Tree Gator «Screps»

Description (Initial Observations): A small, tree-dwelling variety of mutant alligator, screps are bright red in color and easily visible among tree foliage. Despite their small size, screps are highly intelligent and possess manipulative hands on their fore- limbs as well as on their rear legs. Their tails are almost as prehensile as those of spider monkeys.These social and friendly creatures live in well-ordered communities among high treetops. They contruct nests from twigs, leaves, and stems, and use rudimentary tools to hollow out holes in trees for shel- ter. Some screps probably live out their entire 200-year lifespans without ever touching the ground. Some screps, being curious and fascinated by technology, carry small Tech II and Tech III devices and weapons, though this is not commonly done.Screps get along especially well with intelligent reptilian beings, but few crea- tures want to attack them anyway. This is probably due to a unique mutation screps possess, termed friendship generation. This unconscious mental mutation oper- ates continuously, and it produces an effect similar to the plant mutation allure- ment, in that anyone within its range may be persuaded that the mutant is a cher- ished ally who must be protected and defended at all costs. This is treated as a mental attack, with the mutants Mental Strength serving as both the range of the mutation in meters and the attackstrength. Since the presence of several mutants with this power requires individ- ual attack rolls for each, those who visit screp communities almost always report that those are the nicest places that any- one could ever imagine.Screps do have one enemy a mutant form of chuckwalla that has made its way into areas bordering screp forests. This creature is not very large, but it is raven- ously carnivorous and possesses a strong form of mental shield. Screps hate these creatures, known as guans, and often recruit friends to fight them.