The myrmekes are an insectoid race that resemble humanoid ants with glossy black carapaces and shimmering, multicolored wings. The defining trait of every myrmekes is the shared consciousness that binds them. This telepathic link grants instant communication and collective intelligence.
Sometimes a myrmekes becomes severed from the hive mind, cast adrift in a world suddenly stripped of voices and purpose. Most do not survive this terrifying isolation, yet on the rarest of occasions, a lone myrmekes endures.
You are one such survivor. The shock of separation was so overwhelming that your mind buried much of your past simply to remain intact. You remember nothing of your hive or its distant home, yet an ache remains. Somewhere deep within, you yearn for the unity you lost and the voices that once surrounded you.
Insectoid Body#
The glossy black carapace of a myrmekes functions as a natural suit of armor. Beneath this shell lies a powerful, segmented musculature that allows a myrmekes to move with surprising speed and agility. Their iridescent wings, though breathtaking to behold, are not suited for sustained flight. Instead, they provide sudden bursts of agility, enabling short leaps, rapid changes in direction, and controlled descents.
Sincere Imitation#
Imitation is the greatest strength of the myrmekes, and also their greatest weakness. They are not creative in the way other humanoid species are, but their ability to observe and replicate borders on supernatural. A myrmekes can mimic fighting styles, spellcasting gestures, social behaviors, and even complex tasks after seeing them only once. Yet this same gift leaves them vulnerable to influence. Without creativity, they rely on patterns taken from others, and without the hive to guide them, a lone myrmekes may struggle to distinguish wisdom from folly. They can become reflections of those around them, shaped as much by example as by instinct.
Hive Mind#
Although a lone myrmekes is no longer part of the great hive mind, remnants of that psychic nature remain. Such an individual can still communicate telepathically with willing creatures nearby, forming brief and voluntary bonds that echo the unity it once knew. With trusted companions, it can even weave a small, temporary hive mind that shares thoughts, emotions, and simple intentions. Unlike the vast consciousness of the swarm, these links are fragile and depend entirely on consent.
Myrmekes Names#
Myrmekes do not receive names from a hive, for the swarm has no need for individual identity. A lone myrmekes chooses a name only after separation, often inspired by the first sensation or creature it encounters in its new life. These names tend to be simple, clipped, and chitinous in sound. Family names are completely foreign to a myrmekes.
- Names: Kritt, Zarra, Vek, Nali, Chyrr, Omos, Tikkar
Myrmekes Traits#
- Creature Type: Monstrosity
- Size: Small
- Speed: 30 feet
As a myrmekes, you have these special traits.
Chitin Armor. Your glossy carapace protects you. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC equals 13 plus your Dexterity modifier.
Iridescent Wings. Your wings allow bursts of movement. You can jump up to 20 feet by spending 10 feet of movement. You can use this trait once per turn. When you reach character level 5, your wings grow strong and coordinated. You have a Fly Speed equal to your Speed.
Perfect Imitation. You can learn the following abilities from other creatures. Once you’ve learned one of them, you can’t learn a new ability of the same type until you finish a Long Rest. These abilities last until you learn a new ability of the same type.
Skill: When a creature you can see makes an ability check using a skill they are proficient in, you can gain proficiency in that skill.
Combat: When a creature you can see makes a weapon attack with a weapon they are proficient in, you can gain proficiency with that weapon.
Magic: When a creature you can see casts a cantrip, you can learn that cantrip. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.
Speech: When a creature you can hear speaks a language for at least 1 minute, you can learn that language. Residual Hive Mind. You can telepathically communicate with any creature within 30 feet that understands at least one language. Once per long rest, you may form a Minor Hive with up to a number of willing creatures equal to your Proficiency Modifier for 1 hour. While linked:
Each member within 30 feet has Advantage on
Insight checks Members may communicate telepathically, while
within 30 feet of each other.
