| Class: | Beast |
| Hab: | Sand, loose earth or gravel, above ground or troglodytic |
| Fre: | Somewhat rare |
| Num: | Small: 2-12, Giant: 1-6 |
| Lair: | 90% |
| Size: | Small: 6"-2' wide, Medium 5-20' wide, Giant: 50-100' |
| Move: | Swim through sand; 10% bound across surface like skipping stones Carbuncle-enhanced rays "fly" through sand at 10 x speed |
| Def: | Shark-tough hide, stay buried under sand = own width |
| Att: | Withering drain, bite = shark, venomous tail-sting = great sword |
| Int: | Simple beast |
| Spec: | Superbly hidden under surface of sand |
| Posns: | Carbuncle, hides valued for armor and sandpaper, stings for blades, possible |
Withering rays are a specialized group of Sand-Swimming Rays, which SEE.
These rays have developed a reverse of the more common electrical shock attack (or defense) use by some of their relatives, electrical capabilities in turn developed form the bioelectrical detection sense common to may fish. Instead of inflicting a positive electrical charge, the withering rays aggressively suck bioelectrical energy from their prey.
The effects of bioelectrical drain are not immediately obvious. Perhaps the most insidious aspect of the rays' attack it that its effects may be subtle and go undetected until later, when the results may be misattributed to some other cause. Mild enervation means that, at the next occasion of exertion, the victim will become exhausted with extreme rapidity. If the enervation exceeds the victim's "hit points," the effect is easily mistaken for some sort of instant aging.
Unlike other rays, most species of withering rays are not known for their speed. Instead, they lay in wait under the surface of the sand, pebbles, or loose earth. A school of withering rays may set themselves in a line under a path. Those enhanced by a Sep (which SEE) can burrow below roads or lesser pathways without leaving any sign of their passage or presence. When creatures (such as Our Heroes) pass overhead, the rays suck out their energy. The largest rays drain most aggressively; they may so drain those who pass over that the effort of staggering on causes death, seemingly by instant aging.
Local predators, knowing where the rays lurk, may take advantage of them, waiting for potential prey to pass over the withering rays or even driving prey over the rays. This is so productive a technique, species which are normally non-aggressive scavengers may be tempted to develop more predatory habits. Curiously, although the rays are not very bright, they are able to recognize a productive relationship and learn not to attack those local predators who drive prey to the rays.
10% of withering rays are enhanced by a Sep Stone Sand Swimmer Symbiont, (which SEE), a carbuncle, a mineral beast stone that grows in its host's forehead, the telekinetic abilities of which enables their host-rays to not merely swim through the sand but to fly through it. Only the most powerful of sep use their telekinesis to drive their host at speeds as fast as flying. The others merely open the sand or earth before their host, making the fish's sand-swimming as rapid as any marine fish's water-swimming
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