Those gray-green "folks" are easy to recognize by unique sound mix, produced by them. Pseudo-phlegmatic "clicking" with faint of pseudo-skepticism when they are undisturbed; melodious whining of some inhuman esthesis when they are alone; pseudo-nervous "lamentation" and "sighing" when they are alarmed and looking for intruder; and heartrending "squeak of the pig" with note of indignation at last moments of life… Yes, all of this can make to crack a smile if you hear this cacophony for the first time. Just meet this beast face to face, and if you survive - then since that you will always keep a distance, great distance. Great, because short or medium distance is excellent opportunity for bug beast to attack.
Bug beasts are slow, but surprisingly steady monstrosities with vast vital force; they can keep going even despite multiple wounds and despite loss of several body parts. Every one of hose insectoids can strike with it's crustaceous claws, but almost always approach to seize certain distance and to start stinging… without sting. To be more precise stinging with sting, but not their own sting.
Bubbles on the neck and bulky chest are exploited by bug beast as pneumatic mechanism for flinging a nest of very primitive, but rapid-moving organisms at the enemy. This organisms and bug beast are symbiotic. Just something like utmost primitive insects inside sophisticated insect. "Bugs" grows up inside it's digestive system as breeding colony, having a loan of bug beast's nutritious juices and reproducing up to nine units at one minute until limit is reached. As a rule, the stock of "bug ranks" contains 15-20 shots (composed of 60-70 "bugs" in every nest), and needs several time to be renewed.
Being released, "bugs" can live on about nearly one minute, no more. Whole free part of life for only three purposes - to fly forward, to raise speed and to keep straight trajectory being a living jet engine. And if enemy is not nimble enough, then "bugs" will pierce his or her body with their toxic mandibles, envenoming and distressing.
Humans have happened to procure well-preserved bodies of fallen bug beasts, but their biology still obscure - too alien for human understanding. Even gender of bug beasts is unknown - some people took them for neuter creatures, but others recognize them as females. The latest suppose existence of males, here one mystery gives rise for another - where those males live, what functions do they perform and how dangerous they are? Seems that even pagans don't know. May be Hammerites have some information; Keepers also can be somewhat informed. But hey, looks like only the Trickster himself can open the mystery of bug beasts, rather then keepers or hammers.
Such a great mortality of bug beast's attacks is provided not only by it's heavy build or firepower (although those parameters are great), but by their unpredictable behavior. Being critically damaged, the bug beast can run away, displaying complete panic and unconditional surrender. But after only a secont, the bug beast can turn around instantly and throw a shot of surprise, with even more replete stream of flying bugs than usual.
Date: May 2006.