Hornet

Hornets, or Gesleangs, are a breed of massive, overgrown wasp with a potent venom. They make their homes in the swamps of Olbrecht.

## Background

### Origin and biology

Gesleangs are another addition to the list of horrible, giant insects that can be found populating the desolate marshlands of Olbrecht. Originally an ordinary species of carnivorous wasps (a nuisance already), they have grown five times their normal size after centuries of eating other insects that have been magically augmented, specifically Creepers. They Measure in at roughly five inches long, with a wingspan of six inches, and have a mostly dull green coloration which acts as camouflage, occasional red stripes, and red compound eyes. Queens are slightly larger, reaching sizes of six inches long, with a wingspan of eight inches, and a much more vibrant purple and orange coloration. Their bodies have an iridescent quality.

### Diet and behavior

Gesleangs build hives wherever they can out of chewed up wood pulp. They have complex social hierarchy with specialized jobs like ordinary wasps. They are carnivorous, and eat whatever they can swarm around and subdue, taking the meat back to their hive bite by bite. They prefer easy, slow moving prey like grubs and the aforementioned Creepers. They have also been known to attack Crawlers, humanoids such as Sahuagin and Bullywugs, and even crocodiles if desperate enough. Gesleangs possess a powerful, fast-acting venom which attacks the vascular system. A single sting is not fatal, but multiple stings often are. They inject their venom traditionally with their stingers, but are capable of spraying it from their stingers as well. A well-aimed shot of venom can blind the eyes of an unfortunate victim. Gesleangs attack in swarms and have two specified roles: stingers and biters. Some Gesleangs will crawl over the surface their prey, biting as they go so as to draw attention away from the stingers as they inject their venom.

Not every attack is immediately fatal however, as Gesleangs reproduce parasitically. Female Gesleangs lack stingers, and will lay their eggs on, near, or inside of the host, where they continue to develop. The larva feeds on the host internally or externally, killing the host when it is ready to pupate. Once it emerges in its pupal form, it finds a safe place to create a silken cocoon where it will stay until it becomes a fully developed wasp. Curiously, Gesleangs will always know which hive their mother came from, and will seek it out after reaching adulthood.

### Society

Queens are central to the hierarchy of Gesleang hives. The singular queen is responsible for creating the various groups of workers, hunters, and breeders. Workers are all infertile females, as they lack stingers and aren't fit to hunt, and spend their lives building and adding to the hive's structure. Hunters are all male, as they possess stingers, and spend all of their time gathering meat. Breeders are a small group of fertile females who seek out hosts with a group of hunters, who help ensure that she is successful in laying her eggs.

Gesleangs are incredibly territorial, and will attack anything that comes near their hives, no matter what. There are many pockets of Olbrecht that are avoided altogether due to the presence of these monsters. The only notable predator that Gesleangs have to worry about are the Giant Spiders, who sometimes seek out entire hives to devour, as they are immune to their venom. A careless Gesleang may also be eaten by Scum, who wait on the surface of stagnant water for unsuspecting prey to get too close. A Gesleang hive is easy to spot from a distance, as it resembles a great fat tree marred with numerous uniform holes. The wasps can be seen flying in and out of their hives at all times of day, and take "shifts", resting when it is their turn.

### Weaknesses

Gesleangs are rarely alone, and when they are, more are sure to be nearby. When a Gesleang is in danger, it releases a pheromone that alerts other Gesleangs and summons them for help. They have highly developed senses of smell, and can follow a scent for up to 10 miles. This means that fighting a single one often means that more will come, at which point traditional weaponry is useless. While they aren't particularly weak to any one type of magic, lightning and fire magic can be quite affective at taking out groups. It is suggested if you survive an encounter, to bathe as soon as possible to remove the fear scent that they emitted, so you are not followed by even more.