Insect-Folk
Intro to Insect-Folk
General Lore & Info
There are seven kinds of insect-folk, which we know of either through direct encounters, sightings, or word of mouth from someone who claims to have seen them. There are the Ant-Folk, the Cicada-men, the Firefly-Kin, the Mantis-Men, the Moth-Men, the Scarab-Kin, and the Wasp-kin. Of all these strange creatures we've noted, the wasp-kin, ant-folk, and scarab-kin are by far the most frequent of the seven we've run into or spotted, in that order. Their language is very alien to us, and if someone has actually managed to properly learn it, the general population is unaware.
At some point it was reported that members of their kind likely have psionics just like humanoids and higher demi-humans, which has greatly affected how we approach them both as potential hostiles, and as potential coexistence. It's also been reported that while verbal communication was impossible, an encounter with an ant-folk lead to a short telepathic communication via the sharing of emotions and images through the mind. The wood elf was able to communicate to the ant-folk that they were free to carry food through and use the trail like them, but to try doing so at night to avoid scaring normal folk.
Each of these insect-folk seem to share many traits, both physical and personality-wise, to their beastly cousins, yet at the same time many differences. Personality differences are obvious as that always comes with sentience. However the physical differences seem rather odd, and most can't be one hundred percent certain that any of the species of ant/cicada/etc. on Erelest actually exists which perfectly matches their demi-human variant.
Fik'Taka (ant-folk)
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Krath'nun (scarab-kin)
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Luu'nirai (moth-men)
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Nom'ziira (firefly-kin)
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Serrthikai (mantis-men)
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Szz'tu'zzul (cicada folk)
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Vez'pernak (wasp-kin)
The wasp-kin are the most sighted of all the insect-folk and that is not a good thing. They are a war-mongering culture, committing raids along the borders of their territory routinely, and over the years have even driven other demi-humans and humanoids out from their lands, claiming it for their own. After a clash between them and a strong competing orsin clan however it seems they've begun to slow down their conquests, limiting themselves mostly to raids.
The wasp-kin are, like their insect cousins, made up of three sections: The head, the thorax, and the abdomen. They have four angled eyes (two on the front, and one on either side of it's head). They have antennae-plumes, as well as large strong mandibles with a creepy mouth further inside. The thorax is their 'torso', with the upper torso being large and strong and their lower thorax being thinner. They have four large wings and four arms sprouting from their upper thorax, and their two thicker, strong digitigrade legs sprouting from the lower thorax. Their abdomen is longer than normal wasps with more segments, and can bend in any direction, making it easier to sting enemies that draw near. The wasp-kin have a strong yet lightweight exoskeleton over their body, and wrap crimson gambeson around their joints for better protection. Their coloration consists of pitch black and bright red/crimson.
While no one has reportedly seen a wasp-kin's nest, we've managed to gather that they rely mostly on raiding for resources rather than making things themselves. We also know that they are a military government, with the strongest leading the rest. Their raiding forces have always been set in divisions with formations, tactical coordination, and even what appeared to be captains and commanders leading the charge. When they've been out seeking to conquer, it's believed they had another leader leading the charge, possibly the 'queen' or 'king' of the hive. The wasp-kin's military positions appear to be infantry, aerial calvary and swarmers. It's theorized they have assassins too but we're uncertain of the validity of that.
The infantry typically wield spears, pikes, war-picks, polearms, throwing axes/hammers and precision blades like rapiers in two arms with two shields in their lower arms. They've been seen to use their wings to increase their charging speed, stop faster, and overall increase their agility. The aerial calvary wield bows, throwing weapons and heavy objects which they rain down on their enemies, typically attacking from a great range and using gravity to their advantage. The swarmers appear to be the weaker, deformed, and otherwise disposable or 'excess' of their own kind who are meant to be cannon fodder and wear down the enemy before their charge.
There are rumors and stories about wasp-kin who can cast spells, and no one has really questioned this given that most demi-humans can cast magic. Thus far the reported sightings suggest they have clerics and warlocks among their ranks.
