The Strange
An utricle is a free-roaming digestive cyst that can grow up to 10 feet (3 m) or more in diameter.
Its central body is a quivering knot of protoplasm fringed by three or four tentacles, as well as a carpet of microscopic cilia that grants the creature a surprising mobility for its bulk. The central bulge is translucent, and the creature's most recent meal can sometimes be seen floating within the spongy mass.
An utricle is a bioengineered predator often deployed in out-of-the way locations by factions more concerned with security than the value of a Ruk life. Once an utricle is deployed, the creature doesn't distinguish master from prey—anything made of flesh is fair game to this creature made to eat.
Possessing no skeleton or carapace, an utricle with nothing in its digestive cyst can squeeze through openings no larger than a few inches (5 cm) across, though doing so can take a few minutes.
Rumor has it that some factions know of a pheromone that renders someone "invisible" to an utricle for a few hours after dousing, or permanently if the proper pheromone-producing graft is attached.
Motive: Hungers for flesh
Environment (Ruk | Weird Science): Anywhere enclosed or in the Veritex
Health 33
Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (5 points)
Armor: 1
Movement: Short
Modifications: Hides in areas filled with cracks and crannies as level 6; Speed defense as level 4 due to size.
Combat: The utricle can attack up to two targets with a single action. On a hit, a target is grabbed and pulled into the utricle's body by a process that is like osmosis, but much quicker. A normalsized utricle can hold up to four human-sized morsels of food at one time, but after it holds two or more creatures, it can move only an immediate distance.
Engulfed targets take acid damage each round they remain caught (and would eventually begin to suffocate if the acid didn't digest them first). An engulfed target can attempt to squirm free with a successful Speed-based roll, or to damage the utricle cyst wall from the inside with melee attacks (the difficulty of attacks launched from within is increased by one step).
The creature's gelatinous nature accounts for its Armor value.
Interaction: An utricle responds to its surroundings like a bacteria seeking food; once it goes after something, killing it is usually the only way to stop an utricle.
Use: Utricle attacks are usually random subterranean Veritex encounters.
However, the creatures are also sometimes deployed in the Strange to serve as guardians for hidden caches, thanks to their ability to become dormant for years at a time in the absence of food, without apparent ill effect once they become active again.
Loot: An utricle dissolves all flesh and soft organic material, leaving behind minerals and other nonorganics. As a result, an utricle body could contain bitwallets, a cypher or two, and other equipment.
GM Intrusion: A PC standing outside of immediate range of an utricle is sprayed with digestive enzyme and takes 5 points of ambient damage from the acid.