6 CONVENIOS DE TRANSCRIPCIÓN, ESTRUCTURA,
6.1 Convenios de transcripción
Kentrosaurus: The Kentrosaurus of the Hollow
Earth is only marginally smaller than Stegosaurus, and is certainly less prolific. The upright plates along its back are decidedly narrower than those of Stegosau- rus, becoming increasingly narrow along the dinosaur’s back, effectively forming twin rows of spikes along the rear of the back and all along the tail. Unlike Stegosau- rus, it is capable of rearing up on its hind legs to reach higher vegetation.
* Creatures with four or more legs double their Move rating when running
**Protoceratops has a head plate that provides a +4 Passive Defense bonus to attacks from the front
Spinosaurus
Another dinosaur recently discovered on the surface world (by a German, if memory serves me right) and found living in the Hollow Earth, is the formidable Spinosaurus.
Greater in length and slimmer in build than the Tyrannosaurus rex, Spinosaurus is an unmistakable theropod with its long, narrow snout filled with sharp teeth, its forelimbs strong, long, and clawed. Lacking the brutish appearance of the Tyrannosaur, it is none- theless a terrifying sight. The great sail of flesh and bone, thrusting upward six feet in height from the creature’s back, serves to make it appear even larger and more impressive than it already is.
My experiences with this dinosaur are that it is gen- erally opportunistic rather than actively predacious— equally content to snap up fish in the shallows of lakes or drive off other predators and scavenge their kills, as it is to deliberately stalk and kill. It also seems far more focused on comparatively small and medium-sized prey, rather than tackling larger opponents such as sauropods. Given the fact that we humans are light snacks to such a creature, it represents a source of great peril.
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beak. This should not give the mistaken impression that it is an easy target for predators, for I observed it inflict considerable wounds upon an overconfident velociraptor.
Therizinosaurus
Follower 2
Archetype: Dinosaur Motivation: Survival
Style: 0 Health: 14 Primary Attributes Body: 6 Charisma: 0 Dexterity: 2 Intelligence: 0 Strength: 6 Willpower: 4 Secondary Attributes Size: 4 Initiative: 2 Move: 8 Defense: 4 Perception: 4 Stun: 6
Skills Base Levels Rating (Average)
Brawl 6 2 8 (4)
Stealth 2 4 2* (1)
Survival 0 4 6 (3)
Talents
Alertness 1 (+2 Perception rating) Skill Aptitude (+2 Survival rating)
Resources
None
Flaw
Bestial (Character cannot communicate or use tools)
Weapons Rating Size Attack (Average)
Bite 4 N -4 8 N (4) N
Claw 6 L -4 10 L (5) L
Stomp 4 N -4 8 N (4) N
*Therizinosaurus suffers a -4 Size penalty on Stealth rolls.
Stegosaurus
Follower 2
Archetype: Dinosaur Motivation: Survival
Style: 0 Health: 12 Primary Attributes Body: 6 Charisma: 0 Dexterity: 2 Intelligence: 0 Strength: 6 Willpower: 4 Secondary Attributes Size: 2 Initiative: 2 Move: 8 (16)* Defense: 6 (8)** Perception: 6 Stun: 6
Skills Base Levels Rating (Average)
Brawl 6 4 10 (5)
Stealth 2 2 2*** (1)
Survival 0 4 6 (3)
Talents
Skill Aptitude (+2 Survival rating)
Sweep (Reduced penalties to Sweep attacks)
Resources
None
Flaw
Bestial (Character cannot communicate or use tools)
Weapons Rating Size Attack (Average)
Bite 0 N -2 8 N (4) N
Tail 4 L -2 12 L (6) L
* Creatures with four or more legs double their Move rating when running
** Stegosaurus gains a +2 Passive Defense bonus from their back plates
*** Stegosaurus suffers a –2 Size penalty on Stealth rolls
Therizinosaurus
The discovery of this comical and amazing creature left me shaking my head in astonishment at the pecu- liarities of nature when I first beheld it slashing down and devouring leafy tree branches at the edge of a forest. There have been no fossils found on the surface world— at least not while I still lived there—so I am compelled to name this fellow “Therizinosaurus,” in honor of its scythe-like claws.
Approximately 40 feet long, it waddles atop two thickset, four-clawed legs, with wide hips and a potbelly leading to narrower shoulders, and a long neck topped by a small, beaked head. Covered in feathers everywhere save its head and feet, its strangest feature by far is its arms, these being slim, mobile, and longer than I am tall, each with three fingers, each digit tipped with a three-foot-long claw.
Placid in nature, it seems to spend nearly all of its time waddling from tree to tree, slashing down and grasping foliage to cram into its constantly-chewing
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Chapter Six
Resources
None
Flaw
Bestial (Character cannot communicate or use tools)
Weapons Rating Size Attack (Average)
Bite 2 N -2 10 N (5) N
Horns 2 L -2 10 L (5) L
* Creatures with four or more legs double their Move rating when running
** Triceratops has a head plate that provides a +4 Passive Defense bonus to attacks from the front
*** Triceratops suffers a –2 Size penalty on Stealth rolls
Tyrannosaurus Rex
On the surface world, the famous Tyrannosaurus rex is usually presumed to be the most vicious predator in the history of all predators. Little did we know that even more frightening creatures existed! This is not to say that one should discount the ferocity of the “Tyrant Lizard” or its effectiveness as a predator. I do try most ardently to avoid being in the vicinity of this creature.
This startlingly speedy predator stands over 25 feet high, weighs more than 10 tons, and employs its dagger- sharp teeth quite effectively, if not neatly. A myriad of scavengers (including humans) stealthily and carefully follow the Tyrannosaur to feast on the ample leftovers that the careless beast leaves on its prey. It typically hunts herbivores, but a hungry Tyrannosaur will not hesitate to go after nearby predators.
There is great respect (and no small amount of fear!) among the natives for the Tyrannosaurus. On the rare occasion that one is killed, natives will scavenge the hide to make armor or shields. Indeed, I was once gifted a Tyrannosaurus rex shield when I shared my knowledge of the local flora with a grateful tribe. While I didn’t have particular need of a shield, I was able to trade it for the services of a truly wonderful and talented guide who had almost a magical way with the beasts of this world.
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Follower 3
Archetype: Dinosaur Motivation: Survival
Style: 0 Health: 16 Primary Attributes Body: 8 Charisma: 0 Dexterity: 4 Intelligence: 0 Strength: 8 Willpower: 4 Secondary Attributes Size: 4 Initiative: 4 Move: 12 Defense: 8 Perception: 6 Stun: 8
Skills Base Levels Rating (Average)
Triceratops
With its protective neck frill and trio of horns, the Triceratops is the quintessential Ceratopsidae, though certainly not the only one I observed in the Hollow Earth. Still, this distinctive dinosaur is quite a remarkable sight! They grow to approximately 28 feet long and 9 feet high, with a head a third the size of its sturdy, strong- limbed body. They live in mid-sized herds of 20-40 beasts, and prefer to eat plains grasses.
The Triceratops is one of the primary food sources for well-equipped natives, but it must be approached with caution. If its young are threatened, the beasts become as dangerous as any carnivore, if not more so. Its formidable horns are designed for charging thick- skinned predators, making them more than capable of goring a human with a quick stroke.