Xenomorph
From StarWiki
Xenomorphs are a hated, antagonistic race of insectoids that are considered to be the scourge of the universe.
Playing a xenomorph is very difficult. It is recommended that you have a good sense of how StarMUD works before attempting to play one. Nearly every monster on StarMUD is aggressive to xenomorphs.
The first recorded encounter of xenomorphs was near Kradel. A mining vessel followed a distress beacon to an ancient alien ship. That ship contained an abandoned hyve. Since then, xenomorphs have been viciously co-existing with their prey.
The most basic description of xenomorphs is to classify them as hexapodal insectoids. There have never been any successful studies of xenomorphs, so their actual genus and taxonomic classification remains a mystery. It is known that they pass through stages that can best be described scientifically as larva, pupa, and imago, but much more violent descriptions have been adopted. Their social structure appears consistent with insections, with a primary queen and her guard drones remaining in the hyve, allowing all others to roam free and slay for them.
Xenomorphs are hardy and violent creatures. They cannot wield weapons or wear armor, but have developed their own primal unarmed combat. Their dedication to instinct raises with time and experience, making their attacks more vicious with time. They are known to have exceptional sensory abilities and rapid healing, including the ability to cocoon or hibernate for increased regenerative abilities.
When severely injured, a xenomorph will fall unconscious, but unlike other races, they can revive from this state on their own without medical aid.
Xenomorphs are equipped with sharp talons to attack their prey and a hard carapace for defense, which grows stronger with age. They take less damage from most types of attack, especially laser, cutting, and blunt assaults, but are vulnerable to thrusting, psionic and electrical attacks. Xenomorphs can breathe in many types of atmosphere, but due to their cyclical breathing a lack of air will kill them quickly.
Xenomorphs are violently hated across the known universe and are attacked on sight. They also are given a strict penalty when dealing with commerce, even if they are merely tolerated.
Xenomorphs can hide indiscernibly inside and with more difficulty in external environs, where they appear uncomfortable.
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Life stages
Facehugger
All xenomorphs start life in the larva stage, or 'facehugger' as the populace has come to consider them. This term comes from the infestation process that the larva must go through to metamorphose into the pupa stage.
As facehuggers are not full-grown, they do not fall unconscious when severely injured. They simply die.
Chestburster
The intermediate pupa, or 'chestburster' phase, is quite vulnerable, but once able to molt into one of the imago forms, the xenomorph advances well beyond its adolescent capabilities.
Development seems to be the only guidance as to which imago the pupa will become once it molts. The three primary imagos are named worker, warrior, and drone, after the insect world. However, it does not appear that drones are necessary for the mating process.
As facehuggers are not full-grown, they do not fall unconscious when severely injured. They simply die.
Worker
The hunters. The gatherers. The builders and homemakers. The workers are the backbone of the hyve. They are simply common xenomorphs but are essential for the continued benefit of the whole. The worker is neither good nor bad at anything in particular. They are a neutral balance of power and grace; of feral and obedient. They live to serve the queen, and to aid in the progression of the hyve.
Workers have no bonuses or weaknesses not inherent to the species as a whole, with the exception that due to their prolonged exposure to the ways of the hyve, they have a minor accuracy bonus to all xenomorph and hyve based special attacks.
Warrior
Of the common adult forms, the warrior is the most offensive. Having a somewhat lanky frame, the warrior is built for speed, accuracy, and above all else, damage. It comes as no surprise, however, that the warrior cannot accept much damage in return. Warriors are usually found outside of the hyve, killing enemies of the hyve.
Warriors get offensive boosts to both their strength and unarmed skill. They naturally do more damage than the other common adult forms, but have very light armor. Warriors also have additional damage bonuses to most of their special attacks.
Drone
Usually regarded as the 'males' of the xenomorph species, even though they are genderless, the drone is a powerful and stocky creature. Their build is designed as the epitome of defense, which comes in particularly handy with their title role as defender of the hyve. Though they may be powerful, often the drone is not much for dealing out damage, even though their acidic blood is the most feared of any xenomorph form.
The living tanks that they are, drones have an advanced carapace, giving them natural defenses to all physical attacks. This coupled with their bonuses to constitution and defense make them capable of withstanding large amounts of damage. Drones also have an additional pH factor to their blood, making its burn far more deadly than that of any other xenomorph.
Royal Guard
Almost nothing is known about this mysterious imago.
Queen
The 'queen' advanced imago seems to be tolerated within the hyve, which goes against all parallels to the insect world. Little is known about how a xenomorph may molt into this imago.
Hybrid
The strangely humanoid hybrid is named thus for a peculiar combination of humanoid and xenomorph traits. All observances of hybrids have shown that they have turned on their own kind and are not welcome inside the hyve.
