NO. APPEARING: 2-5
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVE: 18 (flying only)
HIT DICE: 6 (Alpha), 10 (Beta),
14 (Gamma)
ORIGINAL STOCK: Manta ray
MUTATIONS: Wings, telekinesis, gas
generation, heightened radar sense

Raydiums are large, mutated manta
rays that still strongly resemble their
ancestral species. At present there are
three known types, to wit:

Alpha Raydiums are dull black in color
with silver and blue highlights, and have
a wingspan of about 2 meters. They are
commonly found over the shorelines of
the east coast of North America, though a
few have been seen further inland.

Beta Raydiums are about 4 meters
across and are a dark grey dorsally and a
light blue-grey ventrally. Beta Raydiums
are found in more southerly climates than
the Alphas.

Gamma Raydiums, spanning 6 meters
from wingtip to wingtip, are a pale blue
and are known to live only around a few
islands in southeast North America.

All Raydiums spend their lives airborne.
Young are born in mid-air; they
cling to the parent until their wings dry
(only a few minutes), and then they can
fly as well.
For food,

A very powerful innate radar sense
gives all Raydiums a +4 bonus to hit with
a bite attack, and any "to hit" score of 20
or better means the prey has been swallowed
whole, if it was of the appropriate
size. Raydiums can maneuver easily in
darkness or light; they have no eyes, but
the "radar" sense has a maximum range
of 500 meters to the front of the creature.
Typically, Raydiums fly at altitudes of
300 to 800 meters.

All Raydiums have special abilities
they use to catch prey on the ground,
should they happen to notice it. When a
flock of Raydiums notices creatures of
edible size on or near the ground, one of
the flock detaches from the group and
swoops down in a silent glide (+2 on surprise)
at double normal speed (36) and
releases a gas cloud 30 meters long, 10
meters wide, and 5 meters deep over the
targets. The gas has a poison intensity
equal to the number of hit dice of the
Raydium releasing it; the gas affects all
mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and avians,
causing them to be rendered unconscious
for a number of minutes equal to
20 minus the victim's CON. The
gas cloud can only be generated once a
day by any Raydium.

The gas dissipates in one minute, and
then the other Raydiums swoop down,
use telekinesis to pick up the smaller
creatures (treat as a mental attack), and
fly off with them for a snack in the
clouds. Alphas can lift up to one kilogram,
Betas up to 10 kilograms, and
Gammas up to 50 kilograms with their
telekinetic powers. The telekinesis lasts
only 5 melee rounds, so eating must be
done quickly.

Some Beta Raydiums (1 in 6) and
Gamma Raydiums (3 in 6) are able to
generate other types of gases besides the
unconsciousness gas. Each individual so
endowed will produce only one additional
sort of gas. Roll d6 and refer to the
following list to see which gas the Raydium
will use:

All of these gases, except the killing
poison and radioactive gases, take effect
only if a "D" result is obtained on the
Poison Attack Matrix. Poison and
radioactive gases can cause damage, as
listed on the Poison Attack Matrix, if they
do not kill the victim.

Fortunately, Raydiums are too stupid
to use their telekinetic powers to pick up
rocks and bomb victims with debris. Raydiums
are locally known as "skydivers"
or "dusters" (after "crop dusters," ancient
aircraft that sprayed insecticides on crops
and fields).

Raydium (Skydiver, Duster)

FREQUENCY: Very rare (<> in Gamma World)
NO. APPEARING: 2-5
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVE: 18" (flying only) <>
HIT DICE: 6 (Alpha), 10 (Beta), 14 (Gamma)
% IN LAIR:
TREASURE TYPE:
NO. OF ATTACKS:
DAMAGE/ATTACK:
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Gas generation, Telekinesis (bombing attacks)
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Heightened radar sense (+4 to hit), swallow whole (some size S creatures), +2 surprise on a dive attack
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard, No save vs. magic spells
INTELLIGENCE: "stupid"
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE:
PSIONIC ABILITY: Yes (Telekinesis)
    Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: