THE OCTOPI OF THE

NINTH WORLD
BY MONTE COOK
 A BRIEF LOOK AT
THE OCTOPUS
WHY OCTOPI?
The moment I knew I truly understood the
setting of the Ninth World (because it takes
Octopi in the Ninth
World, page 171 a while for a creator to truly understand Throughout this book, you’ll see page
their own creation—any creator who doesn’t references to various items accompanied
realize that probably hasn’t yet reached that by this symbol. These are page
point) was when I wrote a simple bit of text references to the Numenera corebook,
Credits for the Numenera corebook. That text read: where you can find additional details
Writer/Designer about that item, place, creature, or
Monte Cook
Many believe that the octopi bear little concept. It isn’t necessary to look up the
Creative Director
Shanna Germain affection for humans. Hundreds of years referenced items in the corebook, but
Editor ago, when the first human encountered doing so will provide useful information
Dennis Detwiller them and was able to establish some kind of for character creation and gameplay.
Proofreader communication (thanks to a numenera device),
Ray Vallese
the only response he got from the octopus was
Cover Artist
Jacob Atienza
an enigmatic, “Oh. You’re back.” old as a species. It’s not hard to believe
that they would be the one species left a
Graphic Designer
Bear Weiter That was the moment everything gelled, billion years from now. They’re intelligent,
Artists because right there, that little passage adaptable, and resilient. It’s also easy to
Sam Cullum, answers one of the more common questions imagine that as all sorts of strange things
Dreamstime.com,
Guido Kuip, Michael asked of the setting: how could there still happened on the surface, they stuck to the
Phillippi, Kim Sokol, be humans, in their recognizable form, in a ocean deeps and stayed out of harm’s way.
Hugo Solis
billion years? The answer: there couldn’t. The Of course, the octopi of the Ninth World
Monte Cook Games
Editorial Board
humans of the Ninth World simply haven’t aren’t really the same as they are now. They
Scott C. Bourgeois, occupied the Earth for that long. They’ve have indeed evolved and adapted in strange
David Wilson Brown, been gone. Many—perhaps even all—of the ways. Although we know that today’s octopi
Eric Coates, Gareth
Hodges, Mila Irek, prior worlds were made up of nonhumans. are tool users and builders, we see that in the
Jeremy Land, Laura In a way, then, we learn that that common Ninth World they’ve built cities and crafted
Wilkinson, Marina
Wold, George Ziets question—how can humans still be here?— technologies. What’s more, they’ve mastered
isn’t even the right question to be asking. Are other species. Some have developed
© 2016 Monte Cook
Games, LLC
the inhabitants of the Ninth World even the telepathic abilities. They are, in many respects,
same species as 21st-century humans? Did the true masters of all of the ocean, and that’s
Numenera and its
logo are trademarks of humans evolve a second time? What’s going the majority of the planet.
Monte Cook Games, on here? Time travel? Stasis? A really deep
LLC in the U.S.A.
and other countries. space voyage made as a round trip? Those
All Monte Cook are the real questions. THE OCTOPI
Games characters
and character names, Secondly, we get a glimpse at the only AND THEIR WORLD
and the distinctive known species that has remained constant The entirety of the world, to (most) octopi,
likenesses thereof, are
trademarks of Monte
during all that time. Here in the 21st century, is beneath the waves. The surface has little
Cook Games, LLC. we know that octopi are already extremely or no importance to them. Most rarely think

2
 THE OCTOPI OF THE NINTH WORLD

of it. A few of the curious or adventurous flourishes for a few million years, and then
might seek to explore the surface world, a either leaves or dies out. In that time, the
few of the ambitious or insane might want to new creatures likely make quite a fuss—
colonize it, but most just simply do not care. consuming natural resources, changing the
Underwater, the octopi are omnipresent environment, populating the land and the
and extremely powerful. Not because of sea, inflicting incredible destruction in wars
physical might, but because of intelligence or raising up fantastic creations, and so
and organization. They’re smarter than on—but to the octopi, even ten million years The long view of time
most sea creatures and their organization is a short, temporary stint. Thus, octopuses that the octopi possess
is unprecedented, and
is vast. They develop their own impressive have little to share about the prior worlds, is very likely impossible
technologies. They manipulate creatures even if they wanted to. To them, the worlds for a human to truly
to act against other creatures, playing one are fleeting. They are simply not worth comprehend.
off the other to get what they want in vast, noting. Some people believe that long ago,
almost incomprehensible machinations. octopuses were solitary, nonsocial creatures
Many marine creatures, intelligent and that communicated through their skin’s
not so intelligent, serve the octopuses. ability to shift colors. If true, that all ended
Of course, many—particularly the less when octopi evolved telepathic powers.
intelligent ones—likely don’t even know They still have the means of communicating
it. Creatures from fish to crustaceans to subtly through changes in skin color and
cephalopods are herded and manipulated texture, but they do so rarely. They’ve never
by the octopodes into living their entire lives had a verbal language and their need to write
where and how the octopuses wish it. With is quite limited. Even today, among the most
time on their side, being essentially ageless sophisticated octopuses, perhaps one in ten
beings ruling over a billion-year (or possibly can read and write.
longer) empire, they have likely engineered
entire species by influencing the tide of OCTOPUS OUTLOOK
evolution one way or another. There are many varieties of octopuses, but
That does not mean, however, that they share basic physical and personality The plural of octopus can
be octopi, octopuses, or
octopi associate with other creatures. On traits. Most believe that their form has not
octopodes.
the contrary, their manipulation and use of changed drastically in the last billion and a
other species means that all other creatures half years. Generally speaking, octopuses are
are so far below them that none are worth aloof to the point of xenophobia. They rarely
interacting with. They pay attention to willingly mix with other intelligent species
other creatures the way they might pay (aquatic or otherwise). Interaction with
attention to the currents or subtle changes in non-octopodes seems to be a futile waste of
temperature. time to most. It’s like talking to a stone, or—
perhaps more accurately—a spark from a fire
OCTOPUS HISTORY before it winks out.
No one knows the history of the octopi, and Even among their own kind, octopi are not
they aren’t telling. What they do say is that the most social creatures. Each lives alone
they have always been as sophisticated and in its own small space and enjoys solitude.
advanced as they are now. They have, in their Procreation among octopi is discouraged
own minds, no origin tale. because they are essentially immortal, so
Even though the scale and scope of time breeding risks overpopulation. Procreation is
involved makes it seem unlikely, the octopi also a dangerous time for octopi, for ancient
have watched the evolution of other species. instincts encourage risky breeding behaviors
They have seen them come and go. They’ve that can kill an individual (male or female)
watched as new civilizations have risen and that is not careful.
fallen—reshaping the globe more than once Only over hundreds of millions of
with their knowledge—and for the most part, years did they learn that true success and
they’ve stayed well clear of all of them. security needed at least a certain amount of
From their perspective, a new intelligent cooperation. And that required leadership—
race evolves or arrives from elsewhere, and thus a queen.

3
 Nilstones, page 6 COMMUNICATION AND THE QUEEN’S COURT
The Queen of All Octopuses ORGANIZATION The queen is aloof and arrogant in the
is the sovereign ruler of Using their telepathy, enhanced with extreme. She rarely speaks with anyone
all octopuses. For more
details, see Into the Deep, nilstones, octopi can relay messages across other than to give orders, but she receives
page 46. vast distances. This allows the Queen of All vast amounts of information on a continual
The Bay of Peyclin is a deep
Octopuses to be kept abreast of activities basis from all over the world. Her intellect
and cold body of water that happening literally on the other side of the is such that she can store and process all of
is home to an intelligent and planet. She is, thus, not only aware but at that information. Rumors suggest that her
aggressive species of octopus.
For more details, see the least in some ways involved in the actions of brain is actually tied into an extradimensional
Ninth World Guidebook, the seemingly rogue “nation” of octopi in the biomechanical device that does data storage
page 194.
Bay of Peyclin. And of course, there are many and processing. The Octopoidal Queen has
Octopus, page 12 such octopus nations and kingdoms beneath a palace off the coast of Draolis, in the deep
Her Majesty, Queen of All the waves, seemingly independent to one inlet called Eldan Firth. She travels extensively,
Octopuses: as standard degree or another thanks to—if nothing however, and has many other residences.
octopus, except: level 10
in all regards; health 45;
else—vast distances separating them, but in One such place is associated with the Coral
Armor 5; telepathic powers truth all serve the queen. Cathedral, but that’s just one of many dozens
and level 10 nilstones grant It is odd to think of octopuses—being located all across the world. Few octopuses
telekinesis at long range,
a mental blast (10 points the aloof and solitary creatures that they know the locations of all of them.
of Intellect damage that are—as having any organization at all, let In addition to the queen, there are five
ignores Armor) at long
range, and three or four alone one that allows them to exert influence octopuses of note worth detailing.
other abilities as needed throughout all reaches of the undersea
world. Because of this, their organization Crophus: Crophus is as arrogant as the
does not resemble anything in human queen herself, and keeps his own council
Draolis, page 148
culture. An individual octopus may not see most of the time. He spends his days
Eldan Firth, page 171 or speak to another individual for hundreds observing and gathering information
of years. It is a loose confederacy at best. regarding some of the other intelligent
The Coral Cathedral is the Still, all recognize the value of the queen underwater creatures, like the skeane and the
underwater palace of the and her court, for the order and stability that vroaordun. He would like to see octopodes
Queen of All Octopuses.
For more details, see Into she provides makes life—in the long, long take a firmer hand in subjugating such
the Deep, page 46. view—better, easier, and safer for all octopi. species, so that—for example—no octopus
Crophus: as standard was needed to serve as a guard or warrior.
octopus, except: Intellect- He would, if he could, see slave races
based tasks as level 8, all
other tasks as level 6; health
perform such duties.
35; Armor 3; telepathic
powers and level 8 nilstones
grant clairvoyance at an
CROPHUS
almost unlimited range; and
two or three other abilities
as needed

NIELM

4
 THE OCTOPI OF THE NINTH WORLD

Nielm: Scheming and sinister, Nielm would Erranamol: For an octopus, Erranamol is Nielm: as standard
octopus, except: stealth
secretly like to become queen herself one downright altruistic. While he fully supports and deception tasks as
day. She spends much of her time in the his kind’s manipulation of other species, level 8, all other tasks as
level 5; health 32; Armor
queen’s palace in Eldan Firth, attempting to he argues that it should be done for mutual 2; telepathic powers and
garner secrets to use for herself. Still, she benefit. Erranamol believes that the only way level 8 nilstones grant
clairvoyance, disguise, and
is outwardly friendly to the queen, and a to truly advance his kind is to advance and invisibility powers; and two
useful advisor and informant. Of all current aid others as well. An ecosystem that is safe other abilities as needed
members of the court, she is the one most and fruitful helps all species, he would argue.
Erranamol: as standard
intrigued by the inhabitants of the surface Most scoff at his long telepathic speeches on octopus, except: Intellect-
and their use of the numenera. More than all the topic, but the queen apparently finds him based tasks as level 7, all
other tasks as level 5; health
others, she sees the strange but undeniable amusing. 32; telepathic powers and
parallels between octopodes and humans level 7 nilstones grant Armor
3 and two or three other
in their ubiquity across and fragile mastery Derrob: Fiercely loyal to the queen, Derrob abilities as needed
of their respective environments. However, is interested first and foremost in the
Derrob: as standard
she would not be nearly so generous as to advancement of her kind. She focuses octopus, except: Intellect-
suggest that humans are as intelligent or much of her time and attention on octopus based tasks as level 7;
powerful as the octopi. warriors, their skills, and their weaponry. attacks, and all defense,
in all other tasks as level
She, and she alone on the court, would like 6; health 40; telepathic
Yufrenics: Incredibly intelligent, even by to see her kind develop a more cohesive powers and level 8
nilstones grant a forceblast
the standards of his own kind, Yufrenics is military. It is believed that she has strong ties (9 points of damage),
bizarre, and perhaps mad. He works with all to the octopuses of Peyclin Bay. Armor 4, and two or three
other (probably combat-
manner of technologies, and spends a great related) abilities as needed
deal of time exploring other dimensions. The
queen loves him and his insane creativity. OCTOPUS TECHNOLOGY Yufrenics: as standard
octopus, except: Intellect-
He is, in turn, entirely loyal to her. Yufrenics People who encounter octopuses usually based tasks as level 10,
himself provided the queen with her current believe that they have inexplicable, mystical all other tasks as level
7; health 30; telepathic
array of nilstones and any other devices she powers. Even those learned in the ways of powers and level 8
might use. He has a vast network of deep the numenera note that octopuses do not nilstones grant Armor 4,
and at least three or four
sea laboratories thousands of miles west of usually wield recognizable devices of any other abilities as needed
the Steadfast, with resources and personnel kind. This is because octopus technology
that would rival those of an entire surface takes two forms, and neither presents itself
kingdom. as obvious devices using electricity with Steadfast, page 136
buttons or screens.

DERROB
YUFRENICS

ERRANAMOL
5
 BIOTECHNOLOGY will of an octopus. The octopi have used it to
Through unknown means, octopuses shape create objects called nilstones, but non-octopi
and control living organisms like tools. The who have gotten their hands on illavium
Coral Cathedral, for example, was formed by have been able to use it to create objects that
creating specific types of coral and controlling heal damage, or add the mineral to existing
them to craft particular shapes and spaces. objects so they heal existing damage.
Another form of biotechnology arises from Nilstones: Physical octopus technology
the octopuses’ ability to alter themselves. uses what are called nilstones. Small objects
They closely guard these secrets, but when of what look like mundane stone, the
they need to, an octopus might be able to nilstones contain millions of ultraterrestrial
use a subtle application of a specialized nanoparticles receptive to octopus telepathy.
substance to gain the ability to fight better, Depending on the design, a nilstone can
The natural lifespan of swim faster, or do something even more be used as a weapon, a tool, or even more
an octopus is 15 to 20 dramatic. These alterations are usually fantastic things.
years. Advances in self-
engineering, however,
temporary, basically making them seem Spatial Expansion: Octopus technology
have increased this to like cyphers from a human perspective. sometimes incorporates an unknown means
a virtually unlimited However, they are difficult for nonhumans of expanding space. This is not so much an
number of years, making to use, as they are small capsules that must extradimensional space, nor does it create
octopi essentially
immortal. This “gift” is be broken, with a tiny bit of liquid inside a “bigger on the inside than the outside”
bestowed upon octopuses that is designed to be absorbed through the effect. Instead, the device literally creates
on behalf of the queen skin. For a human to use a capsule, it must more space. It expands the size of the
by her representatives. It
be placed in the eye and then broken so the universe on a minute scale. Instantly created
is one of the prime (but
subtle) ways in which liquid enters the body directly. This is painful. atmosphere (or, much more likely, water)
the queen maintains Some of the biotechnological alterations comes into being to fill the new space. If this
control over her kind. are permanent, more or less. Over the technology is used near the ocean floor (or,
Octopi serve their
monarch because she
millennia, these alterations have enhanced in theory, on the ground on the surface), land
literally grants them octopus brains, physiques, sizes, and ability. also is created by the effect, as similar as
everlasting life. Isolated The creatures have, in a sense, taken control possible to the original land at the point of
“rogue” octopi who reject of their own evolution. activation. The device does not create living
the queen’s rule do not
have this gift, but the One secret that the octopodes guard creatures or plants, nor any kind of organic
draw of avoiding death particularly well is their virtual immortality. material. Octopuses use this technology to
is so compelling that For all intents and purposes, they have instantly create cavelike homes within what
they never last very long
arrested the very concept of aging, and were once tiny crevices in a small rock, or
before returning to the
fold, as it were. And of they did so long ago. Although modern to turn a small cave into a much larger one.
course, the stalwarts die octopodes are still vulnerable to harm, They use it as a weapon to create empty
in 15 to 20 years, which barring violence, they do not die. The current spaces inside the bodies of their enemies.
is but a blink of an eye in
the way that immortal queen, for example, is well over a million They use it for defense to put space between
octopi look at time. years old. themselves and a foe. Use of this technology
Niol: Niols are water sacs that allow over the last billion years or so has actually
octopi to breathe out of water and keep their increased the size of Earth, although no one
flesh moist. Without a niol, an octopus can knows for sure how much.
survive for only a few minutes out of the Swim Portals: Octopuses have perfected
water. But so equipped, they can last for two the technology of instantaneous travel
to three hours. by harnessing transdimensional spatial
warping. They call these “swim portals,”
ULTRATERRESTRIAL TECHNOLOGY and they are designed so that only octopi
Long ago, octopuses broke down the barriers can use them. Most are hoops of illavium
between universes. They explored these no larger than 2 feet (60 cm) across. By
strange regions and eventually discovered a swimming through one narrow hoop and
world called Ujehaar. The thing they found exiting from another, an octopus can cross
most significant about Ujehaar is a mineral vast distances. Swim portals help the queen
called illavium. Through means mysterious, rule what is very likely the largest empire on
this material hosts nanoparticles that obey the Earth.

6
 THE OCTOPI OF THE NINTH WORLD

OCTOPUS WEAPONRY POLAR TOUCH

AND DEFENSE Level: 1d6 + 3
In melee, octopus warriors use harpoonlike Form: Long pike with a softly glowing nodule
weapons or grapple with their tentacles. That at the tip rather than a sharp point
said, they rarely engage in melee. Most of Effect: The tip of this long melee weapon
their offensive and defensive capabilities are drastically and immediately lowers the
telepathically triggered nanotechnological temperature of whatever it touches.
devices of their creation. This means that A target struck by this weapon suffers
only beings with some kind of telepathic points of damage equal to the artifact’s All octopi spend at least
or mental abilities, or those trained at level. Use of a polar touch underwater a portion of their lives
in an alternate universe,
harnessing the power of nanoparticles (such (which is most of the time) also freezes seemingly comprised
as many nanos), can activate these weapons. the water around the target. Characters entirely of liquid, that
Octopi warriors can affix devices called who fail a Might defense roll are hindered they call the Roil. For
additional information
phlun to their mouths, envenoming their bite for one round, which increases the
on the Roil, see Into the
with a level 4 poison that inflicts 4 points of difficulty of all physical actions by one Deep, page 52.
Speed damage (ignores Armor). step.
Rarely, a warrior wields a special Depletion: 1 in 1d20
underwater dart thrower that works just like
one might on the surface, but fires easily OCTOPUS CYPHERS
through the water.
SAFE DISTANCE
OCTOPUS ARTIFACTS Level: 1d6 + 2
Usable: A cube about 1.5 inches (4 cm) to a
BOILING ROD side, made of utterly ordinary stone
Level: 1d6 + 3 Effect: The space between the user and
Form: Short baton with a glowing red nodule an adjacent target increases to a long
at one tip distance. The device literally “stretches”
Effect: Inflicts points of damage equal to space to accomplish this—or to put it
the artifact’s level on anyone touched by another way, the device expands space.
the tip. Use of a boiling rod underwater This is a permanent change.
(which is most of the time) creates a
cloud of steamy bubbles that obscure TRANSPOSITION
vision like fog. They persist for one round Level: 1d6
after each use. Usable: A cube about 1.5 inches (4 cm) to a
Depletion: 1 in 1d20 side, made of utterly ordinary stone
Effect: The user and one object or creature
BURSTER within long range switch places in space.
Level: 1d6 + 4
Form: Pair of synth spheres with a curved
handle
Effect: Affects a target within short range,
causing a terrible rent to burst in its flesh.
Against a nonliving target, the burster
likewise tears matter apart, expanding the
space between the existing portions. The
potential victim makes a Might defense
roll. On a success, nothing occurs. On a
failure, the victim sustains damage equal
to the artifact’s level.
Depletion: 1 in 1d20

7
 THE BAY OF PEYCLIN
The Bay of Peyclin is home to a very intelligent and UNDERWATER LOCALES
aggressive nation of octopi. The waters of the bay are The Scuttling City: An interconnected network of
very deep and cold, and the octopi are at home in these spheres made of coral, glass, stone, metal, and synth,
dark depths, as well as in the shallows near the shores. the Scuttling City moves along the ocean floor by
They have communities and underwater fortresses in means of mechanical tentacles on the underside of
both places. These octopi want to establish a foothold each sphere, although at any given time, only about
on dry land, but the initial step that is required— half the spheres are close enough to the floor to use
creating a structure that could be filled with water to them. The spheres shift and move, so the city is always
enable them to survive—proves difficult. changing in configuration. The octopi use it as a center
In the meantime, to explore dry land, the octopi use for numenera research and craftwork of all kinds.
devices called niols to let them breathe and keep their The Crystal Garden: A collection of natural crystals,
flesh moist. Still, they move slowly and awkwardly on ranging from gigantic shards at least 50 feet (15 m)
land. long to tiny slivers, lie scattered in a massive jumble
To deal with this issue, the Peyclin octopi have in the middle of the bay. The octopi tend a collection
engineered a creature called an apricari. This construct of bioluminescent fish here, and the lights play in
has almost no brain of its own, but instead has a strange and amazing colors, particularly for those
place for an octopus to fulfill that role. Essentially, the who wear special goggles developed by the octopi that
octopus drives the apricari like a living vehicle, moving transform the colors and lights into a mind-expanding
about on dry land. The apricari recycles water, so the experience. Participating in this experience may be
octopus within can survive indefinitely. the closest the octopi of the bay get to a religious
Unlike most of their kind, the Peyclin octopi raid ceremony.
ships and sometimes small coastal villages. Guhaquah: Made entirely of coral and stone, with
The ocean floor in this area holds as many a single metal sphere at its center, Guhaquah is the
numenera-filled ruins as can be found on dry land— throne city of the octopi. The octopi are ruled by a
perhaps more. The octopuses explore and sometimes council of eight individuals that meld into a single
inhabit these places. fugue entity when together, wielding an array of
powerful psychic abilities.
The interior of the sphere is filled with air, but it is
also free of gravity. The octopi are extremely adept at
maneuvering in a gravityless environment, doing so as
easily as they move through the water.

8
 THE OCTOPI OF THE NINTH WORLD

OCTOPUS PLAYER
CHARACTERS
In a campaign where underwater exploration Inability: You don’t work well with non-
will be common, an octopus player character octopi. When dealing with such creatures, In a campaign where the
(PC) might work well. Obviously, the deeps the difficulty of pleasant social interaction is PCs will spend most of
their time on the surface,
are the octopi’s native environment, and they increased by one step.
an octopus PC could
can maneuver easily and survive the dangers Inability: You have a sensitive, relatively be mounted within an
there better than a human. As is the case delicate system. The difficulty of Might apricari.
with a visitant or other nonhumans, a PC defense rolls is increased by one step.
Apricari, page 11
wishing to play an octopus should take the Inability: Your innate telepathy makes you
Octopus descriptor. receptive to mental attacks. The difficulty of
Intellect defense rolls is increased by one
step.
OCTOPUS (DESCRIPTOR) Dry Land Limitations: You move only an
You are an eight-armed cephalopod. While immediate distance on dry land, and cannot
you are strong for your size, you are relatively jump. You have a weakness in both Might A weakness is the opposite
small and weak compared to, say, a human. and Speed. You cannot survive longer than of Edge. All expenditures
from the Pool of the
You move easily through the water and can an hour out of the water. related stat increase by 1.
use a natural camouflage to hide. Your body Initial Link to the Starting Adventure:
is surprisingly malleable, allowing you to From the following list of options, choose
move through very tight spaces. Your senses how you became involved in the first
are sharp, particularly your sense of touch, adventure.
which is so sensitive that you can detect 1. These surface dwellers would be lost
movement around you in the water. without you while they’re underwater.
Octopodes are often arrogant and aloof, 2. One of the other PCs saved your life,
feared and misunderstood by most other and you grudgingly want to repay this debt.
creatures. 3. The other PCs know something you
Agile: +2 to your Speed Pool. want to know.
Intelligent: +2 to your Intellect Pool. 4. You have your own agenda, but
Fragile and Weak: –2 to your Might Pool. the other PCs were headed in the same
Skill: You are trained in swimming, direction.
climbing, and contortion.
Skill: You are trained in perception while in
the water. WIELDS A NILSTONE
Ink: While underwater, you can fill an (FOCUS)
immediate radius with dark ink that blocks Octopuses use ultradimensional
vision. The ink dissipates within one minute. technologies to obtain small stones called
Your ability to do this is restored after you nilstones. Activated by octopus telepathy,
take a 10-hour rest. these tiny devices grant great nanite-based
Limited Telepathy: You can speak powers to a wielder that masters their
telepathically with any other octopus within use. Traditionally, only octopuses can use
short range. nilstones, but it might be possible for a

9
 rare specimen from another species to Once activated, your power has an effective
utilize them, assuming they have inherent Might Pool of 10, a Might Edge of 1, and
telepathic abilities. an Effort of 2 (approximately equal to the
Most of those who wield nilstones are strength of a fit, capable, adult human), and
nanos or jacks, but glaives could certainly you can use it to move objects, push against
use many of their combat-related abilities as objects, and so on. For example, you could
well. lift and pull a light object anywhere within
Connection: Choose one of the following. range to yourself or move a heavy object
1. Pick one other PC. This PC seems to (like a piece of furniture) about 10 feet (3 m).
covet your nilstone. You keep it out of their This power lacks the fine control to wield a
reach whenever possible. weapon or move objects with much speed,
2. Pick one other PC. Your nilstone so in most situations, it’s not a means of
shudders and shakes when they are next to attack. You can’t use this ability on your own
you. You have no idea why. body. The power lasts for one hour or until
3. Pick one other PC. When using your its Might Pool is depleted, whichever comes
True Telepathy power, you can contact them first. Action.
telepathically within a mile range.
4. Pick one other PC. No matter what you Tier 3: Forceblast (3 Intellect points). You
do, you cannot communicate with them launch an attack of pure psychokinetic force
telepathically. at a target within long range, inflicting 6
Additional Equipment: You possess a points of damage. Action.
nilstone. This ultraterrestrial object taps into
your inherent mental abilities and grants Tier 4: Clairvoyance (4 Intellect points). You
you the powers detailed below. Without the can see a location familiar to you within 10
nilstone, you cannot use any of the abilities miles (16 km) as if you were there. You can
granted by this focus, so guard it well. If you rotate your field of vision but you cannot
lose your nilstone, you can attempt to gain a move your point of view. This lasts as long
Coral Cathedral, Into the new one at the Coral Cathedral. as you concentrate (taking no other actions).
Deep, page 46 Minor Effect Suggestion: Your natural Action.
telepathy gives you a few details about what Minor Kinetic Shield. You surround
an opponent or nearby bystander is thinking. yourself with a telekinetic force field. You
Major Effect Suggestion: A foe in combat gain +1 to Armor. Enabler.
is stunned by your telepathic might, losing
their next action. Tier 5: Multitasking (5 Intellect points). You
use your complex sensory organs and the
Tier 1: True Telepathy (1 Intellect point). You neural network that runs through your arms,
extend your natural telepathy so that it has enhanced with the power of your nilstone, to
long range, and allows you to communicate take two additional actions in the round in
with any intelligent being for up to ten which you use this ability.
minutes. Action to initiate.
Tier 6: Greater Kinetic Shield. Your telekinetic
Tier 2: Psychokinesis (2 Intellect points). You force field now offers +3 to Armor rather than
can exert force on objects within short range. +1. Enabler.

10
 THE OCTOPI OF THE NINTH WORLD

APRICARI 4 (12)

Below the dark waves lie deeper breeding pits where octopi forge living things the way
humans might forge a tool or a sword. Apricari are some of the most successful spawn from
these pits, brought to the surface in shining white egg-sacs and released on the shore.
Octopi of the Peyclin Bay (and perhaps elsewhere) engineer these biomechanical beasts
Well before an encounter
so they can operate on dry land. The apricari are somewhat like mounts and somewhat
with apricari, GMs should
like vehicles. Octopi crawl inside the beasts—for octopi can seep through extremely small ask players what their
spaces—and control them from within. Left alone, an apricari is as docile as a herd animal, characters value most.
and likely far stupider.
Motive: Subservient to an octopus
Environment: Near the shore
Health: 15
Damage Inflicted: 4 points
Armor: 1
Movement: Short
Modifications: Perception as level 3, Might defense as level 5.
Combat: Slow and clumsy, apricari operate as though designed by creatures unfamiliar with
moving on dry land—because they were. Still, in combat they have a mouth full of sharp
teeth and sharp hooves as well. More important, they are usually controlled by crafty and
devious octopi.
A bit like an octopus, an apricari can spray a stream of black ink at any target within
short range. The octopi devised this ability as a means of escape, but it had a wholly
unexpected (but not unwelcome) result. The ink affects humans in a strange way: a Cyphers, page 278
target sprayed who fails an Intellect defense roll suffers 6 points of Intellect damage
and suddenly hates the one thing they value most. It might be wealth, food, a loved one,
success, violence, beauty, or anything else. This effect lasts until all 6 lost Intellect points GM Intrusion: The
are restored. Once affected by the ink, humans become immune to the effect thereafter. apricari not only bites the
character but tramples
Apricari do not see well. It is up to the octopus in control to use its (excellent) vision to guide her as well, inflicting an
them. additional 4 points of
Interaction: Either apricari are controlled by an octopus and damage, knocking her
have no ability to interact, or they are near-mindless prone, and trapping her
beneath the beast.
animals that are almost too stupid to be frightened by
danger or enticed by food.
Use: Apricari were developed by octopi just recently,
and their use is still experimental and
exploratory. One day, however, an
entire invasion of apricari-mounted
octopi might thunder
into human coastal
lands.
Loot: Within the
workings of an
apricari are 1d6
cyphers and one or
two oddities.

11
 OCTOPUS 3 (12)

If the seas have a ruler, it is the octopus. Their billion-year empire spans the entirety of all
seas, and their queen rules over all of it. They are, however, xenophobic and aloof, preferring
to keep to themselves. Thus, many people call them the “quiet empire.”
Octopuses vary in size, color, and, to some degree, shape. For the most part, they all have
eight extremely flexible limbs, a surprisingly malleable body, two sophisticated eyes, and a
beaklike mouth. They can change their color and, to a large extent, their shape to appear as
a rock, a fish, or some other creature. They perceive not just with their eyes but, in a limited
way, with all their skin. They think not only with the brain in their head but also with the
distributed neural network that runs throughout their limbs.
Octopuses are extremely intelligent, often possessing mental powers a human would deem
supernatural. Thanks to their advancement in various sciences, they are also virtually immortal.
Motive: Hungers for flesh and solitude
Environment: Anywhere in the ocean
Health: 15
Damage Inflicted: 4 points
Movement: Long underwater
Modifications: Stealth as level 5; all defense, perception, knowledge, and Intellect-based tasks
as level 4.
Combat: All octopi can use camouflage to help them hide. They can attack with their beak,
but if they must fight, most use weapons such as short spears. All octopi can emit a
cloud of ink in the water that blocks vision in an immediate area. Many octopuses carry a
Nilstone, page 6 nilstone that lets them extend their telepathy into something that can affect the physical
realm. Nilstone powers might include:
• Psychokinesis (uses their own strength, but at long range)
• Forceblast (at long range, inflicting 4 points of damage)
• Clairvoyance (can see something occurring up to
10 miles [16 km] away)
• Kinetic shield (Armor 3)
Octopus weaponry, page 7 In addition, octopi have specialized weaponry
(often nilstone based) that they can wield.
Interaction: All octopuses can communicate
telepathically with each other, and about one
in five can communicate in a similar fashion
with other creatures—although they rarely
do so. Language does not seem to be a
An abadis is a pearlescent
barrier in this form of communication,
lozenge about the size of
a nut, traded for value like although sometimes octopi lie and
shins. For more details, pretend that it is, mostly when they do
see Into the Deep, not want communication to happen.
page 13.
Use: A lone octopus knows the secret
of how to get into an underwater
GM Intrusion: The installation, but getting him to talk to
octopus produces a small
substance that it absorbs the PCs at all is difficult enough—and
through its skin to fully getting him to give up the valuable
restore its health, double information may require diplomacy,
its speed, or double its
trade, a favor, or serious intimidation.
melee damage. These
latter effects last at least Loot: A few octopuses will carry 1d6 + 4
an hour. abadis.

12