Deepshiner

Many creatures of Apoc Earth have an alien appearance and cruel characteristics, most of which were developed in response to the harsher environs of post-Event Earth. The deepshiner is a creature whose evolution and characteristics are truly bizarre but for all intents and purposes, seems to be the result of natural processes.

Deepshiners are odd creatures. Named for the light they give off from a special orb like organs on their body and tentacles, they resemble cephalopods in look and physiology, but also possess characteristics common in fungi. Deepshiners are found in deep water swamps and wetlands, and occasionally estuaries. Deepshiners are nocturnal, remaining in deep murky water during the day time hours. Genderless, adult Deepshiners can reach mammoth proportions, their growth restricted only by diet and environment. If given proper room and prey, a Deepshiner can reach several tons, and their outer tentacles growing to be several miles in length.

Their body is composed of a central nervous core that possesses several small brains. These brains are thought to control various tentacles and bodily functions. At the center of this core are the basic organs, including four stomachs that can digest almost anything. The mouth opening takes up most of the top portion of the body, and can open incredibly wide. Inside the mouth are a number of smaller barbed tentacles that are covered in a quick acting acid. These tentacles serve to tear apart prey that is dropped into the mouth by the larger outer tentacles. The mouth is surrounded by eight large, black eyes that are capable of piercing the murkiest depths. A more basic eye can be found at the tip of each tentacle, along with an organ scientists refer to as a "lantern". These "lanterns" can be found at the end of each outer tentacle, as well as several located under the body core, giving off an eerie blue light. It is thought that these "lanterns" serve two purposes.

Their primary purpose is to attract unwary prey. Inquisitive creatures, such as humans, may be drawn to the light for various reasons. Once within reach, the creature will be grabbed by the massive tentacle then dragged through the water back to the core, where the deepshiner will proceed to rip apart and digest its prey. The second function is to illuminate the area around the tentacle, which allows the eye on the tentacle to visually assess potential prey items. Located all along the body and tentacles are various nodes. These nodes possess a spore like material that can induce paralysis. These nodes are often broken by prey as they struggle against a constricting tentacle. Once broken, the spore spreads quickly, paralyzing anything that breathes it in. This spore cloud is only slightly less effective under water.

Deepshiners possess a rudimentary intelligence, capable of basic problem solving like pre-Event cephalopods. Smaller deepshiners prefer to remain hidden in deeper water, feeding on small animals and fish. Oddly territorial, deepshiners will not tolerate the presence of others of their kind in their territory; which can be difficult to measure since larger deepshiners remain largely stationary in deep pools of water with their tentacles probing out into shallow water ways. Deepshiners possess voracious appetites and if left unchecked can devastate an ecosystem if they grow too large. Once again, because they are so stationary, larger deeepshiners are hesitant to leave an established territory, and do so only if close to starvation.

Lophs have a strange attraction to these creatures, especially ones that dwell in coastal regions. Revering deepshiners as the embodiment of some ancient and long forgotten sea god, lophs will often be found protecting young deepshiners as well "guiding" them to areas where they can do the most damage to land dwellers.

Deepshiners are difficult to locate and even more difficult to destroy. They possess strong regenerative qualities, and can only really be destroyed with fire. Severing limbs without destroying them can be deadly, as a new deepshiner can spawn from it. Larger deepshiners are incredibly difficult to destroy because of their sheer size alone, and entire NAU regiments have deployed to destroy a single deepshiner.

Tactics: Deepshiners are masters of the ambush attack. They will rarely attack during the day, but if a creature stumbles upon one during day light hours, the deepshiner will possibly attack. A deepshiner attack is often blindingly fast and violent. A victim is usually grabbed by a tentacle and quickly dragged back to the core to be consumed. One should be careful not to burst open any of the spore nodes along the body or tentacles as well. The best chance one has of destroying a deepshiner is using explosives or fire to burn and destroy every last remnant of the creature, lest a new one be spawned from the remains.