Ash Cricket - Printable Version +- Sangreal - Fantasy Roleplay (http://193.122.143.38) +-- Forum: Lore of Sangreal (http://193.122.143.38/forumdisplay.php?fid=7) +--- Forum: Biologica (http://193.122.143.38/forumdisplay.php?fid=15) +---- Forum: Fauna (http://193.122.143.38/forumdisplay.php?fid=17) +---- Thread: Ash Cricket (/showthread.php?tid=118)

Ash Cricket - __denby - 04-28-2026 Ashcricket "Where the mountain cracks and smoke sings, the ashcricket waits with jaws of steel." - Neatapolitan Miner's Tale Summary: The ash-cricket is a rare, wagon-sized insectoid creature found within the volcanic and mountainous regions of the continent. Typically localized to Grafangu or Neatapori, the beasts do make their way elsewhere depending on underground lava flows, caves, or even the rare overland forage. Dwelling deep within tunnels and vacancies within the earth, it sustains itself on combustibles - particularly coal, charcoal and sulfurous rocks - which it ignites internally, essentially a walking metabolic furnace. Byproducts are typically combusted and expressed as a toxic vapor or fume that emits from beneath the wing-like appendages of the ashcricket. Basic Description: Being roughly the size of a wagon, ten to twelve feet in length and up to eight feet wide, these ashcrickets are covered with a segmented black exoskeleton. It is believed that the exoskeleton is comprised of iron sulfate and elements of high-carbon content metalloids. Confirmation of this theory can be made by anyone unlikely enough to engage with one, the beasts' armor being almost too tough for standard weapons to penetrate. It possesses six jointed limbs, each barbed with sharp spines capable for digging and climbing. Multifaceted ember-like eyes sit afront it, capable of low-light vision and thermal detection. Twin mandibles, serrated and glowing orange at the tips - they are superheated, and incredibly dense for digging within and crushing stones. Small gaps within the thorax exoskeleton emit sulphureous black fumes, toxic to those organics within a near radius. Rarity: Ultra Rare Location: Centralized to Grafangu and Neatapori, there are known nests in the Ashneedle Peaks and the networks of lava tunnels nearby. It is native to most mountainous volcanic regions of the continent, burrowing deep into coal and metal seams, emerging only when disturbed or excessively hungry. Sightings have been noted to increase after rockslides, mining explosions or volcanic tremors; these events often awakening dormant colonies below. Properties: Feeds on combustive, or metallic materials. Notably coal, sulphur, saltpetre, iron, etc. Converts heat to movement by thermal locomotion. Molten and Gaseous excretions of toxic sulphuric gases and iron sulfate. Emits a sonar-like pulse of clicking sounds that echo through stone. Special Properties: Capable of emitting a 'vomit attack' of whatever molten contents remain currently in its stomach. Armor made of an iron-sulphate/carbon steel matrix, capable of making effective armor plates.