Drakling

Across the relics of the Ancient Pyrosi empire, images of horned beasts locking horns are ubiquitous. At first archeologists believed that these images belonged to larger animals upon Ludwag. The true culprit however, would be one of its smallest. The Drakling beetle is among the Pyrosi’s most cherished creatures, a symbol of nobility and strength. It was used in a traditional sport known as ‘Dragon Wrestling,’ pitting two males against each other and betting on the victor. Much of the Drakling’s cultural and sporting history has survived to this day as it proves to be quite common among nobles and collectors alike.

#### Physiology and Anatomy

Born survivors, the Drakling are some of the hardiest insects on the continent. Their armored shells are designed to endure the intense debris onslaught of sandstorms and shield the insect from frying in the direct blistering sun. They can retain water in the most meager of forms for months in stored reserves in their tail, allowing them to make long desert treks without threat of dehydration. Finally, their feet have small pads which effortlessly hold traction in sand. Given they weigh so little, they do not fear slipping on the dunes where other larger beasts may struggle to mount them. There are few places in the desert where Drakling aren’t readily equipped to follow.

Drakling are omnivorous creatures, adept at scavenging anything they find on the wastes. Their sense of smell is perceptive to both rot and abundant minerals. Their shear-like mandibles allow them to feed soft material into their mouthparts- so how do they handle harder foodstuffs? Their horn gleams a superheated orange, able to slowly warp metal and melt flesh and vegetation into a softened sludge for proper consumption. The horn will be rendered inert if the Drakling dies and appears larger in males. Both male and female Drakling construct nests out of warped material they find on the surface; metals are their favorite nesting material and males will clash over choice parts.

During the wet season, Drakling begin to lay their eggs. Females will abandon their nests to nomadically search for males. Males will in turn make their own nests more presentable and fortify them from predators and rivals. A pair will form once she deems a nest suitable. She may lay hundreds of tiny eggs over the course of a week. These infants are born as grubs with a smaller version of the adult’s superheated horn. They will spend their first year as full predators in much the same way as Deathcrawlers. Once their year maturity cycle has completed, they will pupate into full blown mature Draklings.

#### Psychology

‘Dragon Beetles’ are very territorial and known to hoard like their draconic namesake. They will not tolerate other Drakling anywhere near their nest unless it is during a pairing. Males will fight one another in raids to steal bits of ideal nesting material. These fights often involve their titular horn. Though the top armor of a Drakling is resistant to the horn’s effects, the underside is not. Males will attempt to get their horn beneath a rival to severely gore and or burn them into submission. Their aggression is not seen in anything larger than a Deathcrawler as Drakling are timid of animals greater in size than themselves.