Xenopterid

Xenopterid

(Creature)

Type

Vermin

CR

7

Environment

Any land or underground

Alignment

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Source: Bestiary 4, pg(s). 283

Xenopterids are a species of human-sized insects with an eerie similarity to humanoids, their preferred prey.

Appearance

Xenopterids are capable of mimicking the appearance of humanoids. Their wings and limbs can be folded to resemble cloaks, weapons, and armour; and their mouth, when closed, resembles a human face. Xenopterids adapt their appearance to resemble the most common humanoids in the area, and can easily pass for one from a distance or in dim light, but this ability is not perfect and can be seen through at close range.

Ecology

Xenopterids usually hunt at night to make it more difficult for prey to detect their true nature. After a kill, the xenopterid liquefies the corpse and brings it back to its lair, to be stuffed into spherical food capsules. These capsules are prized by some evil races, who use them to ferment alcohol.

Xenopterid hives live in abandoned buildings. Each typically consists of a fertile king, queen, and 19 to 28 sterile drones. The king and queen reproduce slowly, never leave the hive, and are aggressively defended by the drones when the hive is threatened. A hive can only be destroyed by killing both the king and queen.

On Golarion

Followers of Norgorber refer to xenopterids as Gray Men.

Xenopterids have been known to lair or hunt in populated areas such as Korvosa, Kintargo, Roslar's Coffer, Zimar and other cities in Taldor, and Tephu, as well as in the Scar of the Spider in Numeria.