Subject: AEC: introducing the Ath Zalu Ath Zalu: length 1 (one) to 4 (four) inches Height 1/2 (one half) to 1 (one) inch St -6 Dx +6 IQ +3 Ht +4 -50p +80p +30p +45p -20p Hive Mentality -15p Inconvenient Size -15 Parasite - warm blooded vertebrate hosts -50 No Manipulators -20 Fragile -05 Unnatural Feature - Hosts eyes lose pigmentation -20 Dependancy - serotonin, common, hourly -06 Callous -05 Unusual Biochemistry -30 Vulnerability - occassional, 3 levels; pathogen bacteria: Nereissa Meningitidis -20 Weakness - common, 1d per 5 mins of contact, salt + 66 Mindshare - Global Consciousnee, 100 miles, intelligent drones limited by speed of light, can be detected by non telepaths: hear soft, high whisper/buzzing +10 3D Spatail Sense, absolute direction +05 Telepathy 1 level~ only through direct contact with host's brainstem +04 Telecontrol @ IQ +08 Telesend @ IQ+2 +08 Telereceive @ IQ+2 ---- 00 Total Racial Cost {i know the midshare is .5pts short} Tha Ath Zalu are a sentient hive race of parasitic slug-like worms with a vaguely reptillian appearance. They range in size from one inch long and one-half inch high to four inches long and one inch high. They are dependant on the serotonin produced in warm blooded vertebrates. They insert themselves inside the host and attch themself to the brainstem in order to feed every hour off the serotonin produced by the pineal gland. Host beings lose all pigmentation in their eyes as a side effect of the Ath Zalu excretory process. Hosts become prone to violence due to the reduced levels of serotonin. Those individuals already low on serotonin levels are considered unfit hosts and are left alone. Once that Ath Zalu have attached themself to the brain, they start to take control of the host's mind. In hosts with a strong will dominance fights occur, resulting in a schizophrenic and/or paranoid personality. The parasites avoid oceanic bodies of water due to a vulnerability to direct contact with salt. Ath Zalu are able to fight off most antibodies, viruses and bacteria with the exception of pathogenic bacteria, most notably Neisseria Meningitidis. The Ath Zalu have a need to be in constant contact with other members of the hive and hosts always refer to self in the plural; a carryover from the hive mentality. The Ath Zalu can have several drones in a single host, and usually do in larger hosts. This fact is considered to be a factor in the rather fast rate of infection. =========== Aside: i didn't know if addiciton would add to the race cost as the possesion causes similar effcts to LSD use in the host. CyberSavant, Matrix Guide Mail: aa308@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca cybersavant@dlcwest.com WWW : http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/~aa308/index.html http://www.dlcwest.com/~cybersavant <\ -=========================={+|XXXXXX@