Insects
| Insects | |
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 Insect swarm, from Ultima IV manual | |
| First appearance: | Ultima IV |
| Last appearance: | Serpent Isle |
"Insect" is a general term for a type of six-legged winged animal with a chitinous exoskeleton. In Britannia and on Serpent Isle, these tiny creatures have been known to congregate in large swarms and harass travelers, especially near swampland or marshy areas. They appear in Ultima IV, Ultima V, Ultima VI, Ultima VII and Ultima VII Part Two.
Description[edit]
Insects are of little or no concern to a well outfitted adventurer, although their bites and stings may prove painful or bothersome. Generally the harm dealt by these tiny animals best reckoned in their deleterious effect on crops and livestock or their potential as a vector for disease,[Citation needed] rather than their ability to bring any direct injury to individuals.
Magicians wishing to distract their foes have also developed a spell for the conjuration of insect swarms, known as Kal Bet Xen. Such an incantation creates a cloud of biting vermin to harry the spell's target, and may keep an opponent distracted long enough for a canny mage to effect an escape.
For reasons unknown, the hideous gazers have been known to explode into a an angry cloud of insects immediately upon death.
Lore[edit]
| “ | If thou dost stay clear of these non-evil vermin, they will not bother thee. Marsh and dungeons are their favorite locales. Insects can fly, so they can chase thee over water. – from The History of Britannia (Ultima IV)
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| “ | Pesky insects have little muscle or brain, but their tiny size lets them move quickly, dodging and feinting. They bite more often than they miss, but their sting does little damage. Once hit, all insects are easily squashed. Rare is the insect that delivers a fatal bite, but a swarm of thousands can mean death. – from Book of Lore (Ultima V)
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| “ | These pesky, flying nuisances can be quite bothersome if stirred up by the careless explorer. A single buzzing swamp fly can be annoying; a biting swarm can leave the traveler depleted and exhausted. – from Compendium (Ultima VI)
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| “ | This is an insect swarm capable of causing an intolerable number of bites and stings, as well as severely spooking horses and destroying crops. – from The Book of Fellowship (Ultima VII)
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| “ | This term refers to a great variety of tiny, six-legged creatures. Some fly, some bite, some travel in swarms, but all are a nuisance. |
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