Kruthik
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, the kruthik is a bizarre, quasi-mechanical, organic, insectoid creature.
(2003).
The kruthik appears in the fourth edition Monster Manual
(2008).
s. In addition to its four major legs, the kruthik also has a much smaller pair of limbs hanging from its chest just a little back from the front two major ones.
, but these eventually sprout legs, change shape, and become proper kruthiks. Kruthiks are trained in both breeding and combat from birth and are expected to do nothing but this, all but drones and queens in a hive are not treated like fodder. It is suspected that when they defeat rivals, they carry bodies back to hives for putrid breeding experiments, but such things, like most aspects of the kruthiks, remain unknown.
Kruthiks can only speak a clicking, screeching language of their own, but can understand Common.
They are lawful evil in alignment
.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, the kruthik is a bizarre, quasi-mechanical, organic, insectoid creature.
Publication history
The hatchling kruthik, the adult kruthik, and the greater kruthik first appeared in third edition in the Miniatures HandbookMiniatures Handbook
The Miniatures Handbook is an official supplement for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying game.-Contents:It includes information about the Dungeons and Dragons Miniatures Game, new base classes, prestige classes, feats, spells, and monsters, including aspects of deities and...
(2003).
The kruthik appears in the fourth edition Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
(2008).
Physical description
The kruthik is somewhat hard to describe. It is insectoid, at least vaguely, despite having only four limbs. It has a long, thin body, roughly 3 or so feet long with a serrated spine, and its color ranges from grey, to black, to steel, to silver, to pale green, always with a shiny and metallic look. While the neck, sides and tail of the kruthik are bare, the legs, head and back are protected by spiny, jointed plates which eventually grow to protect the full body. In the unprotected parts of a kruthik's body, organic lights of a color corresponding to that of the kruthik's body glow. The kruthik has razor sharp teeth, and a pair of mandibleMandible
The mandible pronunciation or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place...
s. In addition to its four major legs, the kruthik also has a much smaller pair of limbs hanging from its chest just a little back from the front two major ones.
Society
Little is known of the society and habits of these mysterious and highly evil creatures. They dwell far out in ashen wastelands, in organic hives buried beneath the surface. Though it is suspected that the creatures have some sinister goal behind their motives, it is not known. Their only desire in life seems to be to breed huge swarms and then wage war and disaster upon neighboring races. Kruthiks start out born as just eggs. When the eggs hatch, the newborns are but mere larvaeLarvae
In Roman mythology, lemures were shades or spirits of the restless or malignant dead, and are probably cognate with an extended sense of larvae as disturbing or frightening...
, but these eventually sprout legs, change shape, and become proper kruthiks. Kruthiks are trained in both breeding and combat from birth and are expected to do nothing but this, all but drones and queens in a hive are not treated like fodder. It is suspected that when they defeat rivals, they carry bodies back to hives for putrid breeding experiments, but such things, like most aspects of the kruthiks, remain unknown.
Combat
Kruthiks are deadly opponents. Their two front legs are sharp and curved, and serve a double purpose as biological blades which the kruthik can use effectively in combat. In addition to this, it also has a deadly bite. While their biological armor serves them well enough, kruthiks are often depicted as wearing additional gothic-sci-fi style black plate armor all over their body, often with blades attached to the leggings as to double the initial damage. Aside from renegade kruthiks cast out of society by their hive, kruthiks are rarely found alone, typically traveling in medium to large-sized hordes led by a taskmaster. A kruthik horde attacks in a flurry of bites and slashes all in unison, and is a highly dangerous foe.Kruthiks can only speak a clicking, screeching language of their own, but can understand Common.
They are lawful evil in alignment
Alignment (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, alignment is a categorization of the ethical and moral perspective of people, creatures and societies....
.