Death Watch Beetle

The horrible death watch beetle is more feared than other giant beetle for two reasons. The first, and lesser of its powers, is its cunning ability to disguise itself. When a death watch beetle finds a place to hunt, it gathers items from the area (mainly earth, fallen branches, and the lie). As it acquires these things, it uses a natural form of cement created with its saliva and soil to affix them to its back. When it finishes this process, it is well camouflaged and can lie in wait for hours until prey passes near. Far more deadly than the death watch beetle's ability to surprise its foes, however, is its "death rattle" (a deadly sonic vibration). Wheh the creature is in combat, it vibrates its carapace very rapidly, setting up an unusual clicking sound that resembles a gong. Victims are unlikely to locate the beetle by this sound alone. This noise is very destructive at close range. Soon after the beetle begins to make its rattle, anyone within 30 feet of it risks being instantly slain. Those who survive suffer muscle pains and tingling sensations in their limbs for several hours after the battle. The creation of the death rattle is very tiring to the creature, requiring it to rest for several hours before it can produce the horrible noise again

Death watch beetles are solitary creatures that inhabit the few forests of the world. The death watch beetle lives a nomadic life. It stops in one location only long enough to hunt and then moves on. In fact, it abandons a selected hunting location after several hours if there is no sign of prey in the area.

While other beetles fulfil many roles in the ecological system, the death watch beetle is first and foremost a powerful hunter. It is high on the food chain, as few animals or monsters are capable of engaging it in combat with any hope of victory. The wings of the death watch beetle are highly valuable to skdled armorers, who can fashion them into very effective shields.