Sandy petersens cthulhu mythos (1) 37

for a long time (equal to five times their Constitution

day. Technically, gnorri could have one or no arms,

in rounds instead of the normal two times). Likewise,

yet they gain no significant advantage from such a

the fins grow back at the same rate when the gnorri

change. Gnorri cannot extrude more than four arms

body is exposed to water. If a gnorri is drowning, they

at once and rarely even create that many unless they

can retreat above the waves to breathe air via their

wish to wield multiple weapons, for their mass does

amphibious lungs.

not change; while they have three or four arms, their

One of the most unusual features of gnorri
physiology isn’t their “hair” or their long tentacle-like

Most gnorri dwell within the relatively shallow

lower torso but the eerie mutability of their flesh and

reaches of the ocean, near the coastlines at depths of

bones. While the basic gnorri shape remains solid and

a few hundred feet. In fact, strange physiologies afford

fixed, upon close examination, one can watch their

them great flexibility in choosing a home. Gnorri

scales slither and slide slowly over their body or the

who dwell in deeper waters often adapt to a darker

ridges and wrinkles of their tentacles shift and change.

and more dangerous environment, taking on stranger

This fleshy fluidity is even greater inside, with entire

shapes or becoming bioluminescent, larger, or more

organs “swimming” within their bodies, severing and

powerful. Those who dwell in the depths are generally

re-attaching connections seemingly at random. At one

more savage and less interested in mixing with surface

moment, the heart may be situated within the chest,

dwellers, and the relative scarcity of food results in a

but in another it may descend into the belly to be

corresponding relaxation of taboos against such acts as

embraced by the entrails while the liver slithers up into

feeding on sentient races or, in the most extreme cases,

the chest to nuzzle against the air bladder or lung.

cannibalism.

This trait not only allows gnorri to withstand

Gnorri have three genders: female, male, and

sudden trauma to their bodies, but more amazingly,

builder. The females produce eggs, males fertilize

it allows them to modify their number of limbs at

them, and builders are responsible for the creation of

will. By concentrating, gnorri can extrude additional

the grottos that gnorri live in. No gender in gnorri

arms or withdraw arms back into their bodies by

society is held at any greater or lesser esteem than any

reallocating flesh, muscle, and bone. The process takes

others. Gnorri judge individuals by their merits and

ten minutes or so, and is so exhausting gnorri cannot

not their gender.

change the number of their arms more than once per

30

bodies are weakened from the redistribution.