Cleanbug
From ElanVital
Contents |
Description
The quisquiliarum silex, commonly known as the "Cleanbug," is a considerable danger to any large-scale expeditions or excavations beyond the city limits. While not particularly aggressive, they are very large and are attracted to shiny objects.
The Cleanbug is a massive insectoid creature, its body composed of four distinct segments: the head, thorax, sub-abdomen, and abdomen. Its length can exceed fifty feet, and the longest of its ten legs can reach thirty. Its outer shell is studded with spikes and is so thick and strong, some researchers are looking in to using it as low-cost armor for vehicles. These animals have a very small, siphon-like mouthpart and are incapable of biting or stinging, but instead must crush their prey into paste before slurping it up. They do this by curling into a tight ball and rolling over their prey; when in such a posture, which they also use to defend themselves, they are virtually invulnerable to conventional weapons. Cleanbugs have also been observed using their "rolling" ability to travel long distances quickly. It is unknown just how heavy Cleanbugs are, but they are able to crush armored vehicles without any noticeable difficulty. It is also unknown why they do not venture into the city, as they are certainly able to breach all available defenses if so motivated. Unlike the insects of Earth, they thankfully lack wings of any sort.
The Cleanbug gets its name from its habit of collecting what it perceives to be garbage items into a ball, which it rolls around much like a Terran dung beetle. Unfortunately, being a rather stupid and inconsiderate creature it does not distinguish between biological and mineral material, or even material that is in use by humans. Many vehicles and items left unattended (and some not-so-unattended) have ended up in Cleanbug balls, and this problem has made construction beyond Titania's walls exceedingly difficult. It is unknown precisely why they form these balls but it is assumed they use them to keep their eggs - assuming they lay eggs - warm and safe, as do dung beetles.
Citizens are strongly encouraged to leave Cleanbugs alone and give them as much space as possible, as they can and have killed humans as an act of predation, even if they have not been known to actively hunt humans.
Under no circumstances should one ever attempt to ride a Cleanbug. Any citizen to attempt this does so at their own peril.
Magical Properties
The cleanbug is not known to possess any magical abilities.
Habitat
The cleanbug is most often found in the plains of the Goldsea, and other wide open spaces where they have plenty of room to move around. Their paths are often marked by swaths of flattened grass.
Danger Level
High. While the cleanbug is not terribly aggressive, when it does decide it's hungry, it's nearly impossible to outrun it or outfight it.
