Early Access
Chronophages are creatures that seem drawn to time paradoxes and disruptions in space-time. They tend to eat those responsible (and those affected), potentially alleviating the disturbance in the fabric of things, though that outcome might just be a side effect. First and foremost, chronophages are parasites that phase into existence near a spatial anomaly and feed to sate their own hunger. However, there are hints that the larvae may represent the first stage of life of a far more powerful and enigmatic entity.
These segmented, 6-foot (2 m) long creatures look partly like larvae that have grown gargantuan and vicious. They appear in places where time moves more slowly or more quickly than normal, where balls and liquids flow upslope, or where a time traveler has visited.
Motive: Hunger for the flesh of those who create (or were created by) time anomalies
Environment: Clutches of four to eight fade into existence within long range of space-time fractures in almost any location.
Health: 18
Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound
Armor: 1
Movement: Short; very long when teleporting through the time dimension.
Modifications: Perception as level 5
Combat: A chronophage attacks with its crushing mandibles.
Instead of moving on its turn, a chronophage can vanish by phasing into the dimension of time, then use its next action to reappear up to a very long distance from where it disappeared (in effect, teleportation). It uses this ability to bypass barriers, circumvent defensive fortifications, and surprise foes when it attacks from a different direction than what was expected.
Interaction: Chronophages are unswerving in their drive to find prey. Once one chooses a target, only killing the chronophage can sway it from its prey.
Use: When the PCs happen upon a location where the rules of space-time are loose and malleable, or if the PCs trigger a cypher or other device that interferes with time’s regular flow, a clutch of chronophages may soon come calling.
Loot: A character can use 1 resource point to craft the skin of a chronophage into a spectacular silvery cloak that reflects its surroundings, but the reflection is one hour behind the present.
GM Intrusion: The chronophage attacks while partially phased into the time dimension; the character’s dodge is hindered, or their block task is hindered by three steps. If the attack succeeds, the character must make an Intellect defense roll or be pulled into the time dimension; the character returns on their next turn, but they appear about a long distance in the air (or the closest open space). Falling from this height inflicts a major wound, knocks the character prone, and hinders them for a round.