The Strange
The nezerek is a predator of the Strange. It roosts in lairs excavated in fundament, but spends most of its existence surfing the fractal currents hunting for new experiences. It looks almost like a lifelike component of the dark energy network until it adjusts its winglike surfaces to emerge from transit, revealing itself as something more dangerous than an elaborate design. A nezerek is a predatory beast nearly 30 feet (9 m) across from wing tip to wing tip, though its antennae can extend even farther.
A nezerek isn't a planetovore, since it seems content to remain in the Strange, and its abilities are far less extreme. On the other hand, it is driven to discover new experiences and knowledge, and to gain that experience, it tends to assimilate anything new it comes into contact with, especially living creatures.
Motive: Knowledge, novelty
Environment (the Strange): Anywhere
Health 36
Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (5 points)
Movement: Short while flying
Modifications: Attacks as level 6; speed defense as level 3 due to size.
Combat: A nezerek uses its fractal antennae to attack up to two targets within long range on its turn, dealing 5 points of ambient damage to each target. The body of a PC struck by an antenna seems to "fray" at the edges, bleeding fractal material. About half thematerial is lost to the void, but about half is absorbed by the nezerek (which restores 2 points of its health).
Given the length of a nezerek's antennae, a foe could choose to target them instead of themain body. An attack against an antenna is made as if against a level 6 target with 1 point of Armor and 10 health. If an antenna is destroyed, it takes the creature two rounds to regenerate a new one.
If a nezerek is slain, it begins to "fray" like its victims, spraying fractal residue in every direction. All creatures within short range take 5 points of ambient damage from the deluge.
Interaction: A nezerek is not automatically hostile, and it may simply soar past the PCs, despite obviously being aware of them. Any attempt at interaction on the PCs' part quickly changes this attitude of indifference to one of predation.
Use: PCs traveling into the Strange for an extended period might notice a nezerek soaring in the distance.
Loot: A nezerek's unraveled form contains 1d6 cyphers.
GM Intrusion: An antenna brushes against one of the PCs' cyphers, which is absorbed by the nezerek, restoring 6 points of its health.