Gesentke
From Mizahar Lore
| Valterric | |
 | |
| Frequency | Uncommon |
|---|---|
| Threat level | High |
| Major features | Large pincers, hard exoskeleton |
| Abilities | Dangerous bite |
| Most common in | Nyka, the Aperture |
The Gesentke, sometimes known as the Leper Beetle, is known best for its bite, which causes rapid laceration and decay of the tissue around it. Boasting a thick exoskeleton that is about as strong as steel armor, the Gesentke can be broken with a bit of sheer force and persistence, but all who try run the risk of aggression by giant pincers and the deadly venom behind them. In the Aperture, they share a rivalry with the Greenwing Flyer, whose acidic saliva can easily eat through its armor. While the Flyer’s favorite meal is the rich innards of a Leper Beetle, so is it vulnerable to the toxins in a Gesentke bite. Even if the beetle dies killing the bat, there are usually a few other Gesentke around to devour the corpse.
Appearance and Behavior
The most noticeable feature of the Leper Beetle is its giant mandibles, which can be capable of wrapping around human ankles in the largest specimens. They are adapted to dispense a unique venom when squeezed. In the short term, the venom softens the target’s flesh, so that a small piece can be easily removed and ingested by the beetle’s otherwise toothless mouth. In the long term, it eats away at the victim much like leprosy would, many times resulting in loss of the appendage.
While Gesentke are capable of flight, they tend to be clumsy in air and only resort to this form of travel in dire circumstances. Adult individuals range from five to ten inches, with females generally larger than males. Females have significantly more potent venom, though their mouth parts tend to be more reduced, while males have much larger mouth parts and much harder exoskeletons, presumably for the purpose of internal fighting and sexual selection. Gesentke are not immune to their own venom, but their pincers are usually incapable of piercing an opponent’s thick armor.
Highly territorial, the Gesentke inhabit cliffside caves in biseasonal pairs. Male Gesentke fight for the largest female in the Spring and Fall. While the winner mates with the female for the rest of the season, producing dozens of larvae per gestation, the loser is left to seek out another female. On rare occasions, this may drive the beetle above ground, where it can harm multiple people in the span of days.
History
Though it is not typically encountered above ground, a Gesentke’s presence can cause a debilitating outbreak in a small area of people. As such, an antidote has been developed in the Great Infirmary in the rare occasion that someone comes in with a bite. They are usually efficient enough to save the limb that was bitten, though it may come at the cost of impaired movement and persisting pain. The Beetle has also been harvested historically for its contribution to poison and potion making. The venom, as well as the legs and exoskeleton, are priced high on less than honest markets throughout Mizahar.