Giant Moth

Belhelm Snow Moths, or just Giant Moths, are a territorial fauna in Asyn, known for being the source of the highly-sought drug, Mothblood.

## Appearance

Giant moths are huge winged insects, comparable to the size of a Homine teen, with slender bodies, a thick coat of snow white fur, and massive pair of hind wings that give it flight. It has huge, pupiless eyes and an antennae coated in brown or gray fur, which is uses to detect high-frequency sound waves produced by worldweaving. Additionally, it possesses a retractable needle it can produce from its "mouth" that is used as a stinger to stab perpetrators, inject venom, and absorb nutrients.

Adolescent giant moths are roughly the size of a Homine toddler. Their wings are not big enough to allow flight, nor has their needle developed enough to be of any use, so they rely solely on their mothers for protection and traversal.

Domesticated moths can have their needles dulled to make them less aggressive without inhibiting their ability to eat.

## Behavior

Ever since the discovery of the notorious Mothblood drug, giant moths have been aggressively hunted by toxicologists, militaries, and gangs for their potent blood and venom. As a result, giant moths have adapted to their hostile environment with abilities to sense and avoid danger. It senses worldweaving from up to a mile away with its antennae, and it uses its white fur coat to camouflage with the thick snowscapes of Belhelm. When threatened, it uses its stinger to inject a potent venom that causes fatigue, nausea, and even loss of consciousness in high concentrations, before fleeing to safety. Giant moths only kill when their young are threatened or they're in desperate need of food.

Giant moths are nomads that prefer to live in desolate regions where there are no natural predators. In Soothereos' case, they live solely in Belhelm, typically residing in shallow caves, hollow trees, and any other enclosed space where they can hide their nest and easily protect their young from intruders.

Giant moths are nocturnal, and hunt for food during the night, storing it in their needle to feed to their young. They are omnivorous, but prefer easier sources of food such as berries and tree sap. However, in times of desperation, they will settle for meat in the form of rabbits, squirrels, and even hounds.

## Combat

Giant moths are fragile creatures that avoid confrontation. However, they are not to be underestimated if you are caught in the dull gaze of a hungry moth.

When caught in a battle, the moth will stay airborne and attempt to stab its foe with its needle. Once the venom is injected, it will use its advantage to escape the battle... or to finish off the unfortunate victim for a filling meal.

Giant moths have **8 HP**.

### Frigid Sting

The giant moth extracts its needle and stings the target, dealing **2 damage** and poisoning them with its venom. This grants the moth **advantage** against that particular target, allowing it to flee.

### Needle Surge

A lethal attack used by an aggressive snow moth. The giant moth extracts its needle and prepares to strike from above. On its next turn, it surges forward and impales its target, dealing **6 damage**. However, if the giant moth has **advantage** against the target, the damage is doubled.

## Trivia

* It's possible to gain the trust of a giant moth by feeding it or healing its injuries, but it's rare for that to happen.
* A forest species of giant moth used to exist but was hunted to extinction for their Mothblood.