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Aberrants

A great deal of animals and living things wandering the New World cannot be classified currently. Either because their species is too rare or because they are simply a one of a kind mutation. Stories persist of underground installations or isolated locations being the home to hugely malformed and mutated monstrosities that have survived since the Age of Silence. Only a scant few of these monsters have ever been seen by Human or Mutant eyes, and even fewer have been studied with any detail. Truthfully study may be pointless as the individual and numerous circumstances for the aberrant growth make the concept of scientific study merely speculative at best. As a general rule aberrant are only rudimentary sentient. Most have lived many generations in severe pain and hunger. The consensus among New World inhabitants is that is generally best to simply kill an aberrant alleviate its suffering and its threat to others. If it can be killed at all that is.

Assemblers

Also called Brominites or Brominite Drones by the scientific community. It would appear that Assemblers came about during the end of the Age of Destruction as a fully autonomous combat force. Named for their nearly magical ability to take raw materials and manipulate them on some fundamental level into a new form "assembling" new things from old. It should be noted however that the vast majority of Brominite activity seems focused on making more Brominites. Assemblers come in a variety of forms from the "Nano Assembler", a tiny insect sized robot that gathers in large swarms and is capable of only simple material gathering, to the "Assembler Lord" a monstrously large and highly unique entity equipped with a very complicated intellect and any number of weapons and personal armament. Assembler culture appears to be a hive structure with an Assembler Lord at the top handing orders down to the lower castes of Assemblers. It cannot be stated clearly enough that Brominites are in no way "safe" or "friendly" they seem entirely hostile to all organic life and intent only on building up their hive. Nano Assembler swarms of sufficient size have been observed completely "disassembling" fully grown Sand Hippos. Moderately sized groups of Brominite drones have been seen disassembling reinforced buildings. Citizens of the New World have been warned, assemblers should be given a very wide berth.

Bird Dragons

Approximately the size of a large man or Mutant, Bird Dragons have occasionally been seen throughout the new world. A reptilian head crowned with curled horns and filled with carnivorous teeth is attached to the body by a thick neck. Feathers adorn the creature growing from a scaly hide underneath. Its large feathered wings make it fully capable of flight and seem adept at allowing it to hop along the ground with the assistance of its clawed and heavily muscled hindquarters. While no Bird Dragon has been observed eating it is assumed they are carnivorous. No Old World descriptions seem to accurately portray these animals though it appears that the Old World inhabitants carved very similar images into statues placed on prominent buildings. It is unclear if this is a coincidence or the Bird Dragon was alive at the time of the Old World. Given their size and assumed predatory nature, New World residents are cautioned against interactions with these animals.

Carrion Birds

Believed to be the descendants of an Old World animal referred to as a "vulture" the Carrion Bird has become one of the more commonly seen animals amongst New World inhabitants. Their diet consists largely of carcasses and small wounded game. However it should be noted here that their have been reports of extremely large variants of the Carrion Bird. It is unknown whether they are a separate species or different life stages of the same animal. While primarily scavengers they are capable of wounding potential threats very readily. Strong talons and a wickedly sharp beak are its weapons of choice. Carrion birds also seem capable of disgorging a stream of highly virulent and acidic toxin from their mouths. While it seems this is a digestive chemical to assist in eating they have been known to use it offensively when threatened.

Crabs

Quite clearly the crabs of the New World have genetic ties to crabs of the Old World. Old World accounts of crabs seem to indicate they were an entirely harmless animal mostly used as food. New World crabs are due a little more respect and caution as they seem to have developed new instincts and increased size since the Old World. A favorite of many game hunters crab meat is delicious. In addition many crabs adorn their shells with shiny metals and bits of salvaged materials, a crab that has been killed can provide not only dinner but often valuable raw materials. The New World crab caries widely in size and sightings of the truly colossal "Titan Hermit Crab" have been made near large bodies of water. Towering well in excess of ten mens height, the Titan hermit is obviously not the ideal hunting target, indeed they seem to be largely unaware of or unconcerned with human presence at all.

Desert Vipers

Largely unchanged from Old World accounts the name Desert Viper is given to any one of hundreds of various species of poisonous snake found throughout the wilds of the New World, usually about as long as a mans arm span and as thick as a tree branch. They possess an extremely lethal poison and should be generally avoided. A special note should be made here for the "Giant Rattler" often mistaken for a juvenile sandworm the Giant Rattler is in fact an enormous cousin to the more commonly encountered desert viper. Well in excess of four mens height in length and as thick around as a full grown man, the Giant Rattlers poison has been known to partially *dissolve* organic prey and their fangs are capable of disembowelment. Giant Rattlers should be classed as predators of the highest order and avoided by any but highly skilled hunters.

Flies

The common name given to several species of swarming insect "Flies" are in fact a potentially serious threat in the New World. The simple "Skinbore" fly is carnivorous and will give a vicious bite leaving a small puncture wound. While individual skinbores are merely a painful nuisance a swarm of skinbores are capable of bleeding a man to death through numerous open wounds. Although the skinbore is the most commonly sighted fly, other species and variants do exist and travelers should use caution to avoid obvious swarms especially if they are exhibiting strange or erratic behavior, glowing, or igniting fires in their vicinity.

Giant Rats

Another mutated variant of an Old World animal. The Old World frequently referenced the survival instincts of the rat and the New World versions are no exception. Commonly about as tall as a mans knee the giant rat is largely an opportunistic scavenger. They are omnivorous and will consume nearly any organic material for sustenance. It is not unknown for large groups of giant rats to consume the wooden foundation of buildings, or to raid food supplies and leave the unwary settlers cupboard bare. Giant rats commonly carry diseases and prolonged contact with wild Giant Rats should be avoided. Giant Rat colonies are led by a particularly large female refereed to as a "Nest Mother" approximately twice the size of a normal Giant Rat they are quick tempered and territorial. It should be noted that the Giant Rat is revered by many Mutant tribes for its ability to survive in extremely adverse conditions. While still hunted as food by many Mutants the animal is respected highly and it is considered very poor form to mistreat or exterminate populations of the Giant Rat by many Mutant tribes.

Lizards

Another generalized term for a great number of species of reptiles inhabiting the New World. It is perhaps an unfortunate generalization because the variety of reptile can vary from the small and almost completely harmless sand gecko up to the enormous and extremely dangerous desert dragon which preys on sand hippos and even adolescent sand worms. Prized for their meat and leather lizards are a favorite target of new world hunters, particularly the plated iguana which will yield a good deal of quality meat and a thick dense hide.

Savage mutants

Not to be confused with the organized and relatively civil Mutant Tribes, mutants, or savage mutants are essentially humanoid animals, even their Tribal brothers feel no kinship to these monstrous inhabitants of the new world. Intelligent and vicious savage mutants are capable of rudimentary tool use, primarily for the purposes of killing prey, or each other. They speak no known language and appear to communicate only with violence and intimidation. Savage mutants have been reported as growing to an impressive size, three times as tall as a man and eight times their weight. Unfortunately it is far too easy to mistake the smaller mutants for normal Tribal Mutants to the untrained eye; and any unwary travelers have discovered the difference in a most painful fashion. Large populations of savage mutants are commonly avoided or even marked as such to prevent accidental wanderings into their territory.

Manimals

An unusual example of "beast" the manimal is listed here due to the general consensus that they are animals. Although truly savage examples of strange humanoid animals have been encountered, the manimal is a slightly different breed. Usually capable of at least understanding common speech, many are also capable of it. They exhibit extremely high degrees of intelligence. A few manimals have even been accepted as members of established communities though they are often viewed as outcasts or pariah due to their "in between" nature. They are neither human nor Mutant, nor purely animal. They can be intelligent and civil enough to be members of communities yet they have also been seen engaging in completely uncivil and animalistic behaviors. An oddity of the New World manimals seem to be attempting to find a niche in the world.

Rust Men

Another product of the Age of Destruction, possibly having origins as far back as the Age of Conflict, Rust Men are autonomous inorganic lifeforms. There seem to be three very distinct castes of the Rust Man. The standard Rust Man, the Soldier Bot and the Rust Giant. The two former castes apparently were autonomous creations meant for fighting in the wars of the Age of Destruction. The military Rust Men for many ages have been carrying out very specifically ordered instructions to the best of their ability despite the fact that many of these objectives are completely nonsensical or nullified in the New World. Rust Giants, particularly are a danger due to their immense size and single minded pursuit of some undisclosed purpose, making them extremely unpredictable. No less dangerous though the soldier bots make up for the size of their giant brothers by being more numerous and unpredictably violent. The common Rust Man however seems quite in contrast with their militant cousins. Often exhibiting a high degree of intelligence in mechanical or medical skills. Common rust men are generally courteous to Humans and Mutants they encounter though usually due to an extremely limited set of instructions they are not considered "alive" or as accepted "citizens" of communities. It is entirely mysterious as to why Rust Men were not effected by the Age of Silence though it has been postulated that it is due to a fundamentally different technological construction. This is possibly the same reason the Brominites continue to function today. A special notation should be made regarding NeoBokrug or "The Tin Man" the 'founder' and organizer of the wastelands community. He is a Rust Man of particular distinction. Fully capable of extremely complicated exchange and of a completely unique physical makeup, he appears to be some sort of high powered prototype or uniquely programmed member of his "race". He is in effect a completely sentient life form and to date the only recorded example. Confusing him with a common Rust Man would be unwise.

Sand Hippos

Named after a mythical animal of the Old World, Sand Hippos are herd animals of a generally non invasive and docile nature. Approximately the height of a man at their back and about fifteen to twenty times their weight. Heavy musculature under their bulky bodies make them ideal work animals for which a few have been domesticated and used. Sand hippos prefer to spend a great deal of their time idly foraging in the sand with their tusks for small animals and plant material to consume. When not foraging sand hippos use their powerful "hooves" to burrow partially into the sand and nap for hours or even days at a time. It is believed that they have an extremely slow and energy efficient metabolism capable of keeping their enormous bulk functioning under a severely limited supply of food and water. Though named after the mythical "Hippopotamus" monster of the Old World, the Sand Hippo of the New World is highly likely more closely related to the old world "pig" an animal often domesticated as a food source. Although generally docile and calm, this should never be mistaken for helplessness. Their enormous size and muscular frame, accompanied by their sharp digging tusks make sand hippos a considerable opponent. When threatened a sand hippo can fly into a sudden burst of speed and ferocity trampling, goring or simply consuming an unsuspecting foe. While they will generally leave humans and Mutants alone, if a hunter should decide to collect a hippo for its bountiful leather, meat, and tusks they are well advised to be prepared for the backlash of an enraged juggernaut.

Sand Worms

The origins of this species are unknown and unguessable. Most would rather track any other dangerous animal or walk naked into a savage mutant cave then get close to one of these subterranean terrors. The concept of "hunting" a sand worm is largely only a convenient terminology. In fact if you are close enough to be tracking a sand worm it is most likely completely aware of your presence and contemplating its next meal. A burrowing predator, by the time one is aware of a sand worms presence it is usually too late. However the creatures can be observed under the right conditions. A sand worm is a large worm-like creature the length of four mens height and as thick around as two to three mens arm spans. Most however will not see this portion of the animal and instead will only see its distinctive maw coming through the sand. It has a gaping mouth at the front of its body filled with rows upon rows of grasping, moving barbed teeth. two large pincers grow from either side of its "head" and are used to force troublesome food further into its maw where it can be shredded into less unruly pulp. They appear to be eyeless and track by an unknown method, it has been postulated that they hunt by sensing vibration or sound with receptors in their skin. Highly skilled Mutant hunters have successfully tracked and hunted the beasts with stealth and patience though it is a risky hunt at best. The best way to forewarn of impending sand worm activity is a barely audible rumbling in the ground, though often even this signal will come far too late. Sand worms appear to live in small clusters of eight to ten individuals usually taking up a permanent residency inside an underground cave or artificial structure. An especially large and terrible variant of the species is the "Queen" sand worm. It is rumored by Mutant trackers that the Queens are the matriarch of a colony of sand worms though this is merely assumption and they may only be extremely large and dominant members of the species. If a colony of sand worms can be discovered the entire lot can be killed with a liberal application of explosive to the nest. There are a great many misnomers about sand worms that should be cleared up immediately. Firstly sand worms are NOT overly sensitive to sound or vibration, pounding your feet or using apparatus to slam the sand seem only to enrage and attract them. Another rumor is that spreading harsh chemicals on the ground will deter or cause them pain, this is also patently false and their chitinous hide seems to be highly resistant to most acids and poisons. This is also true of their digestive system, it has been proposed that poisoning a sand hippo (their favored prey) and using it as bait to kill a sand worm when it is eaten would be a good plan. However this has proven to be very inefficient. Feeding a sand worm a sand hippo covered in explosives however has managed to kill a sand worm. The truth is the most effective way to eliminate an individual sand worm is massive amounts of trauma from blunt instruments, stabbing instruments, and fire. The problem is applying these methods without being eaten. In addition, their are Mutant legends of sand worms of inestimable size in the deep desserts, even the Mutants warn against their ferocity and overwhelming power. It is difficult however to believe these tales as the legends claim the beasts would be considerably larger than any sand worm recorded by humans. The Mutants however steadfastly stand by the legends and tend to be very uncomfortable during any earthquakes or tremors and whisper nervously about certain areas of deep sand and desert.

Xenos

Although entirely unsupported, completely unrecorded and difficult to believe, an entry here on "Xenos" will be made. Supposedly first sighted during the end of the Age of Silence, Mutant claims state that intelligent spirits came from "the skies" and "riding fire". However, because of the Mutant belief in "The King of Fire" it is believed that these legends and rumors are only a corruption of the original "King of Fire" myth and have no basis in observed fact. The only reason that it is being included here is due to crudely drawn glyphs and images indicating the presence of these spirits that would have been made approximately towards the end of the Age of Silence. However as no time line can be determined to separate them from the end of the Age of Silence and the beginning of the Age of Fire. It can only be assumed to be a superstitious distortion of events that are widely accepted as having occurred both by Mutants and humans.