Free20: The Gorger (d20)
Free20: The Gorger is a free Otherverse Games product¸ a minor threat suitable for inclusion in the Otherverse America campaign setting. The Gorger can easily be adapted to most sci-fi and cyberpunk settings¸ and fits just as well in most fantasy campaigns. New Monster: The Gorger The advent of regular contact with aliens species changed Earth's ecology drastically. Otherverse America's largest cities are home to an assortment of minor alien life forms brought to Earth accidentally in the holds of a Stonecutter merchant vessel or a Half Grey refugee ship. Lifechained DNA has infiltrated Earth's ecology both by design and accident. The Lifer and Choicer nations build supersoldiers whose powers are based upon alien genetic material¸ while chemical spills and bio-warfare atrocities have spread Lifechain DNA less carefully... and far more widely. The Gorger is one of the best and most common examples of a Lifechained ‘alpha predator'. Gorgers are the latest evolution of the feral ‘superpigs' that have rampaged across the Southern and Western United States since the dawn of the 21st century. Originally¸ these behemoth pigs were just feral hogs and javalinas¸ grown to gigantic size and savage boldness thanks to a steady diet of human waste. For campers¸ superpigs were a terrifying but thankfully rare urban legend. For hunters¸ super pigs were the ultimate trophy. The first Gorger births were reported in 2075. Their point of origin: the old forests outside Olympia Washington¸ where a devastating bioweapon attack killed hundreds. The bio-toxin was based upon naturally occuring Lifechained toxins¸ and the Lifer terror cell who created it severely misjudged its mutagenic effects. A summer later¸ the first Gorger pigs were born. By the early 2080s¸ Gorgers had virtually eliminated the old pack alphas¸ easily winning the role from the smaller¸ weaker Earth-descended hogs. With dominance¸ came breeding opportunities. As of 2107¸ Earth-born wild hogs are dying off¸ out-fought and out-bred by the larger¸ more powerful and more intelligent Gorgers. Gorgers have no natural predators¸ and their Lifechained constitutions give them incredible resistance to Terran diseases and the traditional poisons used for decades to keep wild hog populations down to manageable numbers. Gorgers resemble goliath wild hogs¸ with the largest specimens growing as large¸ and weighing as much as a fully loaded Humvee. Specimens over 10 ft high at the shoulder and weighing in at 2.5 tons aren't uncommon; anything under one ton (adult weight) is usually considered the runt of the litter and rarely survives infancy. Gorgers are primarily scavengers and opportunity predators. They sustain themselves mostly on garbage¸ a behavior which brings them in close contact with humans. Gorgers have little fear of humans¸ but respect guns¸ cars and other technological dangers enough to give them a wide berth. However¸ they will attack a solitary human¸ and as the Untainted fear¸ they will maul and devour unwatched children. Overwhelming firepower can usually make a Gorger break off its assault¸ but once seriously wounded¸ most go into a feral rage and don't stop attacking until either they or their prey are dead. The Gorger is a chance to give readers a look at one of the apolitical threats common to the Otherverse America setting¸ and shed some light on the wilderness ecology of this mostly urban campaign setting. If you like what you've seen in this Free20 product¸ stop by the Otherverse Games website at www.otherversegames.blogspot.com or visit our sales site on www.rpgnow.com. Using this product requires the D20 Modern Core Rulebook published by Wizards of the Coast. Owning Guide to the Known Galaxy (Otherverse Games¸ 2008) is useful but not essential. ; More Products from Skortched Urf' Studios...