The long-abandoned subterranean ruins of the Builders have become the lairs to many creatures, and some even appear to have evolved to take advantage of this considerable ecological niche in the bowels of Xilos. Now, as you fight across the surface against common foe, you will have to deal with the local denizens striking from underneath!
Gulpers
Gulpers are amongst the largest Xilos arthropods, although it’s rather hard to tell how big they are because what is seen of them above ground is only the fore-portion of a much longer and bulkier burrowing creature. Although the visible part of their segmented bodies appear worm-like, this is merely the front or ‘neck’ part of a complex arthropod, similar in its general anatomy to smaller Snappers.
Moving under impassible terrain to appear suddenly from beneath troopers feet, when the Gulper assaults its prey there’s no time for point-blank shooting before it engulfs you in its multiple maws of serrated rotating teeth!
Drummer and Snappers
Snappers are fairly small arthropods that live in great numbers both in the jungles and amongst the ruins of Xilos. The explorers dub these creatures ‘snappers’ because of the snap-snap-snapping noise they make as they scuttle about in search of food. Snappers are communal animals that live in burrows in the ground, amongst leaf litter, and sometimes within the rotting carcasses of the world’s tree-like flora. They are common in the Builder ruins where they dig amongst the debris and prey upon other small animals as well as scavenging the carcasses of larger creatures.
Drummers are large, solitary arthropod predators, one of the most deadly creatures of the Xilos jungles. The explorers dub these powerful hunters ‘Drummers’ because the noise they make when they attack is like a staccato of drum beats. Whilst Drummers are essentially creatures of the jungles they can also be found deep in the subterranean ruins, where they squeeze along the passages made by smaller creatures such as Snappers.
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Sam Phillips