User:DiCinnoa/Vrethrok

The Vrethrok are a insect race from the swamp planet Dgada.

They have recently been discovered by the Shield Corporation. They stand 14 feet tall and usually measure in length of 19 feet making these massive beasts far more dangerous than any insect race yet discovered. The Vrethrok have two discernible sub species in their swarms: the [Adjra] and the [Sreixre].

Background
The Vrethrok are creatures that are covered in natural plate like body armor, which affords them rather great protection against modern weaponry and melee attacks. Vrethrok have two pairs of sturdy wings, but due to the dense swamps of their homeworld are unable to use them. This does not however render the wings useless. The Vrethrok often beat their wings lifting them inches off the ground, but low enough not to tangle in the dense vines, leaves and tree branches that span the entire globe.

The Vrethrok are a hive minded species that works to expand and care for their hives with tremendous effort. When a threat nears the hive and ultimately the queen, the entire hive halts their project and forms a barrier around the entrance to the hive using millions of carcasses from other conquered colonies of Vrethrok.

Evolution
The Vrethrok homeworld Dgada, a planet much like Earth but three the size with nearly three times the gravity(2.8G). Because of this great amount of gravity the insect race of Vrethrok, which began its existence as a 3 foot tall insect became the 14 foot insect that dominates the planet. They might have grown larger except for the fact they no longer have the room to grow.

Vrethrok Anatomy and Physiology
The Vrethrok are similar to insects which dwell on Earth. They have just about all the attributes of Earth insects save for the sheer size.


 * The Adjra are smaller than their "guard like" cousins and so are the main worker/military force of the Vrethrok. They are the normal 14 ft tall 19 ft long beings found on the planet. They have long arms with claws at the end designed specifically for their status jobs.
 * The Sreixre on the other hand are much more built, with stronger shells and razor sharp saw like fore limbs. These hulking beasts are more suited for defensive positions rather than offensive like their smaller cousins. For that they are proven guards of the queen. The only reason a queen would die, is if every Sreixre was to die first.

Social Behavior and Caste Structure
As mentioned before, the Vrethrok are a eusocial species. They live in colonies built around a single reproductive queen, workers and soldiers. In the event a queen dies naturally or by way of assassination from another hive, the females will combat each other for right of dominance. In this arena style fighting system, death is not an option. If a death occurs the female who inflicted the fatal wound is condemned to death herself. Injuries are common in these matches none the less. To repair damaged shells and heal wounds, non combatant females will bite down into the wound with their 5 foot long fangs and inject a venom toxic to all others but has a reverse affect on the members of the hives. It all depends on the queen that the venom is hostile or friendly to the members. With every queen, the DNA of the members is automatically changed to nearly match the DNA of the queen.

In terms of war, the Vrethok have only ever fought amongst themselves. When a queen is killed during a war between rival hives, the entire hive is destroyed unless enough time is given for a new queen to emerge. This is rare as the rival victorious hive moves to completely exterminate the hive. In the event a new queen does emerge before the extermination is complete, the victorious hive will retreat and pronounce its failure to the new queen of the rival hive. The emergence of a new queen during an extermination is so rare that the Vrethrok have come to believe a new "emergence queen" is sacred and must be treated as such.

Trivia

 * The Vrethrok are based off of the Nerubians of World of Warcraft.