Necrognats
Necrognats
| Respawn: 15 minutes | |||||
| Level: 3 | Attack: 9 | ||||
| HP: 200 | MP: 16 | SP: 16 | |||
Max Drops: 6 gold, 0 silver, 0 copper
- Necrognats are truly a marvel of nature, with their small, black, and bulbous bodies no bigger than a thumbnail but with an impressive array of features. Their exoskeleton, smooth and glossy, glitters like polished obsidian in the light, reflecting hues of midnight blue and violet. Their wings, which are almost transparent, are a delicate lattice of veins that span across the insect's back, allowing them to dart through the air with incredible agility.
Upon closer inspection, one can see that their wings are covered in tiny scales that reflect different colors, making them look like tiny gemstones. The Necrognat's head is striking, triangular in shape, with two large, faceted eyes that glisten like rubies. Their jaws are razor-sharp, designed for ripping and shredding flesh, and their six spindly legs end in sharp, hooked claws that can cling to even the roughest terrain and keep them embedded in whatever flesh they've dug their way into.
Necrognats are tenacious creatures with a remarkable resilience that allows them to survive in even the most inhospitable of environments, making them well-suited for the harsh and unforgiving world of the undead.
Lifecycle: The life cycle of Necrognats is a complex and gruesome process, entirely dependent on their parasitic relationship with the undead. To begin, a female Necrognat will scour the surrounding area in search of a suitable host, preferably one that is a walking undead and decaying, but they are not above making use of a corpse. Once she has located a potential carrier, she will land on the host's flesh and use her sharp jaws to burrow into the rotting flesh, making her way towards the internal organs where she will deposit her eggs.
Over the course of several days, the eggs will hatch into larvae, tiny white grubs that immediately begin to feed on the host's decaying flesh. As they grow, the larvae will molt their skins several times, each time growing larger and more developed. The larvae will continue to feed and grow until they are fully developed, at which point they will emerge from the host, covered in bits of rotting flesh and fluid.
The newly emerged Necrognats will spend some time drying and cleaning themselves, spreading their wings and adjusting to the air around them. Once they are ready, they will fly off in search of new undead hosts, repeating the process of infestation and feeding. This cycle of infestation and emergence can continue for several weeks, with a single host potentially spawning dozens or even hundreds of Necrognats over time.
The life cycle of Necrognats is thus entirely dependent on their parasitic relationship with the undead, making them a unique and dangerous threat to the Kingdom of Vailkrin. As the undead population grows, so too will the population of Necrognats, making it crucial for the citizens of Vailkrin to remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions to avoid infestation.
Weaknesses: Necrognats, being insects, are susceptible to various natural predators such as birds, bats, and spiders, as well as larger creatures such as rodents and carnivorous reptiles. They are also vulnerable to extreme cold or heat, which can kill them off in large numbers.
In terms of weaknesses, Necrognats require a steady supply of rotting flesh to feed their larvae, so they are dependent on the presence of undead hosts or cadavers. Without a steady supply of decaying flesh, their population can dwindle and even die off.
While popular insecticides have not been made mainstream, there may be alchemical or herbal remedies that can repel or even kill Necrognats. However, finding and using such remedies may be difficult and expensive, as they may require rare and exotic ingredients or specialized knowledge.
Written by Isok for the Unique Fauna Contest