SPLICERS Razor Demons

Featured in The Rifter# 76, "I am Legion," Episode 5 Article, published by Palladium Books.

palladium-store.com/1001/produ…


Saber Raptors

 Derived from the pack hunting species known as Razor Demons that were recently introduced into several Nature Preserves, a genetically modified version called Saber Raptors is currently being field tested by the Great House of Barren Marsh. Multiple Houses were given DNA samples of Saber Raptors to brew within their Gene Pools to test and record their results with experimental Packmasters called Blade Keepers. Unfortunately, most Saber Raptors exhibited too strong of a predatory instinct and constant challenges for domination of the entire pack. Even the few raptors that are semi-controlled by a Blade Keeper, preserve an unpredictable, volatile temperament as they snap their jaws at fellow comrades of a Platoon or view War Mounts and wounded soldiers as viable prey options. This has forced several houses to cull these Raptors outright. Others continue testing to try to develop more controllable, reliable samples for field use. Unfortunately, a few frustrated houses have also unleashed uncontrollable packs (some of them armed with Biotech weapons) into the nearby Nature Preserves to allow Gaia to deal with them, only adding to the personality's ever growing disdain towards Splicers. 

 Razor Demons and Saber Raptors exhibit similar behavior traits of being highly social animals, living in large packs with a rigid dominance matriarchy that contains multiple breeding females, yielding to a clever alpha queen. Males serve as the hunters of the pack, providing food for the females and their brood. Ironically it is the females that are the fiercest fighters and protectors of the young. Both genders however will engage in territorial disputes against other packs or rival predators, and will strategically gang up on larger, formidable quarry or Splicers when the opportunity presents itself (particularly at fresh kill sites).

 Packs usually consist of 10 to 12 individuals, but larger groups are known where prey items are either extremely large or plentiful. Both species are typically diurnal pack hunters preferring medium and large sized prey to feed the entire pack. Saber Raptors however have been augmented to also hunt nocturnally and will do so, especially when the prey is human/Splicers oriented. Their Splicer modifications give them a keen insight that vulnerable humans exist underneath the large protective armor shells. The raptors know that if they cause enough damage; that the naked pilot usually comes writhing out of the back of the shell, looking to escape the butchering and quickly becomes a delicious meal.

 In the Nature Preserves, sewer networks, caves, swamps and tropical forests, both Razor Demons and Saber Raptors aggressively compete against each other, alien predators and Splicers; targeting somewhat different prey species, but still with a substantial dietary overlap that includes each other. Both species use strategic stalking methods to track their targets before out right attacking, often studying their prey to determine which is the most vulnerable and who is the strongest and to observe and capitalize on any signs of weakness. The Raptors will set up ambushes and have demonstrated well-coordinated, pack hunting strategies that nearly rival Splicers tactics to bring down their quarry. Worse, is that the Saber Raptors will watch, learn and mimic successful field tactics that are utilized by other packs and by Splicers, making them extremely dangerous adversaries.   

Type: Predatory Pack Hunter Animal.

Alignment: Miscreant, lives to hunt and kill. Extremely territorial, strategic and opportunistic pack hunters.

Speed

Running: 95 mph (153 km) maximum for short burst up to 10 miles (16 km) before requiring rest. Can trot at 32 mph (51.5 km) up to 40 miles (64 km). Note, that the Sickle claws are always raised and on the inside of the legs when Saber Raptors are running to avoid being snagged or breaking. Razor Demons tend to be 10% faster in speed burst.   

Leaping: 20 feet (6.1 m) from a standing position, doubled with a running start.

Swimming: Bladed Wings and a powerful bladed tail are used like fish fins and a crocodile tail to propel and maneuver underwater with a top speed of 27 mph (43 km/ 23.5 knots) providing a very fast and agile speed for pursuing aquatic prey.  

Flying: Despite massive flight muscles and wingspan, the armor bladed raptors typically do not generate enough lift to take off from a level surface. Like human hang gliders, these predators run or pounce downhill, or from cliff faces or tall trees into a headwind to become airborne.

Once aloft, however, both species are excellent and highly maneuverable gliders, with top speeds reaching 200 mph (322 km). To remain airborne the Raptors rely upon prevailing wind currents with flapping only occurring during the take-off and landing phases. Saber Raptors use their large wings to exploit a combination of thermal up draughts as well as dynamic soaring. Dynamic soaring is essentially where a flying creature uses the boundary between two air masses to pick up speed by cart-wheeling into oncoming wind and using the wind speed to accelerate itself forward. Repeating this process further increases the speed of the raptor and a effectively resulting in an extremely energy efficient form of flight.

Horror Factor: 12 to humans, none to machines.

Size:

Length: 11.5 -14 feet (3.5 to 4.3 m) from snout to tip of tail.

Width: 3 feet (0.9 m) shoulder to shoulder and a 22 foot (6.7 m) wingspan.

Height: Typically hunched and leaning forward like a T-rex, its tallest points are its hips and back spines, thus giving it a 3.5 to 4 foot (1 to 1.2 m) height from its feet to the tallest  spines.   

Weight: 160-175 pounds (72.6-79 kg) for females and 180-195 pounds (81.6-88.5 kg) for adult males.

Average Lifespan: 18-25 years.

Feeding: Carnivore that consume 20-40 pounds (9-18.1 kg) of meat per day, with a preference for fresh meat.

Natural Abilities: Vibro Blade vibration, Echolocation and gills for amphibious mobility.

Vulnerabilities: Vulnerable to disease and mega damage weapons. There is a slight chance (8%) that Blade Keepers, Falconers and Packmasters can trigger via Bio-Comm, some sort of the instinctive programming embedded into Saber Raptors, and seize a tentative alliance or semi-control 1D4 Saber Raptors for 1D8 melee rounds. (+1% for every level of experience.)

Habitat: Any temperate or subtropical zone, regardless of the terrain. Prefers deep jungles, caverns and mountainous areas or tall grasslands and reeds that provide wonderful concealment.

Pack Size: Average pack size is about 8 to 15 adults and double that number of brood. Although the Packs are always led by an alpha female, the gender breakdown is usually evenly split between males and females. Packs naturally grow to match the rate of available game. In places where prey is more plentiful, there have been reports of packs as large as 50-80 adults.