Valik
Professor of Alchemy
Image Credit: PointLineArea
Name: Sand Kraken
Designation: Semi Sentient
Homeworld: Tash-Taral
Language: None
Average Lifespan: 20 years
Estimated Population: Around a hundred, but expanding well.
Average height of adults: 2.8m
Average length of adults: N/A
Skin color: Blue, brown
Hair color: None
Distinctions: Plating. Multiple Legs. Tentacles.
Breathes: I
Strengths:
+Lightsaber resistant Plating
+Can “dig” through sand
+Six tentacles, the middle on either side, can conduct an electric current and electrify foes. Said current seems to be a form of Force Lightning with the strength of an apprentice, with similar weaknesses against sith alchemized equipment.
+Large Size
Weaknesses:
-Weak Minded
-Large Size
-Plating not complete, vulnerable at joints
-Low Population
-Cold Climates can be fatal
Races: None
Diet: Prefers would-be adventurers to smaller Sithpawn. Occassional Forcivore, ala Tuk’ata.
Communication: Clicks
Culture: Solitary and territorial, they only meet to mate.
Technology level: Understands that Lightsabers and blasters are bad for it.
General behavior:
After emerging from their egg Sand Krakens cling nearby their mothers, unable to hunt for themselves. Their mother will bring back food to feed them and their siblings, typically anywhere from eight to a dozen, but as the Kraken’s grow their needs for food exceed what the mother can usually bring back. Infighting results until only two or three children remain. Exceptional mothers have been known to have up to half a dozen children survive in rare circumstances. After around six months the Sand Kraken’s are large enough to hunt the smaller beasts of Tash-Taral alone, at which point the mother forces them off of her territory.
It takes the Sand Kraken four years to fully develop, after which it is ready to mate. Once a year a female will emit pheromones that draws males into it’s territory. When a male enters a female’s territory they will fight, with females only mating if they are defeated. Once a mating is successful the female will stop emitting the pheromone and the male(s) will return to it’s territory. The female will lay a clutch of eight to a dozen eggs, continuing the cycle. Sand krakens are able to breed for the next ten years, after which time they generally age and degrade to the point where other Sithspawn kill them. Their assumed life expectancy is around 20 years, but as opportunistic forcivores their actual life expectancy may be larger, with little subjects actually having reached that age yet.
However this behavior can be interrupted by the presence of a Sith. Like the Battle Hydra’s crafted by Exar Kun they are overly receptive to the commands of a darkside force user. Heeding their words they can understand and be trained to respond to somewhat complex ideas and orders, similar to household pets. Overly complex commands often confuse the beast, leaving it to carry out part of an order or none at all.
History:
In the post-gulag era many have made new breeds of sith spawn, with varying intent. The Akure Leviathan that struck terror in many hearts, the Greater Calama that inspired curiosity in the mind, the Barkspawn that brought joy in a soul. The Sand Kraken was made for other purposes, to be that of a shocktrooper against the Jedi. Stronger than a Tuk’ata yet not as difficult to maintain and breed as a Terentatek the Sand Kraken was built to be a threat, but not one that would inspire a Great Hunt.
Built with lightsaber resistant plating for defense, multiple legs for additional stability, and a series of electric or poisoned tentacles the creature can use it’s forearm plating to deflect blows while attacking with it’s tentacle and still hold it’s ground if a leg or arm is sliced off. Imbued with an instinct telling it long beams of light are very bad, kill, the creature has a tendency to react very violently to the igniting of a lightsaber.
But the most important part Valik built the Sand Kraken with was a mind not unlike the Battle Hydra, attracted to the Dark and it’s influence. Sith and other Darksiders find them easy to command, with apprentices able to command a single creature, while stronger force users could control multiple creatures at once.
The population thus far is sparse, but Valik created enough that the population is large enough to sustain itself and grow without interference. One was discovered by [member="Velok the Younger"], [member="Calina Ovmar"], and [member="Ostanes"], with Calina assuming immediate control, though it’s mind may change hands before the day ends.
Development Thread:A Lab or his Tomb – Various prospectors go through an old Lab of Warren Valik before finding one of his creations, the Sand Kraken.
Notable Player-Characters: None
Intent: To create a new sand-world based Sithspawn as well as add possible sithspawn “Minions” to differing Sith in the Galaxy.
