Tidal Blades
Whirlpool weavers are mystery incarnate. They're encountered so rarely in the world that it's hard to find anyone who's had experience fighting them, and even the Lore of the Tidal Blades has very little to say about these monsters. What seems clear is that these giant beasts that resemble manta rays are closely connected to michronic energy—they can sense it, absorb it, and even control it to give themselves unique abilities. In fact, it's rumored that these creatures are made entirely of michronic energy.
Motive: Unknowable
Environment: Deep sea
Health: 50
Damage Inflicted: Major wound (10 points)
Movement: Long when swimming
Modifications: Defends as level 8 while partially solid (see Combat)
Combat: At the beginning or the end of its turn, a whirlpool weaver can choose to be insubstantial, solid, or partially solid. Once this decision is made, the creature can't change state again until its next turn.
While insubstantial, it can't affect or be affected by anything except michronic energy attacks. It can pass through solid matter, including water, without hindrance.
While partially solid, a whirlpool weaver defends and attacks solid matter as if it were level 8.
While solid, a whirlpool weaver can affect and be affected by others normally. While solid, it can choose to do one of the following on its action.
Energy Siphon: Targets up to three objects in long range that use michronic energy, such as artifacts, weapons, and watercrafts. This doesn't inflict damage on the object, but instead drains all power and makes it useless. The whirlpool weaver gains +5 health when it does this, even if the increase puts it above its maximum health.
Michronic Burst: Rises up to 12 feet (4 m) above the surface of the water and releases up to four energy bursts via long blue filaments. All creatures and objects within immediate range of a bursting filament take 10 points of energy damage.
Stormbringer: Creates a level 10 whirlpool of water and michronic energy with a diameter of up to 500 feet (150 m). All creatures and objects who fail a difficulty 10 Might or Speed defense task are dragged beneath the surface of the water, and knocked one step down the damage track.
When a whirlpool weaver is in a solid state and takes physical damage of any kind, it generates a burst of energy in response. Characters who fail a level 6 Might defense roll are teleported a long distance in a random direction (including up or down).
Interaction: It's unknown whether it's possible to interact with a whirlpool weaver. Most people are too afraid—or too smart—to try.
Use: Rumors of a whirlpool weaver passing nearby inspire reckless explorers to find it just for the opportunity to see one (from a safe distance). A watercraft full of valuable supplies has gone missing, possibly shipwrecked by a whirlpool weaver.
A sighting of a rare whirlpool weaver would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience not just for lorehunters (page 305), but for anyone. Getting too close to a whirlpool weaver might also be a last-in-a-lifetime experience.
It's likely that whirlpool weavers have any number of additional energy abilities that are currently unknown. Characters who plan to take on a whirlpool weaver should be ready for anything.
GM Intrusion: The energy radiating from the whirlpool weaver reacts poorly to a character's michronic weapon, device, or watercraft, causing it to malfunction or explode.