Very little is known about these mutated creatures that are found in the ruins of Moscow, Russia and almost all other ruined cities of Eastern Europe. The reason is that few have ever seen the monsters, and even fewer have lived to talk about it.

No. Enc: 1d6
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 60’ (20’)
AC: 3
HD: 3
Attacks: 1 Bite
Damage: 1d4 plus special
Save: L3
Morale: 11
Hoard Class: None

Very little is known about these mutated creatures that are found in the ruins of Moscow, Russia and almost all other ruined cities of Eastern Europe. The reason is that few have ever seen the monsters, and even fewer have lived to talk about it.

The creature appears as a long segmented slug-like insect with ten legs located at the front of the body. They are usually around three to six feet in length and weigh about 50-100 pounds. The body constantly exudes thick mucus-like slime and leaves a visible trail where-ever it has traveled.

One of the reasons the creature has rarely been seen is because it has two mutations that help it remain hidden from sight: chameleon epidermis and control light waves. Essentially this mutant creature is invisible to the naked eye almost all the time! Only creatures with other modes of vision are able to see the mutant.

These mutant insects are asexual and able to reproduce without the need to mate. They are very similar to several species of wasps in the method in which they reproduce however, and it is one of the reasons that they are so feared.

The insects are quite fragile and are easily dispatched, so they attack strictly from ambush or go after wounded, sleeping or unconscious prey. They will surprise on a 1-3, and will attempt to bite an opponent. This bite does little damage, but it contains class 9 poison. If the target is knocked unconscious, the mutant will then inject 2d12 eggs into the body of the victim and leave.

The eggs cannot be felt and are microscopic in size, so they are very difficult to discover. The eggs will remain dormant for 1d4 days. When they become active the eggs will grow inside the victim, and as they grow the eggs will leech fluid and other nutrients from the victim and at the same time excrete a chemical that masks any feeling of fatigue or pain this may cause.

During this time the victim will lose 1d2 points of Constitution per day for 2d8 days as the eggs continue to grow and mature. At the final day the eggs will hatch and the young mutant insects will then begin to consume the victim from the inside out. At this point the chemical cocktail released by the eggs will no longer mask the presence of the parasites and the victim will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that something is horrifically wrong.

Each round the young mutants will cause 1 point of damage each as they eat the victim. This will continue until the creatures kill and literally consume the victim, leaving nothing more than a bloody skeleton behind. At this point the small mutants can easily be located and killed. Any area effect mutation will kill the creatures as they have no hit-points. Anyone can help the victim by cutting the creatures from their body. The victim will suffer 1d3 damage per insect that hatched. After the insects have been purged, the victim will have to make a saving throw versus death. If the saving throw fails, the victim dies due to the massive internal damage caused by the mutated insects.

Once the insects have been dealt with and if the victim survives the experience, then the victim will regain any lost Constitution at the victim’s natural healing rate per day until they are back to their original score.

After the young mutants have finished their meal (if the victim does not have any means to purge them from its body and it ends up perishing from the creatures), they will quickly scurry into the underbrush and try to find their way into the underground as quickly as possible. It takes another 1d4 days for their chameleon epidermis and control light waves to become active and they are very vulnerable during this time.

The slime that the creatures excrete from their bodies is made of the same toxic poison as their bite. Anyone coming into contact with the slime and end up touching it with unprotected skin must save versus the class 9 poison or be knocked unconscious. During this time the mutants will bite and inject the eggs into the body of the victim.

Even the slime trail left by the mutant is dangerous as it will remain toxic for 4d6 hours before finally drying up. Often the mutant will lay in wait for anyone or anything that happens to cross the creatures trail and succumbs to the toxin.

Mutations: Chameleon epidermis, control light waves, dermal poison slime.

Source: Metro 2033