BALTRO - TIMELINE #4668100279767

(Timeline Tuesday #153)

Baltros are a bizarre species of humanoid from a distant timeline, their aesthetics and material composition barely relating to the lifeforms of our reality. These creatures are made up of several gathered spheres, approximately fifty to sixty per baltro, which come in a variety of sizes. When a baltro is in its humanoid form, these orbs are arranged to create their most common shape. This construction features a large central body and head, while smaller spheres are linked to create appendages.

The orbs that make up a baltro are exceptionally heavy and similar to the natural element of iron, although not quite. This substance makes up the entirety of each orb, with no inner biological workings to be found. Even the “eye” and “head” spheres do not have any tangible innards that would explain how they function. Instead, anything held within the baltro’s head will simply dissolve over time and provide nourishment in this way.

The spheres of a baltro are yellow and gray, typically arranged in a specific back and forth pattern. They have four limbs and walk upright, but feature no fingers or toes. The creatures have four long eye-stalks that sprout from their heads, and at the end rest eye-spheres, which allow them to see.

The most unique thing about baltros is also what makes them so dangerous. A baltro is capable of erupting in a powerful kinetic blast, shooting its iron body out in every direction at incredible speeds. The effect of this is to create an eruption of pellets, some small and others similar to cannon balls, which tear through anything that’s unfortunate enough to be nearby when the baltro erupts. Sometimes this is used as a defense mechanism, although baltros also draw on this explosive ability when hunting food.

The pieces of a baltro will eventually roll themselves back together. Once returning to humanoid form, they will scour the area in search of wounded prey to consume.