Rubblerunners?

[carandol]

Currently reading Pavis Rises and thoroughly enjoying it. But one thing has me a bit puzzled - what's a rubblerunner? It's obviously something small that lives in ruins, and is probably something that long-time RQ fans know all about, but I'm relatively new to Glorantha and can't find any references to the creature anywhere else in the Mongoose RQ books.

Enquiring minds want to know!

 

[Deleriad]

Currently reading Pavis Rises and thoroughly enjoying it. But one thing has me a bit puzzled - what's a rubblerunner? It's obviously something small that lives in ruins, and is probably something that long-time RQ fans know all about, but I'm relatively new to Glorantha and can't find any references to the creature anywhere else in the Mongoose RQ books.

Enquiring minds want to know!

As one player mentioned. Rubble Runners don't exist yet due to lack of rubble.

More seriously, they're old favourites from previous editions. Something like a rat crossed with an armadillo with over half of its body being mouth. I *think* they may be in the MRQ1 monsters SRD but I wouldn't swear to it. Check out Mr Qwiki.

 

[carandol]

As one player mentioned. Rubble Runners don't exist yet due to lack of rubble.

Ah, but they're an absolute pest in people's rock gardens!

More seriously, they're old favourites from previous editions. Something like a rat crossed with an armadillo with over half of its body being mouth. I *think* they may be in the MRQ1 monsters SRD but I wouldn't swear to it. Check out Mr Qwiki.

Mr Qwicki knows nothing of them. But your description is enough for now! I just wanted to know if I was supposed to be picturing something like a rat or something like a goblin or something like a centipede. Thanks!

 

[Deleriad]

from the Buserian index:

Jrusteli Systematic Name: Pavicursor rudiBazak are better known as Rubble Runner,Bazak are large rodents with scale-armored hide (like an armadillo) and large jaws lined with razor-sharp teeth. Adult bazak are about a foot and a half in length, but a single animal poses no threat to most skilled warriors; bazak rarely carry infection. Unfortunately, they almost invariably appear in packs of a dozen or more.Bazak are nocturnal, and shelter through the day in caves and tunnels. They are relatively poor burrowers, and so usually live where cover is widely available. As their common name of "rubble runner" implies, they are particularly common in and around ancient ruins.The Bazak were unknown until their appearance during the Great Darkness. They are typical of the monsters of that era in their fierceness and survival urges.

oh and found this too:

 

[carandol]

Ew! Scary!

Thanks!

 

[Deleriad]

By the way I do have brief campaign notes for Pavis Rises on my wiki. It is full of spoilers so don't let any players go there.

 

[Ultor]

These are the basic stats from Chaosium RQ2. Don't know if Pavis Rises has stats for them or not.

STR 1d6
CON 3d6
SIZ 1d4
POW 1d6+6
DEX 2d6+6

(INT & CHA: Animal)

Move 6 (slower than human)
Armor: 2pt skin

Bite 25% 1d6

Special: When a Rubble Runner bites, it clings on. Roll each round "to see if attack is critical and inflicts damage" - I'd make it any successful attack the equivalent of an Impale, so you have to pull the damn thing off (and suffer damage), kill it or take a -20% penalty for each runner you have hanging off you.

On their own, not a problem. A pack of them could be nasty.

 

[soltakss]

When you are a starting adventurer, they can be scary and deadly. Once you have a few spells then they are just annoyances,

However, if you are crawling through a collapsed house and can't use your weapons and you hear a scurrying noise ahead of you then you'd better watch out.

By the way, Pavis is built on the giant city (can't remember it's name at the moment) on top of Robcradle, so there are plenty of ruins even in the Second Age.

 

[carandol]

Thanks for the stats. There are none in Pavis Rises, or any other Mongoose RQ product so far as I know, which is why I was confused!

The ruins they inhabit were caused when giants came in 800 SA and stomped on Robcradle in revenge for some cradle-robbing.

 

[kurgan84]

These are the basic stats from Runequest Monster II for MRQI (page 111):

STR 1D6 (4)
CON 3D6 (11)
DEX 2D6+6 (13)
SIZ 1D4 (3)
INT 4 (4)
POW 1D6+6 (10)
CHA 2 (2)

Combat Actions: 3
Strike Rank: +9
Movement: 6m
Traits: Night Sight
Skills: Stealth 55%, Survival 20%, Tracking 40%
Typical Armour: Thick Hide (AP 1, no Skill Penalty)
Bite 40% 1D6–1D6

When a rubble runner hits with its Bite attack, any subsequent Bite attacks upon the same target from the same rubble runner cannot be Dodged or parried that Combat Round.