| abstract | - Stromlings are basic Minifigure Stromlings encountered across the LEGO Universe. Shortly after the founding of Nexus Force, a minor explosion at Paradox Research Facility allowed the Darkitect to memorize the form and anatomy of Minifigures, allowing him to create Minifigure Stromlings in the dark clouds of the Maelstrom. The Darkitect spread these Stromlings across the LEGO Universe to destroy Imagination and leave chaos in their wake. A more recent explosion at Paradox Research Facility caused by the Spider Queen released far more devastating Maelstrom energies, corrupting many Paradox researchers into Stromlings. These Stromlings have infested the area around the wrecked Research Facility, forcing the Sentinels to construct a checkpoint from nearby debris to prevent the Stromlings from spreading to the Monument. Stromlings made their first appearance in the "Answer the Call" LEGO Universe trailer. In this trailer, Stromlings take over Zorillo Plaza and disguise themselves with cardboard cut-outs of Minifigures. When a Stromling spots the Nexus Force Faction Leaders, it leads the charge towards the Nexus Force, beginning the Battle of Zorillo Plaza. After the battle, a Stromling stumbles about the plaza, knocking over a cardboard Minifigure cut-out and falling to the ground. In the Battle of Nimbus Station based upon this trailer, Stromlings are common enemies appearing under the command of Murgle Blotch. Stromlings also appear in the Great Minifig Mission. In Mission 12, Stromlings are identified based upon their origin and risk level, and then they appear as targets throughout a town modeled after Zorillo Plaza. Their dangerous risk level plays a role in Mission 20. Stromlings make their first in-game appearance at the Log-In Screen. There, a Stromling occasionally pops up from the sides of the screen or from behind the log-in area to look at the player before quickly retreating. Stromlings are the most common enemy encountered by players in Avant Gardens as a result of the Spider Queen's escape from Paradox Research Facility. Since they are the first enemies encountered by players in the game, they are also the weakest, as their blade only inflicts 1 damage and they only have 1 Life. They can be found in the battlefield around Paradox Research Facility and, as of the Power of the Nexus Force update, they can also be found in the first cavern of the Maelstrom Mine. However, any Stromling that wanders too close to Epsilon Starcracker's outpost or Sentinel Base Camp will be quickly dispatched by Epsilon Starcracker or a Sentinel Faction Guard. Epsilon Starcracker assigns players with a Mission and later Daily Missions to smash Stromlings. Stromlings also appear in Avant Gardens Survival. Although these Stromlings are just as weak as their brethren in the main battlefield, they react much more quickly to players' presence and will instantly run towards the nearest player, instead of idly wandering the battlefield until a player comes close. Two enhanced breeds of Stromlings appear as the Survival Instance continues: Chainsaw Stromlings and Hammer Stromlings. Stromlings spawned by Maelstrom Generators occupy Avant Grove and Nimbus Rock properties. They attack players who wish to clear the property, and will endlessly respawn until the Maelstrom Generator is smashed. After clearing Raven Bluff, players are rewarded with a Behavior that spawns Stromlings on their properties. Stromlings makes a cameo appearance during the races held at Dragonmaw Chasm in Forbidden Valley. When players drive through the Stromling-infested tunnels underneath Paradox Refinery, two Stromlings can be glimpsed watching the race from either side of the tunnel, cheering alongside Stromling Pirates. Sometime during the week of 9/4/11 - 9/10/11, a Stromling sneaked into the Sentinel Base Camp, and Fitz Vanderbuilt found it sleeping on the RV gate. He accidentally woke it up, and it created chaos and anarchy in the camp as it ran around in a game of Stromling hide-and-seek. The Stromling eventually found Klaus Zett's carton of Quicksicles and ate the Consumables. As a result, the Stromling was moving incredibly quickly and leaping through the air like a jumping bean, making it even harder for the local Sentinels to capture. The local Stromlings were punished by the Sentinels with an Avant Gardens Survival Contest.
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