Bookworm
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To enhance an older Sithspawn creation of the Lady of Secrets
- Image Credit: Hunter | StarCraft Wiki | Fandom
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: Rupturer Rathar
- Name: Erupter
- Designation: Non-sentient
- Origins: Valrar
- Average Lifespan: 5 Galactic Standard Years
- Estimated Population: Scattered
- Description: While at first glance, it would appear Erupters are merely a color palette change from Rupterers with their brown skin and the purple blisters covering their bodies, they are in actuality more dangerous than their predecessor. New abilities were added in and the Lady of Secrets saw fit to completely overhaul their entire structure to something that would quickly be a threat to any fortified enemy.
- Breathes: Type I
- Average Height of Adults: 0.8 meters
- Average Length of Adults: 0.5 meters
- Skin color: Brown with the blisters covering its body a mildly glowing purple
- Hair color: No hair
- Distinctions: The most distinctive physical traits of the Erupter are the purple blisters that cover its body that are filled with a new compound, and the way it moves by rolling like a ball. Beyond that, many of the improvements to the Erupter are more internal or are planned to be a surprise by the Lady of Secrets for her enemies.
- Races: No other races
- Force Sensitivity: Non-Sensitive
- Much like the Rupturer, the Erupters are covered in blisters that contain a highly volatile and caustic acid compound. The formula that the creatures produce has been improved upon by the scientists that serve the Lady of Secrets, with the acid itself being on par of the acidic saliva of the Suppurater, allowing the compound to eat through tougher metals like beskar and phrik by breaking apart the molecular bonds of the metals. Erupters can also spew this acid from their mouths at targets in a glob at a range of about two meters.
- More so even than Rupturers, Erupters move by tucking themselves into a ball and rolling towards its target due to its lack of a skeletal structure. However, the sensory organ used to detect vibrations from the previous monster has been replaced by an organic facsimile of radar that sends out a constant pulse to give the creature a visualization of its surroundings.
- The introduction of Rathar DNA sequences to the Rupterer base form has significantly altered the Erupter. The skin of the creature have taken on a rubbery consistence, giving its body and blisters resistance from standard blaster bolts, along with an increased elasticity to its blisters to keep them from rupturing prematurely.
- A much more concerning development from the Rathar DNA is the creature's new form of reproduction. Erupters normally reproduce through fission after they have consumed enough meat, creating two smaller Erupters that rapidly grow to full size to begin the process again. However, if an Erupter detonates on its own accord, a secondary fission reproduction begins and multiple (between four or five) small Erupters will be born from the remains and rapidly grow into full adults as they eat anything organic nearby.
- Like its predecessor, the Erupters are designed to be explosive expendable creature, throwing itself at fortified enemy positions or large groupings. A massive surge of adrenaline and other hormones are released when the creature wants to detonate its acidic payload, rupturing all its blisters in a wave of caustic acid that has a radius of over ten meters.
- While blaster bolts won't break through the rubbery Rathar-like skin of the Erupter, kinetic weapons like a slugthrower round will tear right through the creature. Lightsabers and melee weapons can also do the same, but if someone is that close, there will likely be more serious problems to worry about.
- Even more so than other Sithspawn, the Erupter cannot withstand direct applications of the light side of the Force. Force Light in particular will cause the acids within the blisters to turn against the creature, killing it completely and rendering its fission reproduction inert. Even Force Healing will trigger a reaction, rendering the acids inert into just purple goo.
- Weapons such as a flamethrower will evaporate the acid, even when it is released in an eruption, and can reduce the remains of the creature into ash before they can begin growing into new Erupters.
- Diet: Scavenger Carnivore
- Communication: Hisses, and it can understand commands given through the dark side of the Force or spoken in ur-Kittat (the Sith language).
- Technology level: No technology level
- Religion/Beliefs: No religion or belief system
- General behavior: Erupters, much like the Rupturers they formed from, are first and foremost scavengers. The creatures prefer to avoid conflict, skulking on the edges of a fight between larger creatures in hopes for an easy meal. However, if provoked or in need of defending themselves, they will not hesitate to spit acid at whatever is threatening them. When under the command of a Sith Beastmaster, however, Erupters have no survival instincts and instead will throw themselves at whatever their master commands them to attack. A theory among Order of Shadows biologists that goes back to the original Rupturers is that they take a primal joy in exploding, and this is now compounded by the instinctive knowledge that their deaths mean that their offspring will form.
Another creation of the Lady of Secrets from several years ago, the Rupturer strain of Sithspawn had been neglected in its evolution for some time. While they had shown some effectiveness in combat, their were improvements that the alchemists and geneticists on Valrar were interested in making. The acid they produced was deemed too weak for the modern era, their structure could do with an overhaul, their visualization organ could certainly be reworked, and the list went on. It was decided that once the Desolators were finished being created, the next project would be reworking and enhancing the Rupturer strain.
The new creature, dubbed the Erupter to keep in line with the Z-strain naming practice, was generally regarded as a far better specimen. Rathar DNA was added into the creature's genetic structure, giving the Erupter the ability to reproduce their fission and gaining the rubbery skin that made the Rathar a feared beast resistant to blaster weapons. The acid contained within the blisters on the Erupter was modified to be similar in makeup to that created by the Suppurater, allowing to eat through even tougher materials such as phrik or beskar easier. The adrenal system was improved and the explosive radius of the creature was greatly expanded. All in all, the creature was a much needed enhancement to the older strain of Sithspawn and the new creatures were released out into the jungles of Valrar.
