely covered by sand (via the gills), and by moving the bubble along with their bodies, land sharks can travel swiftly through the sand. The land sharks' telekinesis is limited: it is only strong enough to allow travel through sand or loose gravel and even then, only to a depth of four meters before the weight of the sand becomes too great to shift. Additionally, their telekinesis cannot be used for any other effects other than those described above.

The sand through which a land shark burrows provides it with extra protection against attacks. The sand acts as armor with the following defense values: d6+1 (LI), d6-3 (HI), and d6-3 (En). (For those of you skeptical of these values, just remember that sand, in the form of sand bags, is used as an effective defense by most militaries.) This protection does not extend to the dorsal fin if it is raised above the sand's surface, nor to the shark's body during the combat phase when it leaves the sand to strike. A character attempting to hit an approaching land shark's dorsal fin with a ranged weapon (i.e., when only the leading edge of the fin can be targeted) suffers a +3 step penalty. There is a chance that if the land shark's dorsal fin is damaged, it will burrow away to seek easier prey. If wound or mortal damage is caused to the dorsal fin, the land shark should make a Resolve-physical resolve skill check. If the land shark fails, he will submerge below the sand's surface and burrow away from the attack for 2d4 combat rounds before raising his dorsal fin to hunt again.

When land sharks scent potential prey, they do not burrow directly toward their next meal, but instead, tend to travel at an angle (usually only 10 degrees), crisscrossing the direct route as needed, in order to keep the prey's scent on their fins' pores. When land sharks determine from the strength of the prey's scent that their prey is roughly within 10 meters, they will begin to make large spirals toward it, slowly determining the exact location of their potential next meal. When their prey comes within five meters, it has entered the range of the land sharks' life detection mutation. This mutation is slightly different than the one described in the "GAMMA WORLD Campaign Setting." It automatically detects living beings within five meters. Once their prey has been located with this mutation, land sharks burrow deeper into the sand (causing their dorsal fins to lower below the surface of the sand) and move directly toward their target. The next time they appear will be to attack with their vicious bites. This is the only time that a character may have a clear attack at a land shark's body without interference from surrounding sand. After making their bite attacks, they will burrow away if able on the next action phase, coming back the next action round for another attack (from a different direction!). Their directional sense mutation compliments their life detection mutation so well that once land sharks have locked on a target, they rarely lose him or her.

If a victim succumbs to his or her wounds during an attack, the attacking land shark quickly takes its meal below the sands; however, it will not end its attack with only one victim if other prey is available. As long as the land shark has at least half of its wound points left and all of its mortal points, it will continue to attack, storing the bodies of its victims beneath the sand for later meals.

Land sharks can be found in most large deserts and beaches across the Knighted States (including those separated from any oceans), which has lead some to speculate that these beasts were not randomly mutated creatures but were once engineered, perhaps as military watch-dogs. Whatever their origins, they are now only commanded by their hunger, threatening any who attempt to cross their territory. Fortunately, land sharks are solitary hunters, although the scent of blood may bring others to a battle.

All land sharks have a scent bladder which leaves a faint scent in the sand as they travel, making it easy for them to recognize each other's territories. Land sharks rarely harm each other, but occasionally, over particularly good territory, land sharks will battle for dominance. These battles do not normally end in serious harm, but are more of a display of power and telekinetic maneuverability.

When ready to mate, female land sharks will momentarily rise to the surface of the sand to spray their scent to the wind, informing any nearby males of her willingness to mate. Once mating has occurred, both sharks will leave the area: the male in search of food and the female in search of preferred birthing territory. After several months, the female normally gives birth to two live young, with abilities proportional to an adult.

When sleeping, land sharks burrow roughly 3-4 meters beneath the surface of the sand. Their telekinesis works even while asleep so there is no danger from the sand's weight or lack of air. Even when asleep, land sharks may awaken if their life detection mutation detects life above them (requiring a successful Awareness skill check). Note that the Awareness-perception specialty skill is not used since the land shark's amazing sense of smell is not a factor.