SPLUGORTH
Role: The Big Bad, Jovial Monsters
PL 16 (465)
(PL 20 Defensively)
STRENGTH 11 STAMINA 20 AGILITY 3
FIGHTING 13 DEXTERITY 4
INTELLIGENCE 5 AWARENESS 5 PRESENCE 5
Skills:
Deception 9 (+14)
Expertise (Business) 7 (+12)
Expertise (Magic) 11 (+16)
Expertise (Current Events) 7 (+12)
Insight 4 (+9)
Intimidation 6 (+11, +14 Size)
Perception 6 (+11)
Advantages:
Benefit (Ambidexterity), Close Attack 5, Improved Critical (Unarmed) 2, Fast Grab, Improved Hold, Languages 3 (Several), Ranged Attack 12, Ritualist
Powers:
Protection 5 (Extras: Impervious 13) [18]
Extra Limbs 6 [6]
Movement 1 (Slithering) [2]
Senses 5 (Low-Light Vision, Vision Penetrates Concealment) [5]
Regeneration 10 (Feats: Regrow Limbs) [11]
Immunity 5 (Suffocation, Drowning, Pressure, Mind Control) [5]
Growth 6 (Str & Sta +6, +6 Mass, +3 Intimidation, -3 Dodge/Parry, -6 Stealth) -- (21 feet) (Feats: Innate) (Extras: Permanent +0) [13]
Teleport 12 (Extras: Extended, Accurate) (48) -- [51]
- AE: Movement 3 (Dimensional Travel 3) (6)
- AE: "MDC Punch" Strength-Damage +3 (3)
Variable 14 (Magic Powers) [98]
Variable 11 (Psychic Powers) [77]
(All Ley Line Walker Powers, Stone Master Powers & Magic, Create Magic Tattoos)
(One Extra Area of Magic- Bio-Wizardry, Shifter, or Diabolist)
(Psionics: All Sensitive, Healing & Super-Psionic Powers)
Offense:
Unarmed +18 (+14 Damage, DC 29)
Initiative +3
Defenses:
Dodge +5 (DC 15), Parry +16 (DC 26), Toughness +24, Fortitude +20, Will +12
Complications:
Motivation (Greed & Power)
Vulnerable (Silver, Magic)- Both types of weapons do triple-damage.
Total: Abilities: 110 / Skills: 50--25 / Advantages: 26 / Powers: 286 + Magic/Psionics / Defenses: 18 (465)
-And now we finally come to the SPLUGORTH- probably the closest thing the world of Rifts has to a Big Bad. While the Coalition is the Evil Empire, and there are various other nightmarish things all over this world, none hold a candle in sheer power and influence to THESE guys. And, because it's Rifts, they do it in the laziest way possible- not through unique powers, incredible feats, or any of that stuff- they just pump them full of tens of thousands of MDC and say "They have All the Magic & Psionics" because it's easier that way. Like most major NPC things in the game, the race carries a huge aura of "You're not meant to kill this".
-The Splugorth are a race of slavers, conquerers and dishonest businessmen known throughoug the "Megaverse", and invaded and settled Atlantis soon after the Coming of the Rifts. Realizing that the Earth was too ravaged by all sorts of demons & monsters, and would be impossible to hold given all the rifts throughout, Lord Splynncryth, their leader on the planet, accepted that simply holding one dimensional hub and manipulating things on Earth would be a much better deal, and profitable in the long run. And so this tremendous, unbeatable threat lives on in Atlantis, with much of the world being ignorant. It's actually a neat little situation in many cases- they're INCREDIBLE powerhouses, have "All The Powers", and want to rule everything, but they're quite happy where they are, so they're not some hopeless, inevitable monster that will take over the whole planet. They're horribly evil (they take slaves and conquer worlds, after all), but are hardly pointlessly malicious- in fact, many of their minion races ADORE THEM, as they legitimately owe their lives to the Splugorth, who were open and honest in their dealings- both the Kydians and Kittani were rescued from certain doom by their masters, in return for servitude- the races appear to have accepted this bargain happily.
-The Splugorth are horrible, lumpy monstrosities with multiple tentacles, some toothy and some not, with a large central eye braced by spines. I kind of like how they have this "Alien Intelligence" look to them, but are personable, understandable creatures. They are focused on Magic & Psionics, rarely dealing with technology. And most of all, they're GREEDY- they wheel and deal for money and influence as much as anything else. The Splugorth appear in pretty much every single World Book, usually with a tiny paragraph outlining what they think of the situation in various places- they favor D-Bees & Monsters over humans, but are happy to just observe, manipulate, and record, playing both sides against each other and hoping to pick up what's left. Ultimately, they're businessmen.
-In terms of power, their Atlantean home is impregnable- Splugorth themselves have thousands of MDC and are basically unstoppable Regenerating monsters, and their Minions are almost always tougher than Dragons. Their armies are huge, with "thousand-plus" MDC minions numbering in the MILLIONS. Basically, nobody on Earth has a hope of invading Atlantis. It kind of prevents the players from ass-hattery and just wrecking the joint. Only the sheer size of other forces (the Coalition, NGR, Gargoyle Empire, and more) prevents them from just taking over... never mind all the random invasions from the rifts.
-The Splugorth are among the toughest things in the game- Lord Splynncryth has 56,000 MDC, and that's actually a MID-TIER SCORE for their race. They have insane Regeneration, and are lazily given all Ley Line Powers, three other Magic types, three kinds of Psionics, and more, meaning they're incredibly versatile. Their version of "Call Lightning" would do 10D6 MD, for example (pushing Blast 20). And they don't really "die" until taken past -4000 MDC, which would take an army of Glitter Boys several rounds to even have a hope of accomplishing. Even without all their powers statted out (no way am I attempting that), they are +24 Toughness and PL 16 unarmed.