Predation
Glaciesis, more commonly called icewall turtles, were bioengineered from Archelons, the largest sea turtle species in existence at the time of arrival. Like their relatives, they can grow up to 13 feet (4 m) long and measure approximately 16 feet (5 m) from flipper to flipper. They have a pointy, slightly elongated nose and jaw and a short, pointed tail. Their relatively thin, bony shell offers some protection in deep waters. Unlike their relatives, they tend to be bluer in coloring, with younger individuals appearing almost cyan in color.
It's believed that the goal of the modified creatures was originally to alter sections of the oceanic environment toward a cooler temperature, particularly near SATI's submerged labship, The Niveous. While that didn't work as planned, the unintended side effects were indeed useful: when threatened, the turtles release long, twisting tubes of ice known as brine icicles (or brinicles). These brinicles freeze whatever they touch.
The species is long lived; some of the original engineer's creatures still swim the oceans around the exploded labship.
Groups of glacis sometimes work together against foes, releasing so many brinicles in the area that the ice forms what's called a "wall of death," severely damaging everything that touches it.
Scientific Name: Archelon glaciesi
Common Name: Icewall turtle, brine turtle, death turtle, shell from hell, glaci
Motive: food, companionship
Environment: ocean, land (rare)
Health: 25
Damage Inflicted: 4 or 6 (see Combat)
Armor: 4
Movement: Immediate on land, long in water Modification: Speed defense as level 4 due to size and speed, Intellect defense tasks as level 4 due to intelligence
Combat: Ice wall turtles are not typically aggressive, but when threatened can radiate intense cold toward engaged creatures. This cold radiation turns into a brine icicle, which sinks down through the water, doing 6 points of damage to anything that touches it. If a foe continues to engage, the turtle can follow up with a bite from their powerful jaws that does 4 points of damage.
Interaction: Ice wall turtles tend to be friendly. While not quite domesticated, those in the vicinity of human settlements are used to humans, and may approach them in search of food. However, hand-feeding is not recommended.
Use: The presence of one or more brinicles may indicate that a number of dangerous predators are in the area.
GM Intrusion: The PCs are fighting another ocean-dwelling creature when they realize that heir foe has startled a glaci. Now they're in danger of being accidentally caught in the creature's brinicles.