Vespian

The Vespian are the intelligent mortal part of The Swarm, while all other Casts of the species are animistic in their intelligence. These mortals have the ability to command their unintelligent kin though not perfectly. They have a high degree of familial loyalty to their hive, which generally numbers at around a hundred or so mortals and several times more monstrous forms though the ratio can vary widely depending on the Vespian ’s preferences or the temperament or nature of their unintelligent aerial queens.

## Physical Description

Vespian workers stand at about 1.5 meters tall. They have two arms ending in hands with 3 fingers and a a thumb, all clawed. Their upper legs are thick and armored while their lower legs are rather spindly. As a result Vespian will fly almost everywhere using their 4 large wings, even when ground based they will move in a bounding motion rather than put weight on their weak lower legs. To stand still they must kneel, supporting themselves on their thick upper legs and thorax, or hover in place. Their bodies are mostly covered in red and browns striped chitin, the pattern of which can be used to identify individuals. they also have a thick mane of fur around their necks and shoulders,a swell as two smaller tufts at the elbows which can come in a verity of different colors and ares sometimes styled depending on the culture.

Vespian see using their two massive monotone, which come in shades of teal to purple, and their antenna which act both as ears and as their nose. They are armed with a large venom injecting stinger best suited to hunting mega-fauna due to it's size but the venom can be extracted and sued for other purposes.

All Vespian are infertile females, and are but one of the many forms that the children of the Swarm Queens can take.

## Characteristics

The Vespian are all rather aggressive and have a tendency towards forming hive wide obsessions. They also lean towards xenophobia, sometimes not even understanding that other mortals can think like they do. Higher monster populations generally indicate that the have is a threat, while lower ones may indicate a more cooperative spirit as the Vespian will be more able control the natural instincts of their bestial kin and avoid being dragged down into their vicious state of mind.

## Culture

Like all swarm Casts, the Vespian are primarily carnivorous, although to what degree the avoid eating plants varies from hive to hive. Many hives are prominently hunter/raider societies who travel across the land establishing temporary hives and savaging the local animal population and robbing/killing the natives before moving on. Others have figured out the whole agriculture thing and have set up permanent hives, but will still hunt and raid if the opportunity presents itself.

Only a few interact peacefully with native mortal populations and these hives generally have to cull a great deal of their bestial kin to prevent them from attacking their neighbors, a practice seen abhorrent by many of their kin. A few hives have longstanding relationships with the natives, but most peace agreements are new, a reaction to rise of cities and advent of bronze. Those living in relative peace are generally found near, or in, advanced native settlements which they see worthwhile trading with or where the natives have shown themselves to be able to stand against the natural strength and scale of the Vespian military.

## Population Distribution

rough locations with wasp heads indicate sites where Vespian craft landed