| Other Names | - |
| Climate/Terrain | Found only in the Desolation |
| Frequency | Uncommon |
| Organization | Solitary |
| Activity Cycle | Any |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The elekrin appears as a large segmented centipede. It is about 1.5 meters long with 50 pairs of legs. It's hard shell has a bluish, almost metallic, sheen. The head has sections, but nothing that resembles an eye. It's complex jaw structure has a large, sharp metallic looking proboscis.
The elekrin waits in hiding, either curled around a branch of a tree or laying in wait in the mud and moss underfoot. Either way, it hunts by ambush. It drops down from the trees above (or waits to be stepped on by a passing creature) and then quickly curls around the prey and unleashes a powerful jolt of electricity. This is typically enough to stun or even kill a man. Larger specimens are able to unleash more powerful jolts. The creature can recharge itself within a matter of minutes to unleash another jolt. Once it has stunned or killed its prey, the elekrin will pierce the victim with its sharp proboscis and drain it of all bodily fluids.
It should be noted that the elekrin has no eyes or ears or other sensory organs in the traditional sense. The creature hunts by sensing the electrical energy present in other living things. Invisibility, illusions and other such magic are of no use against this creature.
A dead elekrin can still deliver a jolt for several hours. The muscles and nerves responsible for releasing the energy can still function even after the creature is dead. Therefore, care must be taken when handling a freshly killed elekrin.
The elekrin is found only in the dreaded Desolation of Shidar and no where else in the world. There are rumors that some specimens have been captured and smuggled out of the Desolation, but this is unlikely. The creature inhabits the forests and swamplands within the Desolation. It hunts and feeds on a variety of creatures.
The elekrin is partially edible. If killed, there is a soft white flesh beneath the shell. However, there are several parts of the elekrin that are poisonous and will make a man sick for days if consumed. These poisons can taint the edible meat if care is not taken in preparation.
This creature lays an egg sack which contains a cluster of 12-16 small spherical metallic eggs.
This page last updated Wednesday, December 24, 2008. Copyright 1990-2009 David M. Roomes.