Lurkers
| Lurkers | |
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 Lurker, from A Safe Passage Through Britannia | |
| First appearance: | Underworld |
| Last appearance: | Underworld II |
This article is about a type of creature from the Ultima Underworld series. For the Titan of Water on Pagan sometimes called "The Lurker", see Hydros.
Lurkers are tentacled creatures which infest the waters of underground lakes. They appear in Ultima Underworld and Ultima Underworld II.
Description[edit]
Like the kraken of Britannia's seas, no full specimens of a lurker has been recovered, leaving much unknown about their anatomy. They are often seen with the top of their head peering just above the surface of the water, and are known to attack their prey a number of strong grasping tentacles.
Lurkers typically pose little danger to swimmers who are able to quickly disembark a given body of water, but can overwhelm adventurers who find themselves swimming out of reach of shore, particularly when they hunt in groups. Many lurkers are even bold enough to assault explorers at the edge of their waters, although those on land have little to fear from these beasts and may frequently be able pick them off at a safe distance using ranged weapons.
Deep Lurkers[edit]
In the deeper reaches of some underground systems, there lurks a larger, more aggressive variant of the lurker. Recognizable by their bright green coloration, these "Deep Lurkers" possess considerably more fortitude than their smaller cousins, and their bite is known to deliver a deadly venom.
Lore[edit]
| “ | For the most part, these tentacled monstrosities have been more of a nuisance than a threat. Lurkers dwell in the subterranean rivers and channels of the Abyss, and have never been seen on land. They are normally seen floating just below the surface of the water, with their eyes and yellow tentacles poking out above. We know of a few cases in which a Lurker has pursued a swimmer, and once a beast became so enraged that it lurked at the water's edge and attacked those along the shore. Knight Willomar tells of encountering a more ferocious variety of Lurker in the deeper catacombs. This Deep Lurker is reportedly a veritable giant. (We do not know if it is a lone monster, or one of a new sub-species.) Its great size could not be detected from the small profile it presented above the water, but the Deep Lurker should be recognizable by its distinctive green color. Willomar spent many days recovering from his battle, and was for a time wracked by a mysterious fever that poisoned his brain, but we do not know if the disease came from the monster or from some other source. – from Memoirs of Sir Cabirus (Ultima Underworld)
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| “ | Lurkers are usually seen floating just beneath the surface of a secluded lake or subterranean pool. They rest with their eyes and a few tentacles poking just above the surface, alert for predators or prey. In most cases, lurkers will not bother anyone who does not actually enter the water, although they may track a person's position, and follow along behind him. They present a greater danger in the water, however, as they are well-adapted to water-borne combat, and their body-mass alone is enough to bar a swimmer's way in a narrow strait. As lurkers sink out of sight when killed, it is unclear whether they breath air or water, or what shape their lower body takes. |
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