Carniri

Among the swamps' cacophony of terrors none are more frightful than the Carniri. In Dormian folklore the Canriri is said to steal the sickly and old at night and prey on their dreams. It has instilled a sense of fear amongst the denizens of the swamp that remains to be the most prevalent of all monsters. It has been subject to persecution and mass-culling for the better half of a century and seen great population die-offs because of it. They’re a rare but unmistakably horrifying sight now, their elusiveness only compounding their enigmatic moniker amongst the locals and adventurers alike.

#### Physiology and Anatomy

Carniri are great and terrible arthropods. They possess six segmented legs and three major body groups. Each is covered in a series of chitinous plates which can resist small blades, arrows, and harsh falls. The joints of a Carniri are largely unarmored with only a layer of cartilage covering each. Their limbs are each covered in a series of barbs to hook into surfaces, allowing the Carniri to climb up and hang off of surfaces. Though not as quick as some of the smaller swamp-dwelling tree-dwellers they can out-climb any of the sapient races with the exception of lizardmen. Carniri use their adeptness in the canopy to pursue ambushes amongst the canopy.

The killing apparatus of the Carniri are four fangs on arm-like appendages. These are normally tucked under the faceplate for protection but may be unfurled to use in predation. Each fang has a corresponding venom gland. Carniri venom is exceptionally potent but has a variety of different effects depending on the subject of its sting:

* Animals smaller than a human will experience a slow progression toward paralysis. At first, the point of contact will begin to numb as sensation leaves it. After a turn all motor function in that limb will cease and it shall stiffen. After six turns the animal will be totally paralyzed for an additional three turns, giving time for the Carniri to secure and kill its victim.
* In sapient races, the venom takes the form of a hallucinogen and is less effective. Victims will feel numb in the area where they were bitten which will progress over a turn to encompass their whole body part. After another turn all motor function in that limb will cease and it shall stiffen. The victim’s vision will be clouded and make seeing things at a distance difficult as they appear as mere blurs. These effects will last a total of three turns, allowing the Canriri to either flee or continue assault in a more advantageous position.
* In creatures greater in scale to that of a cow the effects of a Carniri’s venom are somewhat muted. They still experience the blurred vision for two turns like smaller organisms but no numbness or paralysis.

***Carniri venom requires proper injection to be used and is thus rendered useless outside of syringes or the fangs of a Carniri. It cannot be used to lace arrows or weapons of any kind. Once prey is secured and dispatched the Carniri can then pump it full of digestive fluids before drinking its liquified insides.***

*(A turn constitutes a back and forth interaction between parties. Ex. Carniri player attack + Other player defense = 1 turn)*

Carniri brood young during the dry season. They fashion nests of plant debris and the skeletal remains of past victims. These nests provide a safe haven for their many eggs of which they may lay upward of thirty at a time. Carniri are born without hardened shells and must grow into their exoskeleton. The nest additionally acts as a place to practice climbing and early hunting skills before they leave the protection of their mother.

#### Psychology

Carniri are reclusive beasts that spend most of their lives alone. They only collaborate to build nests with their mate to ensure that their brood survives. Both the mother and father partake in child rearing with each teaching different skills. Carniri are not instinct-based but instead learn much of their mannerisms from their parents. The mother teaches hunting and ambush strategy to her brood whilst the father practices nest making. Together they can create fully functional offspring. If a pair is for whatever reason compromised, the surviving parent will attempt to pick up the slack of their deceased mate.

Despite a fearsome appearance, Carniri prefer to hunt smaller game than any sapient race. On occasion they may attack cattle and their owners out of desperation or inexperience but generally Carniri don’t view sapient races or larger animals as food. More often than not a bite from a Carniri on these targets is purely a defensive measure made out of panic or confusion.