Many creature dwell beneath in Earth’s oceans. Their presence can sometimes give dues about what’s to come: The sudden dispersal of a school of fish could tell alert individuals that an immense predator is about co arrive in the area. Heroes may encounter jellyfish that have washed ashore after being poisoned by undersea construction. Or, they could find sea creatures displaying unusual behavior, such as circling a peculiar rock formation emitting waves of psionic energy. Electric eels could bolt from an otherwise safe haven when something long dead awakens.
Small fish of the same species may swim in schools for a variety of reasons. Swimming together in a tight group gives them the appearance of a larger creature and may deter predators who spot them from a distance. Schools also allow fish to feed more efficiently and can promote procreation because potential mates are readily accessible. The Atlantic mackerel is a good example of a schooling fish. This variety can grow to nearly a half-meter in length upon reaching adulthood, and they often school by the thousands. Their strong, streamlined bodies allow them to move quickly for extended periods of time while hunting for food. They often swim near the surface but sometimes dive as deep as 180 meters.
Jellyfish are carnivores that snare fish with the stingers on their long, poisonous tentacles. They have soft bodies that are not supported by bones or exoskeletons and the creature’s body (or hood) greatly resembles a dome. Their mouth lies underneath the hood, and the tentacles hang from the hood’s perimeter. Jellyfish can reach a meter in diameter but even the smallest of these creatures can be quite deadly. An adult Irukandji jellyfish is a mere two centimeters across; even so, the sting of these creatures is very potent and lethal to humans.
Electric eels are not true eels, but they are eel-like in shape. They belong to an order of fish that can produce electricity. These creatures are not aggressive in nature but can deliver a strong electric shock when agitated or forced to defend themselves. Electric eels prefer to feed upon small creatures and use their natural weapon to paralyze their prey.
Commonly found in the Amazon Basin, the enigmatic eels have also wandered up river and can thrive in stagnant water. They can reach lengths of up to 2.5 meters, and mature specimens tip the scales at 28 kilograms. The creature’s organs are housed in the from eighth of the eel’s body, and the eel’s tail makes up the remainder of the creature.
Typical Atlantic Mackerel
Reflexes 3D: contortion 3D, brawling 3D+2, dodge 4D
Coordination 1D
Physique 3D: swimming 5D
Knowledge 1D: navigation 3D
Perception 2D: search 4D
Presence 3D
Strength Damage: 2D
Move: 14
Fate Points: 0
Character Points: 0
Body Points: 19
Wound levels: 3
Natural Abilities: highly developed sense of hearing (+2 to related skills); highly developed sense of sight (+1 to related skills); breathes in water; school abilities (when in schools of a few hundred, treat as a single fish with large scale value of 1 and these additional skills or bonuses: con 4D, contortion +1D, survival 3D); small size (scale value 6)
Typical Irukandji Jellyfish
Reflexes 2D: sneak 3D
Coordination 1D+2
Physique 1D: swimming 3D
Knowledge 1D
Perception 1D: hide: self-only 2D+1
Presence 2D: intimidation 2D
Strength Bonus: lD
Move: 4
Fate Points: 0
Character Points: 0
Body Points: 13
Wound levels: 3
Natural Abilities: stinger (damage +1D; venom injected when brawling success beats difficulty by 6 or more); venom (causes 6 points of damage or one Wound level every 10 minutes until victim dies or is treated; Very Difficult stamina roll to resist); malleable form (+3D to contortion and dodge rolls); breathes in water; small size (scale value 15)
Typical Electric Eel
Reflexes 4D: brawling 2D, contortion 5D, dodge 4D+1, sneak 4D+1
Coordination 1D
Physique 2D: swimming 4D+2
Knowledge 1D
Perception 3D: hide: self-only 4D, survival 3D+1
Presence 2D: intimidation 3D+2
Strength Bonus: 1D
Move: 10
Fate Points: 0
Character Points: 0
Body Points: 16
Wound levels: 3
Natural Abilities: electric discharge (damage 5D stun only; +2D damage bonus when attacking beings clad in non-grounded metal armor); breathes in water; small size (scale value 1; due to slenderness)