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Shostak · 07-07-2018, 08:02 PM

Note: Permission is granted to Steve Jackson Games to use this in exchange for acknowledging my contribution.

Gate Lice
ST 1
DX 9
IQ 1
MA n.a.
Attack: Blood sucking, damage negligible unless infestation is extreme. Egg cluster burst 1d-3 (1 minimum).

Gate Lice are occasional unpleasant surprises to gate travel. Scholars think the 2-inch, bloodsucking isopods must lurk in the unknown space that connects gates, waiting to attach themselves to hapless travelers. Every turn after stepping through an infested gate, roll once for each unattached Gate Louse on a host to determine if it successfully attaches. Female Gate Lice are more dangerous than males; within a few hours of attaching, they burrow under the skin to lay eggs. Each cluster of eggs creates a large unsightly boil on the skin within a few days, which will burst when the host next travels through a gate, releasing the nymph Gate Lice and inflicting 1d-3 (minimum 1) damage.

It is inadvisable to crush or rip attached Gate Lice off the skin; a failed attempt (roll v DX) releases toxic bodily fluids into the bloodstream (Saving roll vs. ST or suffer 1d of fatigue for 24 hours, critical failure results are much worse--possibly fatal). Gate Lice and their egg clusters can be carefully removed by a Master Physicker with surgical implements or killed with contact poison made by a skilled Alchemist. Prophylactic unguents prepared by Alchemists can prevent or lessen infestation, and are sometimes available at bazaars, but the ingredients are rare and expensive.

On the bright side, live Gate Lice are prized by Alchemists for their use as ingredients in their research and products.

07-07-2018, 08:02 PM	#13
Shostak Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: New England	Re: New Monsters Note: Permission is granted to Steve Jackson Games to use this in exchange for acknowledging my contribution. Gate Lice ST 1 DX 9 IQ 1 MA n.a. Attack: Blood sucking, damage negligible unless infestation is extreme. Egg cluster burst 1d-3 (1 minimum). Gate Lice are occasional unpleasant surprises to gate travel. Scholars think the 2-inch, bloodsucking isopods must lurk in the unknown space that connects gates, waiting to attach themselves to hapless travelers. Every turn after stepping through an infested gate, roll once for each unattached Gate Louse on a host to determine if it successfully attaches. Female Gate Lice are more dangerous than males; within a few hours of attaching, they burrow under the skin to lay eggs. Each cluster of eggs creates a large unsightly boil on the skin within a few days, which will burst when the host next travels through a gate, releasing the nymph Gate Lice and inflicting 1d-3 (minimum 1) damage. It is inadvisable to crush or rip attached Gate Lice off the skin; a failed attempt (roll v DX) releases toxic bodily fluids into the bloodstream (Saving roll vs. ST or suffer 1d of fatigue for 24 hours, critical failure results are much worse--possibly fatal). Gate Lice and their egg clusters can be carefully removed by a Master Physicker with surgical implements or killed with contact poison made by a skilled Alchemist. Prophylactic unguents prepared by Alchemists can prevent or lessen infestation, and are sometimes available at bazaars, but the ingredients are rare and expensive. On the bright side, live Gate Lice are prized by Alchemists for their use as ingredients in their research and products.