Rifts® Lemuria Serpent Hunter Teaser

[Kevin]

Rifts® Lemuria Serpent Hunter Teaser

Here’s another Rifts® Lemuria teaser. It too is the "uneditted" version so bear with me. I meant to post it this morning, but I was so immersed in writing I lost track of time. The Weekly Update should post later this evening.

© 2012 Palladium Books


Serpent Hunter O.C.C.

Lemurian Serpent Hunters have captured the imaginations of most surface dwellers and the outsider world. They are the warriors who specialize in the fighting, capturing and taming of sea serpents, dragons and sea monsters. Moreover, Serpent Hunters always have one or more sea serpent or other exotic, Biomancy enhanced riding animal of their own, and are said to be able to tame and ride any sea serpent or monster.
Serpent Hunters are comparable to what surface dwellers think of as paladins, both in spirit and fighting ability, but instead of a grand warhorse to carry them into battle, they ride upon the backs of giant sea serpents and other monsters. It is the Serpent Hunter who captures sea serpents in the wild, tames and trains them, or when necessary, slays them. Biomancer Gene-Mages have mutated several creatures to create an interesting array of Lemurian War Steeds that most outsiders would consider “monsters.” Indeed, War Steeds are living weapons, and in the hands of the Oceanic Guardsmen, and especially Serpent Hunters, they are combat partners that can be dismounted to attack the enemy on its own, or watch its warrior partner’s back, or to carry civilians out of harm’s way. Spurred on by new challenges of magical genetic engineering, Biomancer Gene-Mages have created stranger and stranger creatures for Serpent Hunters to ride. While a large range of War Steeds are available to Serpent Hunters, each warrior has two that are specifically his and no one else’s.
Serpent Hunters have perfected their natural psychic abilities and know so much about handling monstrs, that the creatures are almost a living extension of the warrior. The symbiotic relationship between man and monster is so strong, the two can even separate yet still fight in tandem. The mental and physical training to achieve such unity and discipline is unparalleled in Lemurian society. When a Serpent Hunter dies, his two riding animals are tagged to insure no other Lemurian ever rides them and set free in the wild or let loose at a Lemurian Garden to graze, but also serve as one of the Garden’s protectors. If the animal is slain, the Serpent Hunter mourns for weeks before selecting and taming a new one.
Serpent Hunters are renown for their fighting acumen and legendary bravery. Young, brash and strong-willed Lemurians dream of becoming a Serpent Hunter, but only the most worthy earn a position among these heroes – protectors of the oceans and defenders of the traditions, honor and people of Lemuria.

Special O.C.C. Abilities of the Serpent Hunter: (You’ll have to wait for the book, but here are the categories.)
1. Special R.C.C. Abilities Common to Lemurians.
2. Empathy With Serpents & Monsters.
Dominance and Control.
Penalty Handling Other Animals.
3. Horsemanship: Serpent Hunter (Ride Sea Monsters & Sea Serpents).
4. Sense Sea Serpents, Sea Monsters and Aquatic Monsters.
5. Dragon, Sea Serpent and Sea Monster Slaying.
6. Spell Knowledge (Limited): While magic is not the true focus of the Serpent Hunter know understand how magic works and are taught a handful of magic spells to help them hunt, capture and fight sea serpents, dragons and monsters. Serpent Hunter Spell knowledge . . .
7. Psionics . . .
8. O.C.C. Bonuses . . .
Standard Equipment: Special and/or additional vehicles, weapons, and gear may be assigned for special situations and missions.
Lemurian War Steed: All Serpent Hunters are assigned a Leviathan (depicted in the illustration), and one other “serpent” as his two, personal War Steeds. However, the warriors can usually get access to any Lemurian War Steed depending on availability and the mission; sometimes serpents don’t make the best steeds on land operations.
Bio-Constructs: Bio-Armor: Leviathan Bio-Armor is standard issue, but a few of these warrior prefer other Bio-Armors (any) and also has access to all Bio-Skins.
Bio-Constructs: Symbiotes: 1D4 Talisman Shells and one other type of Bio-Construct of choice.
Bio-Construct: Bio-Weapon: A Serpent Blade and Serpent Trident, and two other Lemurian Bio-Weapons of choice (any).
Miscellaneous: Organically grown and woven clothes (uniforms, dress/formal wear, and combat clothes; most are conducive to underwater use), backpack, utility belt, water skin, rope and other common personal items.

Are you intrigued? Feel teased? Good. Okay, I need to get back to finishing Rifts® Lemuria.

Sincerely,
Kevin Siembieda
Publisher, Writer, Game Designer and Tease

© Copyright March 15, 2012 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.

Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, Phase World®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Megaverse®, Nightbane®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Heroes Unlimited™, Beyond the Supernatural, Dead Reign, Warpath, Shemarrian Nation, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.