Krixek

Krixek are an anthropomorphic insect race, originating from the desert of Essyrn. Their society operates on a caste system, led by a council.

Overview

The Krixek are a warrior race of anthropomorphic insects, who, originally from the Essyrni deserts, have become widespread, but naturally low population has meant that meeting them is a rarity. They had an empire in ages of old, that spanned the whole of the Essyrni deserts, but it crumbled as the population dwindled, and eventually fell into myth.

Physiology

Krixek resemble human-sized, bipedal insects with a chitinous exoskeleton. They have four eyes, and a distinct, tapering head, and fully developed wings, allowing them to fly.

Their exoskeleton is often a deep brown-black, with a coloured musculature system visible in places. The exoskeleton, composed of large pieces of carapace, is exceptionally strong, able to take sword attacks with very little damage. Maces, crossbows, rifles and pistols are much more effective at damaging them.

Their eyes have a natural glow, that can be any colour, depending on the individual. They have two modes of sight, thermal, in which they can track the heat signatures of warm-blooded animals, through walls and caves, as long as the temperature would not supercede that of the Essyrni deserts. They can also operate their eyes in two pairs, allowing them exceptional multitasking abilities. They also have exceptional night vision.

They have a small, hollow piece of chitin in their throats which is hollow, connected to a specialised set of muscles in their inner body, which act in the same manner as a voice box. The hollow chitin acts as a makeshift amplifier, making their voices audible.

Their musculature system is so advanced that even an unhealthy Krixek can lift 9-10 times it's own weight. Their wings allow them to fly indefinitely, and they seem to have a non-existent metabolism, not requiring anything but an hour's sunlight a day to survive.

Warrior distinction Krixek have horns, lighter coloured carapace, natural war markings, and six eyes.

General distinction Krixek are larger, have six eyes, a larger, broader head with an upwards curve at the end of the taper, and a pair of vestigial limbs as well as their standard limbs. They have four wings instead of the normal two.

History

The Krixek originated from a prehistoric race of aggressive beetles long before humans existed, but came to intelligence and power in ancient Essyrn. Around the same time that civilisation in Le'raana was starting up, the Krixek aggressively expanded to occupy the Essyrni deserts, conquering and murdering all who resisted. There was no army that could stop the swarm as it expanded to cover all of the desert, eventually settling as it decided not to advance to the colder lands where the sun was less.

However, their population kept growing, and soon the empire crumbled under it's own weight, the population warring over territory to the point where they became endangered, and they soon spread to the northern lands, to find there was sun there after all.

Hives still exist here and there, with individuals roaming as they please, but hardly any are seen. It is unknown whether the population found a way to survive underground, or whether they simply died off.

Special Abilities

Krixek have three different distinctions: Drones, Warriors and Generals. All distinctions have the signature carapace, but Drones have less strength, and Warriors and Generals have several powers at their disposal.

Drones

Drones have a superb natural strength, being able to lift 10-15 times their own weight when healthy. Their carapace is tough, and they have the natural thermal vision and visible light eyesight abilities and their nightvision allows them to work in caves, at night, anywhere dark.

Warriors

Warriors have an exceptional natural strength, able to lift up to 15-25 times their own weight at peak form. Their carapace is invulnerable to all but the most forceful weapons, those most commonly being guns, maces, hammers, clubs, crossbows, cannons and other such weapons.

They also have telekinetic abilities that become more advanced when in telepathic contact contact with a General Distinction Krixek.

They have a single "biotic" ability, which allows them to shut down a random organ in an opponents body. The effect doubles cumulatively for every General Distinction Krixek they're in telepathic contact with, so if it's 1 General, they can shut down 2 organs, if it's 2 Generals, they shut down 4, and if it's 3 Generals they shut down 8 organs.

Generals

Generals can lift 25-40 times their own weight in combat, at peak form. Their carapace is immune to crossbows and weak guns, as well as swords and other blades, and they are about 1-2 feet taller than most of their allies.

They have advanced telekinetic and telepathic abilities, but can only create telepathic links with other Krixek. Generals can then use these Krixek as relays for their telepathic range, meaning that the more Krixek there are, the more powerful those Krixek are, as when a new General comes into contact with even one, the others all get a power boost as if they were directly connected.

They have a "biotic" ability which causes their metabolism to go into overload. Their carapace cracks with the energy and begins to glow the same colour as their eyes, giving them 20-30 minutes of unpreventable lifespan, before they violently explode, spraying the nearest 20-30 meters with fire. The range of the fireball is the inverse to the time spent before exploding, e.g. 20 minutes of life = 30 meters of fire, 25 minutes to 25 meters, and 30 minutes to 20 meters.

Lifestyle

Individually, Krixek will resort to things which they find most interesting, and use their 500 year life span to master that trade. Drones tend to go for things like accounting, trading, teaching, and other peaceful roles, whereas warriors and generals go for militant and fighting heavy roles like mercenaries and soldiers.

The Krixek are atheistic, by nature, and their roles within their own society are highly defined. Drones are specifically gatherers, who collect resources like metals and wood. They do conduct other roles, and can commonly be seen as fodder for tougher enemies. Warriors act as their name suggests, and Generals command the warriors.

The Krixek follow the commands of their Council, comprised of six members. From each caste comes two members, who have shown exceptional strengths in their fields.

Formal Relationship Types

The Krixek do not have a formal gender type, as they reproduce through a plant generated by spores released under the right conditions. The plants are headed by large, carnivorous heads, and the stem rests the eggs on the ground.

Diet

The Krixek only require an hour of sunlight daily, as they photosynthesise all the necessary sugars and proteins to survive.

Lifespan/stages

The Krixek begin as spores, released into the earth when the conditions are met. The spores literally grow to full size overnight, growing, instead of flowers, carnivorous heads that eat anything that comes near. Over the next few years, the spore grows eggs, feeding them the knowledge of the parent, as the youngling will grow to full adulthood a mere week after hatching.

Social Structure

The Krixek follow a council led caste structure. From birth, the appearance of the Krixek defines it's role in life, and, rather oddly, what it wants to do. There has never been a case where a Drone caste Krixek wanted to become a mercenary. The castes are split into three groups.

Drones - they gather, build, dig, anything the warriors don't do because they're fighting.

Warriors - they fight, build, dig. Whenever they are not fighting, they revert to drone roles.

Generals - they command forces in battle, and revert to drone roles outside of battle.

The Council - the council is comprised of 6 Krixek, 2 from each caste, and the council makes decisions on the Empire's behalf.