Y'Lien, Warrior (by Ken Lipka and Josh Rintamaki)

CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any (Astral Plane)
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary (Hive)
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any - Prefer darkness
DIET: Carnivorous
INTELLIGENCE: Very
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1-3 (10-100)
ARMOR CLASS: 3
MOVEMENT: 6 Climbing, 12 Swimming, 24 Walking
HIT DICE: 4
THAC0: 15
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACK: (Claw/Claw/Bite) 1-6/1-6/1-12 + 6 Strength Bonus
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Psionics, +2 Inititive Bonus
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Acidic Blood, Immune to Acid and Cold damage, Invisible to Infravision
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: M (5-7' tall x 5-7' long; 2-300 lbs)
MORALE: Fearless (19-20)
XP VALUE: 2000

PSIONICS: 200 PSPs; Mind Blank, Psionic Sense, Contact, ESP, Suspended Animation, Heightened Senses.

The Y'Lien are a race of predatory parasites native to the Astral Plane. In appearance, the resemble a bipedal, insectile lizard. Larger than the average human, they take the form of the worst demons of myth and legend. Their heads are long and broak, with a double-mouth filled with razor sharp teeth. Their bony bodies glisten with slime. Their emaciated limbs end with long claws and they posess a prehensile tail. Despite their massive build, they only weigh as much as the normal human. They can also move astonishingly fast in nearly any situation.

Combat: The Y'Lien's exoskeleton is as tough as plate mail, but as light and flexible as leather. This chiton is covered in an acidic slime that diffuses their body heat very quickly - making them invisible to infravision at ranges greater than five feet. This slime is also a deterrant against melee attacks (see below). Despite their size and bulky appearance, these creatures move very rapidly, gaining a +2 bonus to all inititive rolls. They are capable of fantastic leaps - up to 50' forward or 20' straight up. In all situations, they are able to Move Silently (90%) and Hide in Shadows (90%). Their claws allow them to climb any surface with safety.

The standard attack method for the warrior is to lie in wait for their prey to pass nearby. Then the warrior will leap out and attack with its two claws and wicked bite. Due to the build of their mouths, they are able to bite foes that are up to 5' out of reach of their arms. The slime that makes them invisible to infravision also serves as a defense mechanism. Each round that exposed flesh is in contact with the slime, 1d4 points of damage is inflicted. This acid is not strong enough to cause damage to items.

However, if the creature is wounded by a slashing or piercing attack, it will bleed a much more concentrated acid. This version will cause damage to the foe that successfully hit it equal to half of the damage that was done. This is applied in a 5'radius of the wound. The weapon (and any objects splashed with the blood) must make a saving throw vs. acid or be destroyed. Once the creature is dead, any remaining blood will become inert in 1d6 hours.

The Y'Liens have no eyes, but highly developed senses of smell and hearing. They "see" by a variation of a bat's sonar. This gives them the equivelant of both normal sight and 60' infravision. Fortunately, these senses can still be fooled by an Invisibility spell - at least, until the creature ativates one of its innate psionic powers.

Habitat/Society/Ecology: The Y'Lien very closely resemble insects in the way their society is structured. The warriors make up the bulk of the race. However, there are three other varieties of Y'Lien. They are the Drone, Royal Guard, and Queen. These are explain in more detail under the "Life Cycle" section.

These creatures only exist to hunt and breed. The limited number of living beings in the Astral Plane is really the only limiting factor on their numbers. The energies of the Astral Plane is the source of their psionics as well as imbueing the creatures with innate properties that make them capable of surviving anywhere. They are active in a temperature range of -10oF to +120oF. Beyond those extremes, the creature will either activate its Suspended Animation power (for lower temperatures) or begin to dehydrate and eventually die (for higher temperatures).

Their only "natural" enemy on their home plane are the Githyanki, who hunt them for both sport and the Royal Jelly of the Queens and the adrenal glands of the Warriors (see under "Life Cycle"). Their hide can also be cured and formed into suits of acid-resistant leather armor.

Life Cycle: The Y'Lien begin life inside of a watermelon-sized egg which is laid by the Queen in large broods which can number up to 200. The eggs are coated with the same acidic slime of the warriors. They are filled with a Royal Jelly and the developing Drone. It is this Jelly that both sustains the Drone as well as what makes the creature's natural psionic talents possible. The Royal Jelly is also prized by the Githyanki because it is a very potent psionic-enhancing drug. It makes the mind more aware of the body, thus giving a +3 bonus to all power scores as well as increasing the maximum psi points of the user by 30% for a duration of 3 hours. (These extra points come from the body canabalizing its own reserves. Thus, 30% of the user's maximum hit points are sacrificed when the drug is taken.)

Additionally, the adrenal glands of the adults can also be used as a psionic booster. The effects can only be achieved once per 24 hours, and last 1 turn. The person who eats the raw gland will gain the psionic powers of Biofeedback and Adreline Control (with 6 points added to the abilities). The limits are: STR 18/00 (+25% for each point over 18), DEX 21. Any extra hit points gained from higher CON scores will disappear when the time is up - but any damage inflicted to the imbiber stays. While the drug is in effect, the imbiber will be EXTREMELY aggressive.

The eggs can remain dormant for essentially an infinite amount of time. When they hatch, the Drone is immediately capable of motion. The Drone resembles an insectoid-spider with a whip-like tail. This stage of the Y'Lien has but one purpose - find a host and implant a larvae. Once this task is accomplished, the Drone dies. The Drone latches onto the face of its chosen victim and wraps its tail around the host's neck. It also sticks a tube down the victim's throat. This allows the Drone to keep the host alive while it implants the larvae within the chest cavity. If attempts are made to remove the Drone, it will tighten its tail around the host's neck in threat. If attempts continue, the host will killed either by strangulation, or by the acidic blood of the Drone (which will probably dissolve the unfortunate's head).

Once implanted, the larvae gestates inside the host for up to three days. Then, it hatches over the course of five minutes by burrowing its way out through the chest. Normally, the host's body will serve as the first meals for the newly hatch Y'Lien warrior. The warrior will reach full size after another three days. It should be noted that the host has some say in the final development of the Y'Lien.

In general, the warrior will resemble the general physiology of the host. The Y'Lien prefer humanoid hosts, thus resulting in their generally humanoid appearance. However, the larvae has been shown to be viable in any host - including animals. These warriors will resemble the animal host (quadrapedal, etc.), but their intellect and abilities will remain unchanged. But in all cases, a warrior will result.

A Queen will only hatch if the host is psionic. Then, the resulting Y'Lien will not only have the standard racial abilities, but it will also posess the abilities of its former host. Obviously, the more powerful the psionic host, the more powerful the Queen will be. Once a Queen is made, its first priority is to create some Royal Guard Warriors. These are grown the same as a normal Y'Lien, but the host is injected with an enzyme that only the Queens can make. The resulting warriors will be half again as powerful as the standard brood.

The Mind Kestrel is a bird of prey from a highly psionic liveworld in a distant crystal sphere. In appearance, it looks nothing more than a normal terrestial falcon; perhaps a bit more intelligence to its gaze than normal. On its homeworld, it was nothing more than an advanced hunter. However, when it was captured and taken into space, somehow its priorities changed. Instead of using its powers to better locate and hunt prey, it now uses them to help its chosen companion. If a bird is found in the "wild" (ie. not its home world), it will be seeking a companion. Once it has found one that it deems suitable, it will use its Psychic Surgery to establish a permenant Contact. Then, the host will be free to use its powers for his own ends. Essentially, this bird is a psionic familiar.

Authored by: Ken Lipka E-mail me: krlipka@yahoo.com

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