Myrmex
Myrmex, sometimes called Mantid Warriors, are a species of humanoid insects that can found in subterranean colonies across Exorsia, The Deepdark and The Astral Sea. These colonies are usually extremely territorial and aggressive, and are known to hunt and kill people.
Myrmex are very much unlike any other humanoid species on Exorsia. They are a single sex species, with six limbs and a tough insectoid carapace. Myrmex are also known to possess some innate Psionic abilities. While they naturally have difficulty speaking languages that aren't Myrmex, which is communicated through clicks and body movements, some Myrmex have developed a form of telepathy to communicate more effectively with other species.
Mortality and Individuality
There is much debate on whether Myrmex have Souls, and therefore can be classed as a Mortal species or not.
While Myrmex are most commonly found as part of Myrmex colonies, but in rare circumstances a Myrmex can find themselves disconnected from their colony, either through intent or accident. These Myrmex have been know to begin to develop individuality and a personality of their own, outside the confides of their former hive. Though these Myrmex are usually met with hostility due to their appearance and the reputation of their species.
This process of separation from the hive seems to be the differentiating factor between Myrmex with a Soul, and those without. This topic is of great interest to many Theologians, as it may give insight into the nature of the Soul. But due to the rarity of such an occurrence not much research has been able to be done on the topic.
Ancient documents from the Age of Arcanum suggest that free Myrmex are much more common within the societies of the space colonies of The Astral Sea, where they are not an uncommon sight and can be found coexisting with other Mortal species. Unfortunately communication to these colonies is long longer possible since The Fall of Arcanum, so it is impossible to confirm this.
Ancient documents from the Age of Arcanum suggest that free Myrmex were much more common within the societies of the space colonies of The Astral Sea,, where they were not an uncommon sight and could be found coexisting with other Mortal species. Unfortunately these colonies were destroyed during The Fall of Arcanum, so it is impossible to confirm this.
Myrmex Colonies
Myrmex colonies usually make their homes deep underground within deserts or mountain environments. Myrmex colonies resemble ant colonies. The entire colony serves a single Queen, a gargantuan Myrmex who is both the mother of every member of the colony, and the individual who controls the colony through her pheromones.
Many Myrmex within the colonies are effective and dangerous hunters, and are well recorded hunting, killing and eating people. The colonies are also known to be effective scavengers, plundering every resource available in the area around their colonies.
Members of the colony are groomed from birth to serve specific roles:
- Workers: Perform all the labour for the colony such as building and gathering.
- Soldiers: Protect the colony from intruders and hunt prey.
- Drones: Winged Myrmex who compete to reproduce with a Queen before dying at 3 - 4 Years old.
- Princesses: Winged Myrmex who have the potential to become Queens themselves. They either serve the Queen as handmaidens and bodyguards or leave to start their own colonies.
- Queen: The leader and mother of the colony. She constantly produces eggs and controls the colony through her pheromones. The Queen was formerly a princess of another colony, mutating to a gargantuan size and losing her wings.
Appearance
Myrmex are tall bipedal insects with a tough carapace that is capable of shifting colours, giving them a natural camouflage Myrmex have antennae, large compound eyes and clicking mandibles. They also have six limbs, two that serves as legs, and four that serves as arms, each with three clawed fingers.
Carapace: Myrmex bodies tend to naturally range from tones of green, brown, yellow or red, with some having a purple colouring within The Astral Sea.
Eyes: A Myrmex's compound eyes tend to range in colour from yellow, green or red, to purple, blue or black.
Maturity
Myrmex mature much faster than Humans, reaching adulthood around the age of 3.
While Myrmex within a colony only live for 20 to 35 years, Myrmex Queens have been known to live up to 150 years. Free Myrmex have also been known to live longer than colony Myrmex, though how much longer is unknown.
If the Queen of a Myrmex colony dies, their rest of the colony usually dies off soon after, if the Queen is not replaced. This doesn't seem to effect free Myrmex.
Reproduction
Myrmex hatch from eggs. A Myrmex Queen can produce up to 400 eggs annually. These eggs then take around 3 to 4 months to hatch.
Ancient documents from the Age of Arcanum suggest that free Myrmex, within The Astral Sea colonies, were able to produce eggs and offspring independently from a Queen. Though this is unconfirmed.
1.5 - 2.1 m (5 - 7 ft)
Diet
Omnivore
Native Language
Myrmex
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