Warper

The Warper, or Self-Warping Quarantine Enforcer Unit, is an in-development bio-mechanical lifeform created by the Precursors, belonging to the fauna category. It has the ability to create a teleportation gate, it uses this to warp itself and other life forms at will.

An inactive Warper can be found within the Disease Research Facility, having being stopped mid-construction for unknown reasons, although implied to be the attack on the facility by the Sea Dragon Leviathan.

Appearance
The Warper's head is round and flat, with two small flat sacs visible behind it. It sports a circular mouth comprising of a pair of mandibles to either side and two large, blunt teeth in the centre. It has four small eyes that give out a distinct purple bioluminescent glow.

Its body is mostly covered with a purple, cloak-like membrane overlaying its translucent pale blue body. Visible within its body is a dark purple ribcage-like formation, many bright pink bioluminescent veins and what appears to be a heart. It also features two spiked arms cloaked with a transparent blue membrane.

The Warper's lower section consists of six tentacles, of which only the two transparent blue tentacles are used for propulsion, while the rest serve as the end tips of its main body's cloak.

Behavior
The Warper can shoot projectiles, which deal 10% damage per hit, and will teleport the player or any fauna to a random nearby location. It travels in seemingly random directions, seeking out creatures infected with the Carar bacterium. Once it detects one, it will fire a teleportation orb at it (It is possible to dodge the orbs and avoid being warped). If the orb is dodged it will travel for a short distance and then warp in aggressive fauna corresponding to the biome which the player is in. For example, if the player is in the Northern Blood Kelp Zone, the Warper could teleport in a Blood Crawler, a Blighter, an Ampeel or a Crabsquid. The number of Fauna warped in can also vary, with small creatures like Biters and Blighters, anywhere from two to six can be warped in at one time, with medium-sized creatures such as Lava Lizards and Bonesharks up to two can be warped in at once, and with large creatures like Crabsquids and Ampeels, one may be warped in at a time. These creatures will stay for a short amount of time before disappearing in a portal and occasionally the Warper will warp them away itself. When at close range, the Warper will attack with its claws, raising them above its head and then bringing them down onto its target with considerable force and dealing 30% damage.

If a player is operating a Seamoth or PRAWN suit, a Warper can teleport the player out of the vehicle into nearby waters. This leaves the player highly vulnerable to attacks that they would be impervious to inside that vehicle.

The Warper creates a portal that has a spiraling effect and will stay open for a few seconds. When the player is hit by the Warper, it plays an animation similar to the Precursor Teleporter.

The Warper can be seen chasing infected fauna, and attempting to kill them.

When the Warper teleports, either teleporting or just teleported, it will emit a loud hiss-like noise. It will often try to teleport behind the player; thus, it is advised to listen for the Warper, rather than look for it.

When a Warper is frozen by the Stasis Rifle, it will freeze for a few moments before warping out, meaning the tool has limited use against them.

Warpable Creatures
Creatures that Warpers will bring in to attack their target, which creatures will be warped in is dependent on the biome that the Warper is in. The creatures will then proceed to attack the player.
 * Ampeel
 * Biter
 * Blood Crawler
 * Bone Shark
 * Cave Crawler
 * Crabsquid
 * Lava Lizard
 * Mesmer
 * Sandshark
 * Stalker

Story
Warpers were created by the Precursor Race by combining an existing life form with precursor technology, replacing the digestive and pulmonary systems with a type of internal battery, inserting miniaturized phase technology beneath the skin that is connected to the central nervous system, allowing them to phase jump at will, the brain and central nervous system have been augmented with enhanced processing power and remote communications were added. Their main purpose is to eliminate any creature infected with the Carar bacteria, including the player. They can also be found guarding Precursor Bases.

Audio


Future Plans

 * The Warper will appear in numerous, early-game biomes, but appear more prominently at Precursor Bases.
 * Warpers will be able to be distracted using fauna infected with Carar
 * Warper tech and Ion Crystals may be used in the future to build a teleporter room.

Data Bank Entry
Warper= Entry given for scanning an active Warper. Self-Warping Quarantine Enforcer Unit= Entry given for scanning the inactive Warper in the Disease Research Facility.

Gallery
In Game Screenshots=

For a more complete gallery, visit Warper/Gallery.

Trivia

 * The Warper is loosely based on the Fade from Natural Selection 2, as both have similar arms, and can both teleport. Cory Strader also modeled both of them.
 * The Warper sounds were created from real life Zebra sounds.
 * The Warpers appear to have a degree of intelligence, as shown in two of the messages from the Communications Relay.
 * Given that fact that the Warper was made to hunt creatures infected with the Carar, it is most likely immune to the disease.
 * If the above statement is correct, then the Sea Emperor and the Warper are the only creatures immune to the Carar.