The Mantideans are a brutal race of insects resembling what many humans would call a praying mantis. Most stand over two and a half meters tall but can reach a height of nearly four meters when fully extended. Their faces resemble a triangle with compound eyes on either side and sharp chitinous mandibles in the middle. Exoskeletons provide inherent armor and produce a highly adaptive pigment that changes to fit their surroundings. This pigment can mimic greens, reds, oranges, and browns.
Two words best describe Mantidean society: matriarchal and cannibalistic. Mantidean males compete with one another for the right to mate. Mantidean females compete with one another for the right to rule. Failure means death or even worse – servitude.
Mantidean interaction revolves around the rite of xil’thel’gug. Xil’thel’gug is a trial of superiority by combat. Any Mantidean may challenge another to xil’thel’gug, with the winner claiming ownership of the loser. By the laws of xil’thel’gug; the loser becomes the property of the winner for a period of five suncycles (in Earth time, this is actually around three and a half years). The loser must obey the winner’s commands as law. Many winners use this opportunity to rid themselves of their competition by slaughtering the loser and feasting on her flesh. Less threatening Mantideans become slaves and underlings, serving the whims of the winner.
The Mantidean home world is far removed from Earth. Its climate appears temperate with vast tracks of forest and mountainous regions rife with volcanic activity. The race’s technology level outranks that of humanity, although they have yet to master the intricacies of space travel. Mantidean technology tends to have an organic glasslike aesthetic. Due to the nature of their compound vision, the Mantidean written language appears incomprehensible to non-Mantideans.
Recently a dimensional rift opened between the Manridean home world and Earth. Located in a tropical rainforest near the equator in northern Brazil, Earth remains unaware of its existence. The Mantidean home world, on the other hand, has taken a keen interest in the rift. Uncertain of this new world, the Mantideans have been cautiously sending scouting parties through the rift. Using their technology and natural camouflage, Mantidean scouts have traveled over much of North and South America. They appreciate what they have seen, and plans for a larger invasion force are in the making.
Mantideans are dirty fighters who take every advantage they can get. The rite of xil’thel’gug requires unarmed combat, but anything else is permitted. Mantidean combat tricks include spitting in an enemy’s eyes to blind them, using their hind legs for powerful kicks, tearing off an enemy’s armored plating, gouging eyes, poisoning their mandibles, and so on. A Mantidean never counts her prey as defeated until she’s certain it’s unconscious or dead.
Typical Mantidean Scout
Reflexes 3D+2: brawling 4D+2, climbing 4D, flying: gliding4D, jumping 4D+2, melee combat 4D+2: flame lash +1D, sneak 4D+2
Coordination 2D+1
Physique 4D: lifting 5D, running4D+1, stamina 5D
Knowledge 2D+1: navigation 3D, tech 3D+1
Perception 3D+2: hide 4D+2, search 4D+2
Presence 2D: intimidate 3D+2
Strength Damage: 3D
Move: 10
Fate Points: 0
Character Points: 3
Body Points: 22
Wound levels: 3
Disadvantages: Environmental Incompatibility (R3), cold weather below 45 degrees Fahrenheit; Devotion (R3), Mantidean way of life (believes in superiority of the race and their culture; will never refuse a xil’thel’gug challenge)
Advantages: Size: Large (R1), scale value 1
Special Abilities: Enhanced Sense: Compound Eyes (R1), +1 to related totals; Extra Body Part(R1), extra legs; Extra Body Part (R1), antenna; Glider Wings (R1) with Restricted (R2), can float down but cannot climb; Natural Armor: Chitin (R1) +1D to damage resistance tocals against physical damage; Natural Hand-to-Hand Weapon: Mandibles (R1), damage +1D; Skill Bonus: Racial Aptitude (R3), +3 to hide, sneak, and jumping totals Equipment: flame lash (damage 4D+2; range 4/6/8); survival harness (survival +1D); glow stick (reduces darkness modifiers by 2D; radius 5 meters); scanner (search or investigation +1D)