The Origin
It's difficult to say what kind of animal Crawler was before the Crash. Crawler themself doesn't know. As a human-sized, two-legged figure with no arms and a questionable white blob as a head, Crawler hasn't found any close relatives among other living things. It's certainly tried to learn more, though it only comes out at night, on account of when people catch sight of them, onlookers scream in horror and run away. Crawler lives in a den hidden beneath the roots of a large tree located in the Woodward Regional Park in Fresno, California. It subsists on trash that people leave each day, but it mentally craves more. Which is why each night Crawler slips out of its den, seeking companionship. Usually, it snuggles up to the bedroom window for a whispered conversation with whichever seven-year-old is open for a midnight talk with their imaginary friend.
Motive: Hungers for companionship
Environment: Nocturnal, usually alone or in the company of a child who believes Crawler is their imaginary friend
Health: 30
Damage Inflicted: Major wound (9 points)
Movement: Long
Modifications: Stealth as level 7
Combat: Crawler runs from conflict, but if forced into a fight, its kick is impressive. In addition, Crawler can detect the surface thoughts of creatures within long range. A creature who succeeds on an Intellect defense roll can keep their thoughts private. Detecting thoughts is how Crawler learned to speak, and it's also how Crawler knows if someone sincerely wants to be their friend. Crawler regains 3 points of health per round.
Interaction: Crawler always speaks of themself in the third person, using a quavering childlike voice. If Crawler can't detect someone's thoughts, Crawler knows not to trust that someone, because they're probably hiding something. Strangers who really want to be Crawler's friend could be rewarded with interesting scoops regarding things Crawler has seen go down in the night, or interesting thoughts it skimmed from the minds of passers-by.
Use: The PCs are asked to investigate a friend's panicked report of their child's imaginary friend actually being real, but a horrible "leg monster." Sightings of the folklore legend known as the "Fresno Nightcrawler" have gone up substantially in the last couple of years.
GM Intrusion: Crawler reveals a secret the character hadn't previously revealed to their allies.