Wraithwing Moths

Seen sweeping down out of the branches of the great redwoods in dim starlight a giant Wraithwing Moth can appear much like its namesake. The supernatural chilling effect they can evoke aids this perception when the moths need to defend themselves from predators, or parasites. Fortunately these insects feed primarily on the pollen and parasites of the giant redwoods, and not on souls. The mutualistic symbiotic relationship between the moths and the redwoods is strong enough that after a bounty was placed on the giant insects in the Principality of Zaratan the forests failed to produce enough viable seedlings for almost a century, until the moth population was reestablished.   Unlike their undead counterparts the wraithwing moths will happily sun themselves, but unless you are a brave climber willing to scale your way to the sometimes frigid soaring heights of the branches of three thousand foot tall mature redwoods in the early hours of the day it is unlikely you will have that pleasure. In late afternoon the wraithwings become active and feed on the rich pollen of the trees during spring, helping to pollinate them with their hairy bodies which become covered in the golden material. During other warm seasons the moths help to cleanse the trees of parasites, including small animals and mosses, by feeding on them.   Wraithwing moths are encountered by people most frequently after mating has occurred. Males whose gonads have been ripped from their bodies by the females will continue to follow her until she descends to the forest floor to lay her eggs. The castrated males will attack creatures in the area with their magical freezing effect, and when that ability is exhausted make physical attacks. For the few creatures resistant to their magical ability, or able to avoid their notice, this can be a time of plenty in their own lifecycle as the adult wraithwings die off. The wraithwing larvae hatch a few short weeks later and burrow deeper into the forest floor to feed from the roots of large plants. Depending on weather conditions the late stage larvae will emerge 1-3 years later, erupting from the ground in early fall to climb the staggering heights of the redwoods to pupate. Those with enough stored energy and a quick pace will find thickly clustered boughs to form a cocoon in, and spend several months overwintering and developing into adults, with rare individuals spending more than a year within their cocoon.   Adult wraithwing moths have a wingspan of approximately 25 feet, though their graceful structure weighs only around 175 pounds. A successful female will mate with 2-3 males on average, and lay approximately 200 eggs similar in size to a chicken, although their exterior is more transparent and flexible. The larvae that go on to later survive pupation begin their journey emerging from the earth typically weighing over 300 pounds.   Most creatures find the flesh of larval wraithwings to be unpalatably bitter due to their defensive glandular secretions, though it is said that some indigenous groups harvest the adults during mating season. Wraithwing silk from their cocoons is prized by many, including the beastmasters and aristocrats of Zaratan, though its ability to repel most dyes make it less favored by other cultures. Less prized than silk but far more commonly utilized, the blubber of weakling larvae attempting to pupate is frequently collected by peoples in the redwood forests, with larger more vigorous specimens being allowed to ascend. The larval blubber is rendered and utilized in many ways, and may often be marketed simply as lard.