Vector

Bats were driven to extinction during the Event. The delicate balance that was needed to maintain the ecosystem was tipped in the wrong direction, and the vital role formerly filled by the order Chiroptera was instead left vacant. Enter the Vector, a horrible apoc mutations of Rattus rattus, the common rat. The vector has replaced the bat in a twisted way. Roughly weighing six kilos, with a wing span of nearly two meters on an emaciated frame of stark muscle and sinew, the vector is a hideous amalgamation of bat and rat. Webbed membranes stretch along its forearms to spread from elongated claw appendages down along its body’s length. From its feral maw of needle teeth to its naked, whip-like tail, the vector is a pestilent nightmare.

The vector is a perfect example of the axiom: "Nature Abhors a Vacuum." Whether the vector rose in response to the need to fill an ecological niche or was instead born from some twisted pre-Event experiment is a matter of some debate. What is not up for questioning, however, is the creatures' threat to other species.

The vector is a disease-ridden creature that carries all manner of infectious diseases, seemingly as a natural defense mechanism. These diseases are plague-inducing and one such plague is thought responsible for the abandonment and burning of a Churl outpost on the fringe of Novus Europa territory that saw the deaths of two-thousand settlers in less than two weeks.

In response to such rampant lethality, High-bred governments such as the NAU have sought to capture and contain the vector for study. Through this research, the various agencies of New Earth hope to isolate and understand the creature and its immunities to the contagion it spreads. They hope to discover cures and antidotes to the rodent's pestilence, and additionally turn strip the vector of its own immunity as a weapon against it.

Of course, this flying rat is not only a threat because of the diseases that it carries — it is also omnivorous in the truest sense of the word. They will eat anything. The vector usually feeds on garbage and refuse cast off by humans and other sentient races, but they will not hesitate to scavenge carcasses (a fact that only adds to their disease carrying capabilities). Vectors will also decimate granaries, orchards, and animal pens if other food sources are not available or the population outstrips its resources. These foul things are extremely intelligent and cunning as well, known to attack and bring down creatures larger than themselves… including humans. While such events are thankfully rare, such concerted efforts (appearing almost tactical in nature) speak to an intelligence that borders on the uncanny. The vector is a pest species as well: it chews on power conduits, stripping the cable of its protective coating and creating outages and malfunctions. This fact is worsened due to the creature's ability to nest almost anywhere there is warmth and food — including inside machinery in humanoid settlements.

The vector, like terrestrial rats, possesses a high birth rate and rapid reproduction. Their numbers can grow exponentially in a short amount of time. This is problematic, as there are few predators that threaten the vector — their toxic disposition renders them fatal to most species that might hunt them. Creatures such as the Vrr or even the puke worm are immune, but this does not control the population in many areas.

High-bred communities that have infestations will poison their own midden heaps to attract and exterminate them. Such tactics typically meet with limited results, however, as the colonies seem to sense the poisons and look else where for food. In one small silver lining, the flying rat at least serves as a predator to other nuisance species such as immature puke worms, apoc-insectoids which become huge and deadly in their own right; hungry vectors may even raid Vrr nests for young. The rodents have also been observed cannibalizing their own as well, regularly attacking other colonies that encroach into their territories. Various sub-species likewise serve the role of pollinator for dangerous plant species like the urush and Venus Mantrap.

Tactics: The vector is typically a solitary hunter when feeding, preying on smaller creatures they can manage on their own. When such food is scarce or the colony is threatened, however, the creatures adapt — taking advantage of their cunning intelligence, their aerial maneuverability, and their seemingly-inexhaustible numbers. When prey is found, the colony will communicate through various clicks and squeaks before swarming to attack in a frenzy of beating wings, slashing, clinging claws, and gnashing teeth. The vectors tear chunks of flesh from their victims and peel away to make room for the next attacker. This continues until the prey falls from blood loss or trauma, allowing the creatures to descend and dine at leisure. The disease-bearing aspects of the vector have no combat application, due to the time involved for the contagions to take affect, but in instances where a victim is too heavily-armored or manages to escape their "inoculation" of pathogens may eventually cause the prey to succumb nonetheless — leaving a corpse for scavenging vectors in the future.

Though small in the context of size among the ranks of apoc predators, the vector still has the potential to literally consume everything else… leaving them the top species on Earth.

(Click for Hooks)

Role-playing Hook
Playing a vector as a Character could be an easy way to introduce someone into role-playing! Imagine someone who has never role-played before, or is a bit shy when it comes to the whole “role-playing” aspect of gaming. Let them play a vector as a “friend” or “side-kick” of another Character! This way, they never have to be in the “role-playing spotlight” unless they want to be, yet they still get the opportunity to be a “productive” member of the group and it allows them to slowly ease into the finer and deeper aspects of playing a Character!

 

Sense Hook
Vectors conjure images of whispering leathery wings, rasping, scrabbling claws, and screeching cries that pierce the blackness of night. As such, a powerful sense hook for these awesomely-vicious critters would have to be SOUND. During play, feel free to pull in these audio aspects of these creepy little flying rats and emphasize your words with the sorts of sounds that Vectors would make just in their movements alone. Also, who's to say that Vectors might not also have an echolocation-type language? If you so decide, drop in some clicks, pings and wails (think of whale-song, but smaller) to accentuate your role-play. If your group games with a computer, iphone, itouch, cd player (or whatever), you can even do a search on the web for cool recordings of bats and play during an encounter!

Adventure Hook
A High-bred base has uncovered a new way to produce electricity that does not seem to draw the Undead Infection like moths to open flame. It does, however, seem to draw Vectors — in the thousands. The High-bred “tech-heads” are beset by the ravaging creatures and they need “top-cover” for the last stages of testing for the devices. The Party is called in to aid in creating a “Vector Screen” while the High-bred pencil-pushers can make the final adjustments.

Game Master's Hook
One really easy way to involve Vectors into your game would have them introduce themselves. Most Characters have a certain item or items that they dearly value and would do almost anything to hang onto. If this is the case, then all you need do is have a Vector swoop in, nab said item, and fly away towards whatever nasty surprise you have waiting for them. A racket-filled nest of Vectors could likewise make an excellent hiding place for a more subtle creature (such as a Disciple of Pain or Weaver of Despair), who could attack Characters from a distance while they’re distracted with the chaotic horde of attacking vectors around them!

Battle Hook
The strength of the Vector lies in their massive numbers, so be sure and leverage this when playing Untold: Battle. Even though Vectors are not undead, they can make use of some of the Power Cards found in the Undead Infection Powers deck. Slap "Dogpile" and "Mob Assault" onto a Vector and it suddenly morphs from a pest into a very major and potentially deadly opponent!