Insectare

Space-faring cricket-folk disguised as elves. An aberration.

Imagine a beautiful elf, skin like porcelain. If you could get close, you’d see its eyes are compounded. If you could see under its elaborate scarves and cloak, you’d discover a chitinous insectoid body with joints like a puppet’s. If unmasked, it uncoils two cricket-like body-length antennae.

Spy on a mission, Cold elegance, Insectoid twitches.


 
HD: 1 Armor: as chain
Hit it: hard Dodge it: normal
Move: normal  

It is impossible to distinguish a disguised insectare from an elf when not adjacent to it.

It resists mind attacks (because it’s an aberration). It can jump 60’, lie extremely well and see in the dark. It can’t die unless it’s would-be killer saves vs fear.

Attacks (1/round)

Saber Jump. The insectare makes a melee attack (1D6) and jumps 60’ away.

Antennae Whips. The insectare makes two melee attacks with reach (1D2). On a hit, a target must save or drop its weapon.



Random Encounter
  1. Monster: 1D4 insectare and 1 veteran …
  2. … mage
  3. … scout
  4. … spelljammer captian
  5. riding a giant grasshopper
  6. Lair: An elegant flying ship with sails like insect wings.
      OR
    Omen: Conversation whispered in cricket noises.
  7. Spoor: Electrocuted person. Dead but sill spasming.
  8. Tracks: Faint high-pitched vibration.
  9. Trace: Person complaining about a high-pitched noise nobody else can hear.
  10. Trace: [rumor] new elven delegation in the area.
D6 Mutations

You grow insectoid features on your …

  1. … head. You have 6’ long antennae with which you can smell.
  2. … eyes. You are obsessed by light.
  3. … back. Vestigial wings can vibrate to make cricket noises.
  4. … forearm. As hard as leather armor.
  5. … thighs. You can jump 20’ high.
  6. reroll. You know the spell word Vibration and gain one Spell Die.
Salvaging the Body

You find their weapons and …(Roll as many times as the HD of the monster)

  1. Nothing.
  2. Their weapon was electrified! (You take 1D4)
  3. Star map to an astral location.
  4. Elven Mask.
  5. Elven Dress.
  6. Sensitive elven secrets.
2D6 Insectare Cultures

Combine the result of both tables to get the broad lines of this humanoid culture in this part of the world.

Cultures

  1. The ones that live like parasites within elven communities.
  2. The ones that live in hollow dwarf planets in the astral sea.
  3. The ones that took over the local elves a while ago.
  4. The ones that are ambassadors and spies for other cultures.
  5. The ones are merchant traveling in their flying vessels.
  6. The ones that are consuming all the crops until a world is dead.

Features

  1. They are but one part of a galactic coalition of species.
  2. Their queen is relatively close, laying a new batch of eggs.
  3. They have recently assassinated an important person.
  4. They are destined to summon a world consuming swarm of astral locusts.
  5. They make artificial elves.
  6. They have a vendetta against future you.
Design Notes

Insectare are weird! They are a spelljammer race whose shtick is to be pretend to be elves. Like a moth pretending to be an owl but more sinister.</details>

Written on November 14, 2020