Gunslinger Knights
A slashing mouthwing looks like a disc-shaped black beetle the size of a horse, with multiple wings and heads. Each wing is covered in a thick protective shell that the creature uses as a weapon. Under each wing are the creature's mouths, each ringed with gemlike red eyes. It can walk or fly in any direction, and first-time foes are often startled when it seems to move sideways or backward. The "heads" along the perimeter of its body are false ornamentation and easily break away if struck.
A well-fed mouthwing gets sluggish and buries itself just under the surface of the ground to gestate its eggs. A day or so later when the eggs are ripe, it emerges to lay three to five eggs within a hard structure (such as a small cave, human house, abandoned suit of armor, or crafted steed) and covers them with a layer of protective resin made from its own blood. It then wanders away in search of more food, never returning to its brood.
Motive: Hungers for flesh
Environment: In, near, and after Fundament Storms; alone or in groups of up to six
Health: 15
Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (4 points)
Armor: 2
Movement: Short; immediate when flying; immediate when burrowing
Modifications: Speed defense as level 3 due to size
Combat: A mouthwing attacks with up to three of its wing shells as its turn.
Its mouths are poorly positioned for attacking a mobile foe, but in addition to its other attacks, it can bite an immobilized creature for a moderate wound (6 points).
A physical attack that harms a mouthwing releases a pressurized gout of the creature's bright orange blood; the mouthwing is adept at turning its body so the blood hits a foe of its choice within immediate range.
The blood hardens when exposed to air, hindering the foe's physical tasks and reducing their movement speed by one range category; if this reduces the foe's speed to less than an immediate distance, they cannot move from their current position. Multiple layers of hardened blood have a cumulative effect. Removing one layer of hardened blood requires an action and a successful Might-based task. With enough mouthwing blood, even a fast crafted steed can be rooted in place.
Because of their strange blood, mouthwings are almost completely immune to attacks that cause bleeding wounds.
Interaction: Mouthwings are cunning, patient beasts and are equally likely to chase down prey or wait in ambush under a layer of soil.
Use: A mound of earth erupts to reveal a monstrous beetle-like creature. A familiar building, mine, or cave entrance is suddenly covered in a layer of hard orange material.
Group GM Intrusion:
The mouthwing extends its wing covers and spins, attacking up to five creatures in a short area. Make separate eased attack rolls against each target. A struck character is knocked prone unless they succeed at a Might defense roll. If a prone character is on a crafted steed, they must also succeed on a riding task or they are
knocked off the steed.
GM Intrusion: The mouthwing vomits its blood on the character. The blood instantly hardens, hindering their physical actions by three steps and slowing their movement by three range categories.