Orthopterae

The Orthopterae are a race of insectoids native to Upper Deep. These folk are known for their warlike tendencies and voracious appetites. They are cautious of strangers and do not initiate contact with the other folk of the Deep.

 Roaming Swarms

Orthopterae live in groups of 20-30 individuals known as "swarms." Typically, all members of a particular swarm belong to the same subrace and possess similar features. Orthopterae have massive appetites and will quickly devour anything they come across that they can kill or fit in their mouths. One can tell where a swarm has been recently because the walls of the tunnels are completely bare, with perhaps some small traces or remains of some creature the Orthopterae have hunted. Orthopterae typically possess long, backward-bending legs. Although these legs appear strong and brittle, they are almost entirely comprised of muscles and a hard exoskeleton, making them extremely powerful for their size. Each leg ends in a pair of small, sharp claws. Orthopterae also possess one or two pairs of similarly-equipped arms, whose forearms have two to four short, backward-facing spikes leading to the elbow. Orthopterae use these arm spikes in combat on occasion, but they are mostly ornamental. Orthopterae use their claws to dig into the walls and ceilings of caves or tunnels, allowing them to climb and keep hold on almost any surface for long amounts of time. It is not uncommon for an Orthoptera to use this skill when hunting prey that cannot climb. Orthopterae, living in the dim environment of Upper Deep, have developed large compound eyes to better see with. Each compound eye is made up of thousands of tiny simple eyes and is set on the side of the head, giving Orthopterae nearly 360^o visibility. Orthopterae also possess a pair of sharp pincers on the side of their mouths, which they use to pierce prey or other food before eating. Atop the head of each Orthoptera is a pair of extremely long and delicate antennae. These are very sensitive to touch and are used by the Orthopterae to navigate in lightless conditions. Some Orthopterae subraces possess two pairs of transparent, overlapping wings, but these are rarely used to fly given the enclosed conditions of the Orthopteraean habitat. Instead, Orthopterae use these for displays during specific rituals. Unlike most other humanoids, Orthopterae do not possess ears. Instead, they have a hearing organ which primarily relies on a membrane known as a tympanum. Each Orthoptera has a pair of these hearing organs located on its forearms.

Orthopteraean Customs

Orthopteraean culture is quite different from most other cultures. Orthopterae do not have a typical language, instead relying on clicks and sounds generated by rubbing the edges of their wings along their legs. They do have lips and cannot easily recreate more conventional language noises, but can learn to understand when languages are spoken and have learned to read in write in other languages. Orthopteraean magic users are rare and more so in places outside Upper Deep, but those who enter other societies may learn telepathy in order to more effectively communicate with others. Othopterae are rather warlike. They are not inherently violent or aggressive, but tend to solve disputes through combat. When two individuals within a swarm have a disagreement, they will hold a duel and fight out whatever issue they are having. Other members of the swarm encourage this behavior by forming a tight ring around the combatants and keeping them enclosed until someone either yields or is rendered unconscious. It is rare for this combat to end in death, but a combatant which kills another member of their swarm is either banished or killed as well. Behaviors which endanger the swarm are not tolerated. Orthopterae hold regular orchestras, which are meetings between multiple swarms. It is unknown how an Orthoptera might tell time, but somehow these swarms manage to meet in the same place at the same time. These meetings are known as orchestras because the sound of so many Orthopterae communicating at once is cacophonous. During orchestras, Orthopterae hold various rituals and ceremonies base don mutual decisions between swarms. Orthopterae view food as simply a way of surviving. They consume everything raw, and take no joy in cooking or preparing thoughtful meals. For an Orthoptera, the most enjoyable part is the act of stalking and killing prey. They prefer to eat meat over other sources of nutrients, but heavily supplement this diet with the fungi and lichen which grow on the walls of tunnels. Orthopterae are very resistant to poisons and toxins, and only a few types of fungi are inedible for these insectoids. They have voracious appetites, and often strip entire passageways of any life during their meal times.

Swarms

The basic family or clan unit of the Orthopterae is the swarm. These groups are made up of anywhere from twenty to thirty individuals, depending on each swarm's available resources. Swarms roam the tunnels of Upper Deep, eating whatever they come across. They have no established territories, but swarms tend to frequent the same areas in regular cycles, allowing their resources to fully replenish themselves before they return. This means that each swarm covers a wide swathe of tunnel systems, stretching many miles across. Members of each swarm work together in fluid unity, creating a swift and ruthless machine. Hunting is a nearly silent, quick affair, as Orthopterae communicate with signs and gestures before sneaking up on their prey and quickly eliminating them. Swarms rarely encounter one another. There is enough coordination between neighboring groups that each swarm cycles through an area at a different time to another. The only time these swarms come together is during a regular orchestra. During orchestras, Orthopterae exchange news of their resources, hunting, and any deaths or births within the swarm. Because individual swarms are usually closely related to one another, Orthopterae use orchestras as an opportunity to mate with other swarms. Orthopterae do not seem to understand the concept of romance or attraction, and only mate to produce young. The young, usually three to four, are kept in the mother's swarm, and form close sibling bonds. Young do not form any kind of bond with the father, and form similar bonds with their mother as those of the rest of the swarm. The swarm's cohesiveness is built on the ability of sibling groups to work and cooperate wordlessly with one another.