Hydrae

Origin

Originating from a single F3 star system in the Vast Expanse beyond the Frontier, the Hydrae live in a harsh environment and thrive on bright light. Their world, called Amaldus by a later day Yazarian explorer (the native Hydrae word is unpronounceable in Pan-Gal), lies third from its bright sun and has one hemisphere tidal locked.

Bathed in the yellow-white light from the star, Gamma Hydrus, lifeforms there evolved to not only survive but to thrive in harsh environment.  

Physical Appearance and Structure

A Hydrae is an intelligent creature that looks like a 2-meter tall silver tree with a cluster of limbs at one end. At the other end of its tubular body is a simple adhesive “foot” called a basal disc. The Hydrae's basal disc can secrete a sticky fluid that allows for adhesive properties if the creature chooses to secure itself to some solid object – this allows it to climb up vertical surfaces and hang from ceilings or other overhead structures or branches.

The Hydrae's mouth is located at the center of the tentacled end.

Hydrae move about by slithering on its trunk or otherwise by pulling themselves along using their strong tentacles. The creature can see using multiple eyespots that are located just below the limbs of its head, and 'hears' by detecting and mentally processing vibrations through their skin.

At the tip of each tentacle is a small olfactory organ which allows the Hydrae to smell objects it touches.

All Hydrae are silver in color with a very noticeable glossy sheen due to a moist thick covering of slime produced by glands in the epidermal layer of their skin.

Each tentacle, or cnida (plural: cnidae), also has highly specialized stinging cells called cnidocytes. Cnidocytes contain specialized structures called nematocysts, which look like miniature light bulbs with a coiled thread inside. At the narrow outer edge of the cnidocyte is a short trigger hair called a cnidocil.

Upon contact with another creature, the contents of the nematocyst can be explosively discharged by the Hydrae, firing a dart-like projection containing neurotoxin which can paralyze its victim, especially if many hundreds of nematocysts are fired at once.

Exobiologists are especially interested in Hydraes due to their regenerative ability; and that they appear not to age or die of old age.

Senses

The Hydrae's senses of sight, smell, taste, and hearing are not as well developed as that of a Human's, but its sense of touch is somewhat more developed.

Speech

Hydrae have developed the ability to communicate telepathically with their own species that are within 10 meters. Otherwise, Hydrae will communicate visually or through contact using their tentacles. They are able to comprehend and speak PanGal, but will exhibit difficulty when attempting to communicate in that language. This is primarily due to the Hydrae's thought processes being of a more conceptual nature rather than a word specific sequence of visual or spoken meanings.

Society and Customs

Hydrae are likely the most unified species in the known universe. They have always worked well together as a society, never having committed a single solitary act of violence towards one another throughout their long history.

They are excellent navigators, and can usually be found operating freighters between the Frontier and their home world. They seem less interested in military exploits, exploration missions, or mining operations.

Within the Hydrae society is a subspecies known as Hydra (both singular and plural). Hydra are less intelligent and much larger than their Hydrae cousins. An average Hydra is about 10 meters tall. They are tamed by the Hydrae and used for diverse purposes such as heavy duty laborers, guardians, and as riding or pack animals. Hydra are not abused or mishandled in any manner, and in fact seem to fare much better physically than wild hydra.

Note: The Hydra in the 'Adventure 2' section of the Star Frontiers Basic game booklet involves one of these Hydra that broke out of a zoo on Prenglar and terrorized the streets of the city.

Attitudes

Trust is a major issue with the Hydrae. It is thus difficult for them to trust any of the other races, but if they must, they seem to prefer working with Dralasites. Unfortunately, Hydrae have had several bad experiences with humanoids in the past (the capture and placement in a zoos of one of their beloved kind on Prenglar being one incident), and therefore view Humans, Ifshnits, and Yazirians with greater distrust than other races

Special Abilities

As noted under the “Physical Appearance and Structure” and “Speech” descriptions, the Hydrae have several unique abilities including its basal disc for holding fast to an object, which should also allow climbing; immunity to lasers; regeneration and sprouting new attack tentacles; plus limited telepathy. These abilities are described below:

Basal Disc: Holding Fast, Cimbing

The Hydrae's basal disc can secrete a sticky fluid that allows for adhesive properties if the creature chooses to secure itself to some solid object. If someone or something tries to dislodge the Hydrae, the creature can make a Strength check to hold on. Certain conditions can modify the check for or against the Hydrae, such as the solidness of the surface, the force being exerted against the creature, etc. It is up to the referee to decide these modifiers.

The adhesive properties of the basal disc allow a Hydrae to slither up vertical surfaces and hang from ceilings or other overhead structures or branches. Its safe movement rate is reduced by half to 5 meters per turn. It can try to “run” up a wall – moving up to 10 meters vertically per turn – but it must make a Strength check to hold on. A failed check results in a fall.

It can also slither along a ceiling or overhead surface, though at a much slower rate – 2 meters per turn safely. The Hydrae can move faster, up to 5 meters per turn, but must make a Strength check or fall.

Once again, the type of surface that a Hydrae attempts to climb may modify its chance of success or failure. The referee should also keep in mind that some structures may not support the Hydrae’s weight and could collapse or fall apart, resulting in a fall.

Immunity to Lasers/Regeneration

Due to the Hydrae's silvery hide, laser beams simply bounce off the creature without harming it. It also has resistance to other beam weapons such as masers and rafflurs, taking half damage.

The heat of a laser beam excites the creature's cells and causes it to bud another temporary tentacle (or if it is the female stage, an extra baby head), gaining 10 temporary Stamina points and another attack. If, for example, a Hydrae with a Stamina score of 60 and three attacks was hit by a laser beam it would gain 10 points of Stamina and one additional attack for a total of 70 Stamina points and four attacks.

The temporary increase in Stamina and attacks will decline after 5d10 minutes. When this loss of temporary Stamina occurs, and its points drop below 0, the Hydrae will die within minutes unless emergency procedures are taken. A staydose will not work on the creature, but a freeze field will.

Masers and rafflurs weapons cause half damage to the creature, but do not cause it any increase in Stamina nor extra attacks. Sonic weapons also really anger Hydrae.

The Hydrae can regenerate 1 Stamina point per hour from wounds when exposed to high-intensity light, such as that of a sunlamp.  In fact, the creatures have developed an “emergency light therapy” to revive one of its kind that is on death’s door. 

Nematocysts/Muscle “Dart” Attack

The Hydrae can fire nematocyts (muscle-fired darts) from special tentacles; it has a number of special tentacles equal to its Stamina score divided by 20, rounded up. Each dart causes 1d5 worth of damage plus it has a neurotoxin that can temporarily paralyze a victim for 2d20 minutes. The victim must make a current Stamina to avoid the effect.

As noted above, when a Hydrae is struck by a laser, it not only gains 10 temporary Stamina points, but can also fire an extra dart.

For example, a Hydrae with 50 Stamina points can normally fire up to three nematocyts per turn, but it is struck by three laser beams during a turn. It gains 30 temporary Stamina points and now has six attacks per turn.

As in the case of its temporary Stamina points, the temporary tentacles recede after 5d10 minutes unless the creature keeps being hit by lasers. Its maximum number of attacks per turn is 12.

When firing its darts, the Hydrae cannot use any other weapon or device, though it may move and use its natural telepathy.

The range of the nematocyst is:

Point Blank: 1-2 m / Short: 3-5 m / Medium 6-10 m / Long 11-20 m / Extreme 21-40 m

Hydrae have a base chance to hit equal to their Dexterity with a -10 modifier. They can increase their "to hit" scores by learning a Melee Weapon skill. Inertia screens and skeinsuits absorb half damage from these attacks.

Reproduction

As a hermaphroditic race, the Hydrae have both male and female organs. Upon reaching adulthood, about once every five years the creatures go through a reproductive change, switching from being a male, capable of releasing male spores, and a fertile female stage. If inseminated, the Hydrae in the female stage will develop 1-4 buds, which represent young hydra. The buds develop into their own heads with an ability to shoot nematocysts. While attached to the mother, the young Hydrae temporarily add 10 Stamina points per head.

If the Hydrae is struck by a laser while in the feminine stage, instead of developing another tentacle, it will instead grow another young Hydrae head (up to a maximum number of 12). Unlike temporary tentacles, the Hydrae does not lose these extra heads or extra Stamina points until the young matures, which takes about 12 months GST.

When the young Hydrae drop off, they initially have only 10 Stamina points. The mother Hydrae loses 10 Stamina points per baby that detaches.

Limited Telepathy

Average Hydrae Statistics

STR/STA  50/50, DEX/RS    50/50, INT/LOG   40/40, PER/LDR  40/40

IM: 5, PS:

Dart Attacks:         3 per turn    Base Chance to Hit: 40 (DEX -10)

Ranged Weapons: 25

Melee:                    25

Hydra

Origin

The Hydra originated on the same world as their more intelligent Hydrae cousins. . 

Physical Appearance, Structure and Senses

The hydra is a creature that looks like a 10-meter tall silver tree with clusters of limbs around its mouth. The creature has a soft body and moves by slithering about on its trunk. It sees with many eyespots locates just below the limbs on its head. It detects sound by vibrations through its skin. A small olfactory organ at the tip of each tentacle allows it to smell the objects it touches.

Periodically, the hydra undergoes a reproductive cycle when it grows new branches with limbs and mouths which eventually mature and drop off to form new hydras. This cycle occurs every 2d10 years and the hydra will form 1d5 buds that will mature over a 15 GST months’ time.

Hydra have a limited form of sentience – a Logic score of about 25.

Moving about by slithering on its trunk or by pulling itself along using its tentacles, it also has an adhesive basal disc that allows it to secure itself to a solid object – this allows it to climb up vertical surfaces and hang from ceilings or other overhead structures like a cave roof.

The creature is strong enough and large enough to smash through unarmored walls with ease in one turn without slowing its movement down. This often leaves a rubble pile behind that can delay pursuers.

Each tentacle can also fire nematocysts, a dart-like projection or it can use its tentacles to spin a web that can block a 5-meter diameter area or it can throw the web to capture a character, incapacitating them for two turns (treat as a grenade for range and hits/missed throws). Unlike the Hydrae its muscle darts do not have a neurotoxin, but the creature has other mutable attacks including an acid spray, a sonic boom or a gas cloud that can obscure vision.

Some hydra have a layer of insulation that allows them to take half damage from needler and gyrojet weapons. A very few rare individuals appear to have the Mentalist ability to teleport up to 40 meters away every three turns.

The varied abilities of the hydra have made xenobiologists wonder if they are separate subspecies, but not enough is known about this race to make any firm conclusions.

Speech

Communicating mainly with screeches, tentacle flailing and limited flashing light, the hydra have a very limited language that is more akin to communicating concepts such as friendship, fear, hatred, etc.

The Hydrae can communicate with these more massive creatures using their limited telepathy. Mentalists also can attempt to communicate with the hydra using telepathy.

Society and Customs

Hydra are communal creatures and seem to work well with their smaller cousins the Hydrae. When taken off world by pirates, the typically have been split up and treated like mere unintelligent animals, causing them great distress.

Special Abilities

The hydra have several traits including its Basal Disc  for holding fast to an object or climb walls; immunity to lasers; regeneration and sprouting new attack tentacles; spinning webs; smashing through walls; plus some have other powers.

Basal Disc: Holding Fast, Cimbing

Using its basal disc, a hydra can secrete a sticky fluid that allows it to anchor itself to a solid object whether that’s a mountainside, a car, a roadway, robot, etc. If someone or something tries to dislodge the Hydrae, the creature can make a Strength check to hold on. Certain conditions can modify the check for or against the Hydrae, such as the solidness of the surface, the force being exerted against the creature, etc. It is up to the referee to decide these modifiers.

The adhesive properties of the basal disc permit a Hydrae character to slither up vertical surfaces and hang from ceilings or other overhead structures or branches. Its safe movement rate is 10 meters per turn. It can try to “run” up a wall – moving up to 15 meters vertically per turn – but it must make a Strength check to hold on. A failed check results in a fall.

It can also slither along a ceiling or overhead surface, though at a much slower rate – 5 meters per turn safely. The hydra can move faster, up to 10 meters per turn, but must make a Strength check or fall.

Once again, the type of surface that a hydra attempts to climb may modify its chance of success or failure. The referee should also keep in mind that some structures may not support the creature’s heavy weight and could collapse or fall apart, resulting in a fall.

Immunity to Lasers/Regeneration

Due to the hydra's silvery hide, laser beams simply bounce off the creature without harming it. It also has resistance to other beam weapons such as masers and rafflurs, taking half damage.

The heat of a laser beam excites the creature's cells and causes it to bud another temporary tentacle, gaining 10 temporary Stamina points and another attack. If, for example, a hydra with a Stamina score of 80 and four attacks was hit by a laser beam it would gain 10 points of Stamina and one additional attack for a total of 90 Stamina points and five attacks.

The temporary increase in Stamina and attacks will decline after 5d10 minutes. When this loss of temporary Stamina occurs, and its points drop below 0, the hydra will die within minutes unless emergency procedures are taken. A staydose will not work on the creature, but a freeze field will.

Masers, rafflurs and sonic weapons cause half damage to the creature, but do not cause it any increase in Stamina nor extra attacks. Sonic weapons also really anger hydra, sending it into a rage.

The hydra can regenerate 1 Stamina point per hour from wounds when exposed to high-intensity light, such as that of a sunlamp.  The Hydrae’s “emergency light therapy” can also work to revive hydra. 

Nematocysts/Muscle “Dart” Attack

The hydra can fire nematocyts (muscle-fired darts) from special tentacles; it has a number of special tentacles equal to its Stamina score divided by 20, rounded up. Each dart causes 1d10 worth of damage. As noted above, however, when a hydra is struck by a laser, it not only gains 10 temporary Stamina points, but can also fire an extra dart.

As in the case of its temporary Stamina points, the temporary tentacles recede after 5d10 minutes unless the creature keeps being hit by lasers. Its maximum number of attacks per turn is 18.

When firing its darts, the hydra cannot use its any other abilities such as web spinning, but it can move.

The range of the nematocyst is:

Point Blank: 1-2 m / Short: 3-5 m / Medium 6-10 m / Long 11-20 m / Extreme 21-40 m

Web Spinning/Throwing

If the hydra remains in one spot for one turn, it can spin a silvery thread that will completely block a 5-meter diameter area. This web is strong enough to prevent any other creature, except hydra and Hydrae from moving through it. The web will last for 4d10 hours before it begins breaking down. Flamethrowers and acid sprayers can eliminate the web after 2d10 turns.

Or, instead of shooting nematocysts, the hydra can spin one smaller web and throw it at a character(s) in the same turn. The range is:

Point Blank: 1-5 m / Short: 6-10 m / Medium 11-15 m / Long 16-25 m / Extreme 26-60 m.

If the web misses, use the grenade bounce table to see where it lands. It will temporarily entrap a character, robot or another creature in a 5-meter diameter area for 2-8 turns. Characters can make a Reaction Speed check to avoid entrapment.

Insulation or Soft Shell

About 1 in10 hydra also have a thick hide or a soft shell that helps protect them from needlers and gyrojets, reducing the damage from these weapons by half.

Smashing Through Walls

Normal walls are like paper to a fully grown hydra, it is capable of moving through them without stopping or delay. For armored walls and security doors, it can cause 5d10 worth of damage per turn to smash through them. It can even batter through the hull of starships, but pirates have learned that using certain sonic weapons can corral the creatures.

Limited Teleportation

Surprisingly, some rare hydra (1 to 2 percent) have the Mentalist ability to teleport up to 60 meters away – to an area within its line of sight – every three turns. Roll a d100 if the result is a 01 or 02, the creature will have this power. When it is used, the hydra cannot take any other actions.

Acid Spray

About 1 in 10 hydra can also spit acid from their mouths, doing 2d10 points of damage. The acid will eat through the hydra’s webbing and other susceptible objects. The range is:

Point Blank: 1 m / Short: 2-3 m / Medium 4-6 m / Long 7-12 m / Extreme 13-20 m

Gas Cloud

About 1 in 10 hydra also can produce a gas cloud that fills a 5-meter diameter area for one turn. It causes 1d10 worth of damage and any character in the area affected suffers from obscured vision and would have to move out of the space in order to shoot. The hydra cannot use its other attack abilities when it does this. The range is:

Point Blank: -- / Short: 1-2 m / Medium 3-5 m / Long 6-8 m / Extreme 9-10 m

If the attack misses, use the grenade bounce chart to determine where the gas cloud lands.

Sonic Beam

About 1 in 10 hydra can produce a sonic beam causing 2d10 worth of damage. The range is:

Point Blank: 1 / Short: 2-5 m / Medium 6-15 m / Long 16-30 m / Extreme 31-50 m

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