Gorblax

The Gorblax is a kind of mollusk that originates from the muddy planet Oblaris.

Mature Gorblaxes can reach 20 inches (50 cm) in length, and have a very swollen, almost translucent body, with most of the internal organs visible through their rubbery skin.

The Gorblax is a very slow animal, that crawls around the hot mud pools of his home planet, helped by six pudgy pseudopods and the undulations of his belly. The main food source of the Gorblax is composed of brine shrimps that live in near toxic bodies of water.

The Gorblax is able to regurgitate a gloopy corrosive mucus that acts as a net for trapping these shrimps, before eating back the half-dissolved sludge, now enriched with animal proteins.

The senses of the Gorblax are very limited. It is almost sightless and deaf, and considering his diet, it also has a very limited sense of taste.

However, the sense of smell of the Gorblax is excellent underwater, able to detect single organic molecules, and it also has a very acute sense of touch, helped by specialized hair cells organs covering his body.

Because of this, a Gorblax can feel any lifeform approaching nearby, usually responding by flailing about to reach the nearest body of water, where it can swin relatively well. If it is caught in the open, it will just swell up and freeze in place, emitting a menacing growl.

If prodded or moved any further, the Gorblax will project a spray of corrosive mucus in the direction of the attacking lifeform. If the victim is not able to remove the mucus quickly, it can cause severe chemical burns, and even suffocation if it reaches the airways.

Simple lifeforms are so panicked when they are hit by a Gorblax, that they tend to drown in the hot springs and steamy mud pools that compose the mollusk’s habitat. Their steamed carcasses becoming food for a new generation of brine shrimps.

When the first colonists of Oblaris discovered the Gorblax species, it had already killed a whole squad of mining prospectors, and earned the nickname of "Puker" among the locals.

But it is only later, during the sulfur miner strikes of Oblaris, that the Gorblax earned it’s claim to fame. Hyperion Industries was trying to put an end to the strikes by sending corporate shock troops to recover their blockaded facilities. The corporation was certain to have the upper hand, since a strict ban on weapons was enforced on this colony. They were confident on the striker only possessing basic tools to oppose their assault. But the miners were using weaponized Gorblaxes as makeshift Toxic Marauders !

Each mollusk was contained into a shooting barrel, allowing the workers to effectively direct the mucus projection at their assailants at the push of a prodding trigger, emulating the famous chemical cannon in a bizarre, low-tech manner. In the end, with the defection of the shock troops officers, and their violent management of the strike exposed to the public, Hyperion Industries, under the pressure of the UG negotiators, had to comply with the demands of the workers, and no charges were pressed for what happened during the crisis.

The mining operation on Oblaris are now a worker-owned company, under the name "Happy Gorblax Sulfurs".

Gorblax (Level 4) small, mollusk predator

**Armor:** 1

**Melee Dodge:** 1, **Ranged Dodge:** 0

**Movement:** 1 (4 in water)

**Attributes:** Strength 1, Stamina 5, Reflexes 5, Concentration 1, Logic 1, Influence 1

**Actions:**

Mucus projection: Range Attack = 6, damage 3 chemical, 1 chance in 6 to suffocate if the mucus reaches the airways. If so, roll again with the same odds to know if the victim is also blinded. Takes an Action to wipe off. Effect: The Gorblax must expend 1 Stamina to project his mucus. It takes the Gorblax one full round to reload his mucus glands.

Mucus net: Range Attack = Same effects than Mucus projection, but in a radius of 2 squares around the creature while underwater.

Bite: Melee Attack = 4, damage 2 (AP 1) piercing

**Reactions:**

Flail: Move 1 square in reaction to an attack and gain +1 Dodge until the end of the turn.

Bury self: Able to bury itself in the mud or soft ground. A strength check of 5 is needed to dig up a buried Gorblax without appropriate tools.

Explosive Death: Upon death, this creature explodes with a Blast Radius of 2, damage 3 (AP 3) chemical. Shooting at a Gorblax with a Ballistic weapon also induces à 1 in 6 chance to perforate his mucus glands and cause it to explode immediately.

**Other Skills:** Awareness 4, Endurance 5