Bookworm
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To submit a third technobeast created through Project Mekhis and the Elesh Nanospore
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- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
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- Name: Mekhisian Hssiss
- Designation: Semi-sentient
- Origins: Nar Shaddaa
- Average Lifespan: 80 Galactic Standard Years
- Estimated Population: Rare
- Description: A cybernetic mutation of the classic dark side lizards known as the hssiss, these creatures, plated in bronze and covered in spikes dripping with ichor and poison, are now a nightmarish hunting machine. Glowing green eyes may be the last sight someone has before the creatures appear as though from thin air, their dark powers of concealment helping them spread death and infection.
- Breathes: Due to their metallic/cybernetic nature, they do not require an atmosphere to survive.
- Average Height of Adults: 2 meters
- Average Length of Adults: 3.5 meters
- Skin color: Bronze with green streaks
- Hair color: No hair
- Distinctions: The most distinctive physical traits of these hssiss are the bronze plating that constitutes their skin and the large number of spikes and quills that cover its body. The quills, spikes, claws, and fangs drip with poison and the oily ichor common to the Mekhisian line of Sithspawn that contain the mutative nanospores.
- Races: No other races
- Force Sensitivity: All
- The mutations from the nanospore have further enhanced the ability of the hssiss to conceal its presence through both Force Concealment and a stealth-field generated by the spines that run along its back, allowing it to potentially remain undetected through visual sight and through the Force.
- The bronze-colored armor plating that covers its metallic body have the same properties as durasteel, giving the hssiss an increased ability to sustain damage from small arms fire, melee weaponry, and glancing blows from lightsabers.
- The hssiss can release two different substances from its claws, fangs, and the quills it can launch from its legs. The first is a more virulent strain of the dark side poison their original forms produced, while the second is the mutagenic fluid that contains the Elesh Nanospores. Wounds from any of these have the potential to infect and begin transforming their victims into technobeasts themselves if infected with the ichor or a dark side thrall from the poison that eventually goes into a maddened frenzy if not cured.
- The hssiss can unleash blasts similar to those from a stun blaster from its mouth via a cybernetically mutated projector within its throat.
- If the spines along its back are damaged, the hssiss cannot create its stealth field until the damage is repaired.
- Heavier weaponry and sustained lightsaber blows can cut through the bronze-colored plating of the hssiss, along with plasma weaponry.
- Force healing or a Jedi healing trance can cure the poison the hssiss can release, while extreme heat, Force Light, or mechu-deru can stop the progress of the nanospores through a victim.
- Extreme heat from plasma weaponry or from a weapon such as a flamethrower can severely harm or destroy the creature.
- Diet: Due to their metallic/cybernetic nature, the hawk-bat does not require sustenance to function. However, it will still follow its previous carnivore predilections, but any meat consumed in this way is altered into more of the mutagen coursing through its body.
- Communication: Metallic-sounding roars and a complex pattern of running their spikes against a surface to alert others of its kind. They also can understand and follow commands spoken through the Sith language or given through mechu-deru.
- Technology level: No technology level
- Religion/Beliefs: No religion or belief system
- General behavior:
- Mekhisian hssiss are ambush predators, lurking concealed in strategic places where prey or victims are regular enough for them to hunt. The creatures, as they did in their original forms, work in pairs when hunting prey. Once they have sighted a proper target, they will stalk the target until they can ambush them away from sight so as to avoid revealing their presences to others. The hssiss will first decloak and fire off stun bolts at the target before closing in to launch their quills at the target with either poison or nanospore ichor or tearing at them with their infected claws and teeth. If a target survives the attack, they can quickly find themselves transforming or wasting away from the infection from the creatures, furthering the spread of the nanospores.
As a continuation of the theme of the early experiments with the nanospores, the Cybergene alchemists requested the importation of the well-known hssiss lizard for experimentation from their colleagues within the Order of Arcane Syn. Specimens were captured on Ambria and smuggled to the Nar Shaddaa facility, where they were infected with the Elesh Nanospores as the alchemists overseeing the project desired to retain the creature's ability to conceal itself with the Force. Mechu-deru was employed by the Sith to control the development and mutations caused by the nanospores, guiding them towards improving upon the reptile's natural abilities.
The skin of the creature became a bronze-colored metallic resin with the strength of durasteel for protection, while the internal organs and fluids were replaced by cybernetics and the oily mutagen. A large number of transmitter spines were grown along the hssiss' backs and were connected to an internal cybernetic organ that could produce a cloaking field similar to that generated by a stealth field generator, while spikes were grown along the creatures' legs that could be utilized as a short range weapon for possible infection. A stun blaster was mutated into being through adapting part of the creature's throat.
A few specimens were then released into the undercity in a controlled fashion for observation and to act as ambush traps for possible intruders working in concert with the Mekhisian hawk-bats.
