Giant Arthropods

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This thread is for an alphabetical listing of any giant bugs you can possibly encounter in Ymaggion. If you wish for this list to be expanded, go suggest a creature in the Creature Suggestion thread.


The world of Ymaggion is a wondrous place of both science and magic. Naturally, creatures living on its surface have adapted in different, and oftentimes unusual ways, from the magic-sensitive Elves and Komalas, the tech-savvy Humans and Dwarves, the powerful Orcs and Minotaurs, the majestic Dragon Tribes and the mysterious Gan of the depths... even the insects and arachnids and other pests of the world have evolved. And some have evolved into frightening, gigantic creatures under the merciless rigors of time. Evolution has always been a cruel mistress, and many of its results have becomes creatures many wish had never existed. Many theories have been put forth to explain their existence, such as mutation brought about by exposure to magic and chemicals, genetic manipulation, or darker means brought about in the catastrophe that slew Kemei. While all have been proven valid in some means or another, not all of these theories can completely explain the origins of these giant arthropods.

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A giant dragonfly is an airborne insect mutated into a creature that rivals the size of the Kargorocs and Cliff Racers that populate the world. These predators flit through the air on two pairs of massive gossamer wings as they hunt, and upon finding prey, attack swiftly from above to tear at it with powerful pincer jaws, often attempting to kill in a single bite. Giant dragonflies vary in size and color, depending on their environment--typically, they live in hot, humid areas such as the rainforests and jungles in Cher Plek and Zailleon, while other breeds have been known to live in dryer, harsher climates. Their preferred prey also vary depending on their size, and have been known to attack smaller creatures such as rabites and cabbits, to much larger creatures such as Kargorocs and sentients. While not particularly territorial among one another, giant dragonflies tend to live in relative close proximity to each other and have been known to fiercely attack creatures that near them.


Giant Scorpion

A giant scorpion is a mutated arachnid with a long, arching tail with a stinger and a pair of sharp pincer claws guarding its face. Giant scorpions are usually found alone, and live in deserts. They survive by making burrows in the sand, and lie in wait for their pray. The size of a giant scorpion varies by the age of the creature--young giant scorpions are usually around the size of a large dog, and as they grow older, they can reach the size of a small house. The stingers in a giant scorpion's tail are, naturally, poisonous. Larger giant scorpions are extremely dangerous, having thick chitinous armor and very sharp claws. Often, when encountered it takes several average fighters to put down, often with serious casualties being accumulated in the process.


Giant Spider

A giant spider is a mutated arachnid that walks on eight long legs. Giant spiders often congregate together in large nests in jungles and rainforests. Giant spiders are venomous in nature, and some have evolved the ability to spit their venom in globs at their prey. When fleeing, giant spiders will spray out a sticky webbing fluid to hamper their pursuers. Giant spiders do not grow as large as their desert cousins, the giant scorpions, and usually grow to the size of a small horse. Giant spiders are often hunted for their venom in Cher Plek, being an excellent source for poison coatings for weapons and other biological weapons. As such, they are prime targets among native Korin personnel, who are extremely adept at dispatching them.[/ul]

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The Reaper is among the most monstrous creatures inhabiting the world, a beast created from freak exposure to mutagens in locations around the world. Thought to have been created from cockroaches, Reapers are vicious and extremely dangerous predators. Standing roughly equal to a man, these creatures have a very thick chitinous exoskeleton that allows them to shrug off even strong attacks, and have extremely sharp, barbed limbs that they use to impale and rend apart their victims.
Reapers nest in membranous cocoons that hang from the ceiling of caverns and ruins, often near walls, and when they sense living creatures approach, they break free and shamble forward to attack. While their armor is tough, the joints of their limbs tend to be weak and can be separated with ease for skilled swordsmen or sharpshooters. As a natural defense against this, Reapers can emit noxious gases from their dorsal and abdominal sacs that hide and distort their bodies, which makes it difficult for their opponents to attack. Their organs are extremely soft, and damage to them can quickly destroy them.[/ul]

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Sand Maggots are named for their burrowing abilities, and are not actually maggots at all. These insects were once a staple diet for those that resided in the desert regions. The eggs were gathered and prepared as a protein-rich paste. Serving to supplement the dry foods naturally available in the region, the paste enhanced the nutritive value and flavor of meals. Now, however, the eggs, larvae, and flesh of the adults have acquired poisonous properties. Adults of the species even spit a poisonous substance that is not only toxic, but corrosive to unprotected flesh. In maturity, the chitinous exoskeleton of a Maggot is tough to penetrate, although once pierced, the creature is easily felled. Sand Maggots congregate in gigantic burrows beneath the ground, filled with long, slime-covered tunnels. Adult Sand Maggots usually grow to the size of a small horse, but there are rumors of truly gigantic Sand Maggots living inside the deepest reaches of their burrows.


Skulltula

Skulltulas are spiders that have abdomens adorned with skull-like designs on their back. A Skulltula will hang itself from a high ceiling using webbing, waiting patiently to drop down on unsuspecting prey. Skulltulas grow about half the size of a normal giant spider, and instead live within dark caverns, such as the Abandoned Mines. Skulltulas has a smaller cousin called the Skullwalltula, which is only a fourth of the Skulltula's size, and they only scurry on walls, usually ones people need to climb. Many ruins are infested with these loathsome creatures, while Skullwalltulas can be found often in the wild, outside of abandoned buildings and cavern systems.[/ul]

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A World Eater is a massive spider demon with psychic powers. These spiders have only two eyes that glow like bright orange lights, an open mouth surrounded by three pairs of mandibles, thick legs ending in sharp spikes, and a dull gray carapace armoring the upper surfaces of its body, with a white kanji-like symbol in the middle of its abdomen. World Eaters grow roughly the size of a large tank, and despite their size, are incredibly fast and agile, and have extremely acute hearing. They are capable of spitting acid from their mouths, and webbing fluid from spinning sacks. The most powerful ability a World Eater has is its psychic attack, which forces any and all victims around it to experience their deepest, darkest fears, incapacitating them and leaving them open to attack. World Eaters have three weaknesses: their hearing, while very acute, is also very sensitive, and loud, high-pitched noises are painful to them. Its upper body is heavily armored, but its underside is not. Finally, its psychic attack only works on living creatures. Mechanical beings, elemental constructs, the undead, and other non-living entities are immune to its effects.
One definite way of figuring out if a World Eater is nearby is through the presence of other smaller, mutated bugs--these bugs no longer look like normal insects one would find on the planet, and are much, much larger, often larger than a human hand. They are, however, harmless, and retreat from sources of light. These bugs will infest a wide area around a nest of a World Eater.[/ul]

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