Tick

= Summary = The Tick is a type of mutated insect found on Fortuna III, and are closely related to the Brightcap contracts.

Description
Ticks are found near Brightcaps, and are closely related to Brightcap contract. They are large insects with coloured glowing posterior regions. They burrow up from underground and roam around Brightcap field, chasing any prospector that comes close to their precious mushrooms. Ticks do not attack in a conventional sense, but instead run close to the prospector while making a shrill noise, before exploding once in range of the prospector. Ticks have four legs, a very large, glowing, engorged posterior, either being orange, green or white. They have a tiny horn resembling that of a rhino on their small heads, and eyes that poke out on either side of their head.

Behaviour
Ticks are only found in matches with the Brightcap contract, as they love hanging around these blue mushrooms. They will fiercely run after any prospector getting close to their fungi. Ticks burrow from underground, and they will start spawning around prospectors carrying a large quantity of Brightcaps. Ticks will also spawn if a prospector is busy depositing the Brightcaps. Although they are very protective, they do not have any attack capabilities, but instead run up against a threat, make a hissing sound, before exploding. The explosion usually causes nearby ticks to explode as well, creating a devastating chain reaction for the prospector that is caught unaware. Orange ticks, know as Blast Ticks, explode without any further side effects. Green Ticks, known as Acid Ticks, leave green clouds of acid behind that damages players, equipment and other creatures. White Ticks, referred to as Brood Ticks, explode and in doing so summon more blast and acid ticks.

Ticks typically run fairly slowly, but when they become aggravated they sprint at astonishing speeds, sometimes hurling themselves off cliff sides in pursuit of the target.

Variants
Unlike the dirtbeasts, the ticks do not have stormy and thunderous variants, and instead come in 3 distinct variants, each with its own ability.


 * Blast Tick: Orange Posterior, simply explodes after running up to its intended target.
 * Acid Tick: Green Posterior, runs up to its target and explodes, leaving a cloud of acid that does damage over time to objects, players and creatures
 * Brood Tick: White Posterior, will explode next to target, and also spawn new ticks as a result of the explosion.