[✗] Almaris Bestiary Addition: The Giant Ant (Wild Grimoire)

[The Harbinger 336]

 

Many have heard of the Giant spider, a massive beast that will happily feast on descendant flesh, but there have been reports, sightings, and even the first encounters of a species much more dangerous: The Giant Ant!

 

Subraces: 

 

NORMAL ANTS

 

Worker Ants:

These thin ants are the workers of the colony. They creatures have long, spindly limbs, and are quick on their feet. The ants build shelters and walls by dragging boulders and rocks, and placing them into a formation. The walls the Workers build are very crude, but they do their job, and, when working together with Guard Ants, they will make a very effective defence against almost all incoming creatures. These ants do not fight, and when attacked, they flee, leaving a scent to let the others know of any danger

 

Soldier Ants

The Soldier ants are, as the name suggests, the soldiers of the Colony, and these ants make up the bulk of the defence of the Nest. The Soldier Ants are skilled combatants, and are bulkier than the Worker Ants. They have massive mandibles compared to the rest of their body, and compared to the rest of the Colony. The Soldier Ants are, aside their task as defenders, also the hunters of the Nest, and are often seen going out in small groups to look for food. The Soldier Ants fight using their mandibles and legs, grabbing and holding down their opponent to either paralyse or kill it.

 

Guard Ants

These ants are similar to Soldier Ants, but have one big difference. Their head is extremely big, and is, when the Nest is under attack, used as a door. These ants, when fighting, use their head instead of their mandibles, headbutting their opponent with great force, and often knocking it out in only one or two hits. The heads of the Guard Ants is somewhat reinforced, making it harder than the rest of their body, and more resistant to slashing attacks. These ants are rarely seen outside of the nests, but are, when in battle, sent out in small squads

 

Knight Ants

The Elite troops of the Colony, with an armoured body and bladed legs, these  Ants are the real killers of the Colony. They are only needed when stronger or larger enemy's attack the Nest, but defend it efficiently, killing all and everything attacking. These ants are often seen as bullies, taking food of the smaller ants, and killing those of other Colony's purely for fun. Their hide is thick and strong enough to deflect weaker slashes, and are even somewhat resistant to small impact damage. Their Bladed legs are sharp, and are used as weapons, instead of their mandibles, even though they could.

 

King Ant

The largest and strongest ant, and the Queens mate, this ant is the largest of the Knight Ants, and is intensely armoured. Some believe this is another of the subspecies of Ants, while others believe they are a rare variant of the Knight Ants. One thing that is for sure, these Ants are the best fighters the Colony has to offer, and they are often seen leading a charge of Knight Ants (More to come about this). This Ant is the biggest and strongest of all the ants in the Nest, and is second in rank only to the Queen.

 

The Queen

The most important of all the ants, and the leader of the Nest. This ant seems to have an innate ability to control the rest, as if able to dominate their minds. This ant can be recognized by the crown looking shape on her head, and the bright red colour makes it look like a royally red cloak. The Queen is much bigger than most ants, even towering over the smaller Knight Ants, and being slightly bigger than the King. She is strong, and capable of holding her own in a duel if needed, though she always has fighters available.

 

SPECIAL ANTS

 

Scout Ants

The smallest of the Ants, and really quick. They are fighters nor workers, but instead they are the ones that go out into unexplored area's. The Scouts have the special ability to camouflage themselves, and, due to the size of their body, can hide in area's one wouldn't think to look.

 

Dragon Ants

The special ants of the Colony, and the ones that have, along with Spit Ants, have more range based attacks. These ants can spew flames, having two unique pieces of Carapace on its pincers that, when smashed together, can create sparks, which it catches on a highly flammable compound it spews from its mouth. The compound can burn for several hours, and can be spewed for several meters, igniting anything it catches. These ants have to move slowly when preparing to fire.

 

Devil's Ants

These ants are rarely seen, due to their behavior. The ants are small, more fragile then even Worker ants. They are a subspecies of a subspecies of the normal ant, being a rare variant of the Dragon Ants, and instead of shooting flames, they engulf themselves in flames, often leading to their death, along with anything or anyone in their immediate vicinity. Their body has small pores all along their whole body, which can sweat out a flammable compound which, once ignited, can burn for a long time. The ants ignite the compound the same way as the Dragon Ants do.

 

Spit Ants

These are the rarest of the special ants, having only a few of these per Nest or Colony (At most 5 per colony.) They are similar to both Dragon and Soldier Ants, but can spew a highly corrosive poison, which can burn through any weaker material. It can shoot its venom over almost 10 meters, but it's more effective on shorter distance, since it is like a spray. Only a few drops of this poison can burn the skin, but its easily countered by harder materials, or flowing water. The Poison can only be stored and held active by the Poison Ants, and is impossible to be used by any of the technology any of the Descendants possess. 

 

Flying Ants

These are dangerous Ants, able to drop anything they need on top of the enemy. They are often seen banding together to lift up one larger ant, for example a Knight Ant, and dropping it nearer, or in the middle of the enemy. They can only fly at low speeds and altitudes

 

Bugler Ants

These ants have heavy, reinforced pincers that, once smashed together will create a heavy and loud sound that will alert any ants nearby of an incoming attack. These ants are no good at fighting, due to their clumsiness and sheer bulk, only faring slightly better in battle then the average Worker, but are of vital importance to the Nest, because, if not warned, an ambush of enemy's could wipe out an entire Colony of ants at once.

 

WORKER CLASS

 

Farmer Ants

The most cooperative and hard working of all the ants, and the ones that, when out of meat, provide food for the Colony. They provide the Colony with berries and branches of small trees and bushes, helping the other Worker Ants with building Walls by providing materials to strengthen it.

 

Builder Ants

These ants are the ones that build the walls, helped by the Farmer and Siege Ants. These ants can build quickly, creating a wall within mere seconds when working together. They often have specific tasks, where one would get stones, and the others would place them together to form the formations needed to defend. they even know how to make very crude versions of either catapults or battle rams to break into opponents Nests, or even break down small sections of walls.

 

Jester Ant

These ants are both for the entertainment of the King and Queen, and for distracting the enemy, often making loud sounds to get the attention of the enemy troops. Once performing, it seems as if all ants of its Colony will fight harder, and will be able to endure more. It is theorised that in its dance it also releases a pheromone which causes this effect

 

Assassin Ants

These ants are very rare, and can be seen stealing eggs and killing ants in the other Colony's. They can enter these undetected due to their ability to change their scent at will, matching that of the other Nests, and infiltrating it undetected. These Assassins come in different forms, there are those that look like Soldiers, Workers and even some Knight Assassins have been observed. They also eliminate priority targets if an Ant war is immenent. When this occurs, mostly Knights will be prioritised. There are even events where the King, or even the queen are slain.

 

Slave Ants

The surviving members of another Colony, taken and set to work in the Nests of the captors. These slaves are treated the poorest in the whole Colony. Often starved, often must scavenge leftovers, if there are even any, and are left for dead when the Colony moves on for another nest. Some reports indicate that the ants will kill the slaves and use them as an emergency food store if they are desperate enough.

 

BEHAVIOUR

 

Attacking

The ants work as one when in combat, often overwhelming the opponents. Often, Soldier Ants are sent forward, trying to get the enemy out of their camp, while the Knight Ants, and the King prepare for the assault. Once the enemy is out of their Nest, Flying Ants take Dragon, Soldier and Demon Ants with them, and drop them down on all sides of the enemy, enclosing them, and preventing them from getting help. Further more, the Flying Ants drop stones on top of the entrance of the enemy camp, so that no one can escape.

The King would lead a charge consisting of himself and a group of the most strong and fast Knight Ants, and leads them into the enclosed enemy's. He will take down as much of the enemy's army as possible before the rest of his army is there to help.

 

 Defending

The Guard Ants always stay in duo's, always ready to help one another when one of the doors are broken down. They close down all the entrances, and send the Workers back to the safe places in the centre, or the back of the Nest. On top of the walls, the Ants will set the Spit and the Dragon ants, while Flying ants drop rocks and Demon ants on the enemy. Once the enemy shows weakness, the Soldier, Knight and King Ants will swarm out of the Nest, and overwhelm the enemy, driving them back.

 

Hunting

The need for food makes life a game, a brutal competition on life and death, with only a slight chance of survival. Due to  their job, the Farmers are greatly respected, almost as much as the Queen is respected. The hunting is done by ones self, or in small groups. The ants hunt for everything that lives, anything that has enough flesh for them.

 

Loot:

Kings armour: the natural armour of a mighty Ant King. The armour deflects steel and defies iron like no other. If a Smith were to refine it into armour, then it would prove to be 1.5 times stronger than steel. This does not mean it is impenetrable, and holds the same disadvantages of plate. This item requires ST approval to collect and forge into armour.

The blades of the king: The pincers of a Mighty Ant King. It's amazing quality and toughness is desired by any self respecting warrior. If a Smith were to refine it into a weapon, then it would prove to be 1.5 times stronger than steel. This does not mean that it can easily slice through armour like it is nothing, but in battle, it will prove superior to steel. This item requires ST approval to collect and forge into weaponry.

Knights carapace: the tough plated carapace of an Ant knight, it's strength and density is akin to steel. It could be used to make armour, such as plate.

Spitter ant acid: harvested from the sac of a dead spitter ant, this powerful acid seems to cut through almost anything! It would be optimal for smithing, but it is too volatile for any combat usage.

Dragon Ant/Demon Ant fluid: harvested from a dead demon/dragon, this compound burns twice as hot as standard flame, and can be used in smithing and metalwork to allow higher temperatures of the forge.

Knights Maw: the pincers take from a Knight ant's jaws. Tough as steel, and just as durable. It could be used to make into a weapon.

 

Redlines:

 

- If a Druid were to connect and commune with one of the Builder Class Ants, they would feel as if connecting to a fairly intelligent creature.

- The Kings armour (king any carapace) will need ST signature to forge into armour and items.

- The Blades of the King (king ant pincers) will need ST signature to be forged or used as weapons.

- Builders are fearful, and will retreat when under attack

- Farmer Ants are friendly, and have a calming effect on Ants in their direct fascinate.

- the Knights maw and carapace are as tough as steel. The difference is purely for flavour and aesthetics 

- the chemicals from the Demon, Dragon, and Spitter ants cannot be used in combat.

-The King's plate and blades are 1.5 times stronger than steel. They require ST approval to harvest and forge into weapons.

 

OOC acknowledgments: thanks to Grey_w0lf and _RoyalCrafter_ for helping me so much! Grey wolf for refining my ideas, and Royalcrafter for helping to come up with some of the subraces!

This is my first ever lore thingy I am giving in

Also, can someone reply to this and tell me how to allow someone else to edit? I want to ask Grey wolf to edit this when they tell me how I need to improve it

Edited July 17, 2022 by The Harbinger

[The Harbinger 336]

This is my first ever lore thingy I am giving in

Also, can someone reply to this and tell me how to allow someone else to edit? I want to ask Grey wolf to edit this when they tell me how I need to improve it

[_RoyalCrafter_ 3241]

I vowed teh respect Anbella's nature en all ets aspects... But man are thes thin's fookin nasteh lookin.

Edited July 18, 2022 by VerminHunter

[squakhawk 7882]

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