The Sacred Locust Warriors of Sanagaatth

The locust baths of Sanghattha - Crime and Transformation

In farthest Sanghattha, there is a particular form of ‘execution’ favored for state criminals and high profile enemies of the government of the region controlled by that city-state..  

The offender is bathed ritually in milk, wine, and water, and fed and exquisite meal of many courses, gourds and creams, meat and mince pies, purple and green fruits, vegetables and kurriest, and meat and red fruit.  They are fed by seven scarlet sisters, by hand and ladle..  

Thereafter they are oiled, and presented to the Locust Baths, once part of the Sangaathic Stepped Gardens.  There, before city and state officials, selected temple officiants, and a crowd of onlookers both delightful and jaded, the offender is painted, ritually in a thick molasses like layer of Imperial Honey, until all but their eyes and the most fleshy parts of their genitals are covered within,

Then they are lowered into the Pit, and the 33 species of dermophagic Honey Locust set to the offender, whose skin shall be devoured by the hook-footed species, torn off in great strips to get at the honey dripping off.  The offender is then left to die of exposure. Officially.

The reality is rather more exotic.  The locusts, by now having hooked into the victim’s bare muscle and under flesh, form a protective barrier from the elements.  Over the next 48 hours, hundreds of these locusts remain, covering the character’s body, slowly opening and closing their wings as they lay their eggs into the offender’s skin.  Enzymes secreted by the locusts keep these eggs from metabolizing or hatching however.   

Very few survive the injury and ultimate destruction of their eyes and genitalia.  Almost none survive the decorticatation of their skin.   However, in the rarest of cases the offender has sufficient reserves of will and incredible control over their own mind and body, and manages to harness these in the name of survival.  It is these few we speak of for the remainder.   

These few rare unfortunates may then realize that the silver metalic thread used to lower them into the pit may also be used to bind the locusts, especially by their hook feet, already buried deep.  If they can work quickly and constantly, with hands covered in honey, bugs, and their own blood, they might be able just maybe to sew the locusts fast into their flesh...which both prevents their escape and prevents the hatching of their offspring.   It most certainly must be done by touch and with skinless hands, covered in three inch insects and your own blood.

It is said the nature of the metallic thread helps, but who would know who was not there?

The tradition itself is so extreme to have crept into local folklore, it is just common enough that most executed in this fashion have at least attempted it over the last 200 years. They are seldom successful.  Those who have managed this (and there have been fewer than 8 in all of Sanghattan’s 2,000 year history, and survived beyond the 48 hour mark are considered criminals no longer.   Having purged themselves of all wrong doings, they are now, legally, completely new people.  Those of wealth and means may then use their own magical, alchemical and scientific resources to maintain their life.   

It is said that Cualryx the Locust Lich was the first one to sew the locusts directly into their flesh.   Of course it is also said that it stalks the living seeking vengeance on the city state. Others claim he is the power behind it.

The blind eunuchs that remain become locust warriors

Those who make it this far are given a ritual scimitar preserved for this purpose and five minutes privacy.   Should they live at the end of that time they will be taken to the healing baths. There, treated alchemically and hormonally for a single passing of the outer moon, the locust warrior forms a biological and magical bond with the carpet of once-locusts now bound to their flesh;  the locusts harden and become an armored skin, while retaining the warriors initial flexibility..and expanding it.   

Also, the alchemically treated hormone baths and bizarre diet sees a considerable gain in weight, the body’s flexibility.

They are trained to see with the eyes of the locust bodies covering them by ancient monastics who have ways going back to the last Padishah Empire of Dyzan.  

Now treated for increasing immunity to poisons, gases, and sight based effects, the genderless locust warriors act as champions and protectors of the great City state of Sanagaatth and it's territories.

Hit Points

Locust Warriors gain d10 hp per level

Weapon training

Blackjack, Blowgun, Dagger, Garotte, Hunga Munga, Katar (Dagger),  Mace, Morningstar, Pole Arm (d10), Short sword, Spear,  

Armor training

Locust Warriors wear no armor.  Many wear nothing but a wrap for their ruined sex and their blind eyes, though at higher levels it is common for both to be surgically embedded with gemstones as a sign of success and accepting a transcendence of their former life.  Many sagas of the equatorial lands are writ and songs sung of a variety of such warriors, most of which are wholly fictional.

Alignment

There are no restrictions upon the Locust Warriors though their alignment prior to transformation will have a minor effect. Over time there is some tendency towards emerging lawful behavior however.

‘Natural’ attacks & defences

Once their transformation is complete, a first level Locust Warrior has a starting AC of 14.  This will increase, slowly, as the character advances.

Also, an unarmed character may make dual attacks using an action die of d16 for each.

• A closed fist strike with their ‘stone locust fist’ strikes at + (level) doing 1d6 + str + level
• An open fist strike with locust wings is a razor locust strike and strikes at level+agil doing 1d4 damage plus 1d4 bleeding damage for the next two rounds.   

Further, at first level and thereafter the Locust Warrior can

• Can hold their breath for Sta / min up to level/day
• is immune to sight or gaze based attacks
• save v. poisons and gasses

Luck

A locust warrior who began as a member of another class finds that their very karma changes on completion of the rite;  The Locust Warrior’s luck score at ritual becomes their “initial luck score” for all intents and purposes.  This luck score may be applied to the locust warrior’s AC or a specifically chosen weapon (which may be a weapon they used in a previous life).  This must be chosen at first level and may not be changed thereafter.

Side effects & Restrictions

1. They do not consume food nor require it; instead they are fed a sacred Amber Luna Tea once a day that is said to provide them all of the nourishment they require. The locusts are known to ambush and eat gnats, small bugs, and other things that wind up on the warrior's body.   They may freely drink liquids though alcohol has limited effect on their metabolism.

2. A locust warrior is not permitted to use magical potions; this is as much a social taboo as it is self-preservation. It is thought that extended potion use could undo much or most of the transformation under the wrong circumstances. So none use them.

3. Those who were leveled characters prior to this transformation are functionally first level.  Over time and the gain of levels some of their specific (important) memories and skills will return to them but otherwise the transformation is permanent.  

Exception - if the character was bound to a patron or a god in their prior life, it is likely that in some manner the connection will persist.  A wizard who was patron bonded before their “execution” may find that they are still bound to their patron but perhaps not as a wizard would be. (Specifics of this call are left to the Judge.  If the patron or divine figure would be okay with the transformation, let it stand)

Abilities and notes by level

Level one - Stone Locust Warrior

Blindsense 30’ AC 14 +2 Str, +1 Agil, - 1 Pers

A closed fist strike with their ‘stone locust fist’ strikes at + (level) doing 1d6 + str + level

An open fist strike with locust wings is a razor locust strike and strikes at level+agil doing 1d4 damage plus 1d4 bleeding damage for the next two rounds.   

Can hold breath for Sta / min up to leve/day

2nd - Blooded Locust Warrior

Blindsense 50’ always adds agil bonus to ac permanently

May meditate (15 min/level minimum that will restore 1d3 pers. Damage and 1d6 + level hp once a day

The character’s sense of smell becomes unusually sharp, altered to detect pheromones from all living things  +4 to related perception bonuses.

At this level the locust warrior may understand the language of most insects. Between these two facts, a locust warrior is only surprised one in six.

3rd - Dedicated Locust Warrior

Blindsense 60’ agil penalty no longer applies to AC

At this level the locust warrior may form a complex set of pedipalps, and grow a layer of throat-locusts that will act to form speech; this will allow the character to speak with most insects.  In time the character should be able to relearn whatever languages the previously possessed.

Further with training the character may learn additional languages from the following list, once per level

A third level locust warrior may also intercept/deflect (DC _) or catch (DC ) incoming missiles, up to a number equal to their Agil bonus in a round.  

4th - Speaking Locust Warrior

At this level the warrior develops dedicated antennae that allow for greater blindsense (120) and +4 perception within that area. Further they may now with practice speak many mechanical languages of the Galactic Imperium and other aliens, as well as both send and receive radio signals.

Also at this level, the Locust Warrior gains the first of several unique unarmed attack forms.

Tunneling locust strike

The Locust warrior can now vibrate their hands and the locusts upon them with sufficient force and speed to allow lsaw like chewing through softer materials - wooden and thatch walls, a man’s chest, that dog, etc.

Strikes at one/half level and inflicts 3d6 plus agili mod with a successful strike an an target with an AC of 14 or less.

Such a character can also tunnel through five feet of mud, brick, or wood, or other light construction material a round with a DC 16 Fort save.

Also at this level the Locust Warrior gains a second action die; the first action die (d20) may still be divided into a pair of unarmed strikes while allowing the d14 as a weapon strike at the Referee’s discretion.

5th - Harvester of Rare Butterflies AC becomes 18 if it is not already

At fifth level the Locust Warrior gains an additional +5' to their movement speed and another unique unarmed strike.

seven locust chakra ram

-Fort Save DC = the locust warrior’s str + level; failure stuns the opponent for 2d4 rounds.

From Sixth level on, each level title is used internally, but externally they only use their unique title, as with any other exceptionally high level character. .

6th level - Locust Master of Shed Skins, (unique title)

At sixth level the Locust Master may divine both of their d20 action dice into a pair of open and closed fist strikes, all using a d16 action die to strike.

7th level - Locust Master of Many Strides

At 7th level the Locust Master adds 15’ to their movement score. This is permanent.

8th level - Locust Master of Legs

The final third of the total transformation transforms the layer of locust-skin into a hardened form of interactive chitin,  a million swirls and whorls in their now shell-like skin where the locusts finally danced before their subduction into this new form.

AT this point, provided it is made specifically for the character, they may wear any armor  that they are trained in without suffering any additional penalties beyond those of a normal armor wearing individual.  Note that heavy and medium armored Locust Masters cannot use their hand to hand attacks very effectively and do so one step below their normal action die or dice.

9th level - Locust Master of Wings

At this level the metamorphosis begun at first level is complete;  a set of wings one and half times long as the character is tall deploy by molting within d3 days of achieving level.  Save for the very lightest of individuals (weighing less than 100 pounds) this will allow hovering (15 - 20’ in most circumstances)  for STA in rounds at a time or very limited flight (5’ movement speed, impossible in high winds, for (STA adjustment plus level) rounds

10th level- Locust Guru of Rainbows AC becomes 20 if it is not already.

The wingspan of the Locust Master doubles in size and becomes a brilliant multi colored panoply.   +1 PERS (permanently) as people gather round to touch your soft foofy wing tips whenever you enter civilization.  Also at this point, the Judge may deem you worthy to use one power or ability from your previous life once a day, at the level that the character was last leveled prior to their transformation.

Level	HD	Crit die/table	Action die	Fort	Ref	Will
1	2d6	d12/II	1d20	+1	+1	+0
2	4d6	d14/II	1d20	+1	+1	+1
3	6d6	d16/III	1d20	+1	+2	+1
4	8d6	d20/III	d20+d14	+2	+2	+1
5	10d6	d20/IV	d20+d16	+2	+3	+2
6	11d6	d24/IV	d20+d20	+2	+3	+2
7	13d6	d24/V	d20+d20	+3	+4	+2
8	15d6	d30/V	d20+d20	+3	+4	+3
9	17d6	d30/V	d20+d20+d14	+3	+5	+3
10	20d6	2d20/V	d20+d20+d16	+4	+5	+3

A note on level titles;  those who were greatly lawful in their prior existence will find their locust skin will tend to turn a rich hue of  greenish jade and so at first level would be titled a Green or Jade Stone Locust Warrior

In like fashion, one who was exceptionally devoted to chaos might find themselves becoming a deep rich purple hue (plum), and those ambivalent on the matter a rude yellow, the shells the colour of dried snot.   

While the level titles are consistent they are spread across each alignment with their own colour scheme in accordance with the ancient colour associations of the Sanagaatti culture.  Socially, this alters (tho barely) the level title. A lawful first level locust warrior would be titled Jade Locust Warrior; at second a Jade Blooded Locust Warrior and so on.

Likewise, a former disciple of chaos would find at first to be a Plum Locust Warrior, at second, a Plum Blooded Locust Warrior, etc.   Neutrally aligned locust warriors tend toward an Ochre colour, depending on how ‘decisively neutral’ they were in their life before. A tenth level locust warrior would be addressed as a Jade Locust Guru of Rainbows, a chaotic one Plum Locust Guru of Rainbows, and so on.

RP notes:

On reaching First level, the character’s Sanagaatthi keepers will test the character three times, once to test each the mind, the (new) body, and a (Minor) test of will.  Thereafter unless the character departs, they will be feted as the new champion of that city state.  Save in times of war the character will be expected to act as state champion / knight errant / or special police officer, depending on who is running the city-state at that time.   

By the time such a character reaches third or fourth level (sometimes as early as 2nd) if any other Locust Warriors remain in existence, they will be called to seek the new aspirant out and test them.   By ancient law and custom, they retain the right to destroy the warrior if they do not meet the standards of the older warrior’s mettle.

Weapons mentioned

The Blackjack, Blowgun, Dagger, Garotte,  Mace, Morningstar, Pole Arm (d10), and Spear are all located in the DCC RPG rulebook.  

Weapon name Damage Price in Sangaattha

Hunga Munga	1d5 (crits 19-20)	8 gp
Katar	1d6 (adds str mod)	2 gp
Star blades	1d8 + 1d4 (crits 20)	10 gp
Crescent Blade	1d8 (crits 19-20)	16 gp
Butterfly Sword	1d8 (special)	20 gp ea

Hunga Munga are, in this case, triple bladed axes

Katar are punch daggers, locally constructed in a manner to augment the strength behind the blow.

Crescent Blades are essentially reinforced razor blades mounted into a bone or chitin set of knuckledusters.    Older versions (called Star Blades) had morningstar like protrusions doing an additional d4 but with a normal (i.e 20) crit threshold

Butterfly swords are thick somewhat sharp shortish blades designed primarily for thrusting. On a successful crit the weapon inflicts an additional 2d4 plus the critical result given the slight curve of the blade haft and the micro-sluices at the end to facilitate bloodletting.