[Index]
Numenera Destiny
Fossicks are oddly jointed and emaciated humanoid creatures who hide their chronically flaking skin under wrappings and cloaks. Their eyes are sensitive to light and often concealed behind sheer fabric or lenses, if they can find such protection. Their speech is a trilling series of clicks and snaps. Fossicks have a knack for creating elaborate structures; they are drawn to areas where humans are building, where they watch and study.
It's tempting to think of fossicks as social creatures, given how they treat other fossicks with respect. But most communities of humans that have tried to live in harmony, or at least in trade, with fossicks have come to regret it. Fossicks carry a deep-seated hatred for "smoothskinned" humans, whom they blame for their condition (for no apparent reason). Though they would never say so, their actions imply that they seek to stamp out humans and build fossick communities in their place.
Motive: Displace human settlements
Environment: In clans of at least twelve on the outskirts of anywhere humans are found
Health: 9
Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (4 points)
Movement: Short
Modifications: Crafts and understands numenera as level 5
Combat: Fossicks work well when fighting in formation.
A formation of four can attack a single foe in melee, making one level 5 attack that inflicts 6 points of damage, or four fossicks next to each other can fire ranged weapons in a volley, gaining the same benefit.
When possible, fossicks use the terrain to their advantage by taking cover, attacking from higher ground, and so on. They're also more than bright enough to find and use cyphers in combat.
Interaction: A few fossicks in every clan are chosen to accept the hated task of learning the Truth or some other human language.
These translators may negotiate with humans and even make deals that the rest of the clan promises to abide by. But unless a deal is made to another fossick clan, such agreements rarely hold, because fossicks make them in bad faith.
Use: Fossicks have overrun a community that PCs have an interest in while the PCs were elsewhere.
Loot: Fossicks carry weapons, including long knives, crossbows, and other weapons of reasonable quality. A fossick may also carry at least one component and a few transcribed plans for crafting artifacts or installations, which they regard as holy texts.
Hordes formed primarily of fossicks add +1 to the horde's effective rank for attacks.
GM Intrusion: The fossick tosses a level 7 amber crystal-enhanced detonation cypher at the character.