Pakubrazi

 In its natural insect form, a pakubrazi can attack with two claws and a bite. The two claws are not very large, but the extraordinary strength of the creature allows it to do significant amounts of damage. Using humanoid hands it can wield a weapon. The bite is actually a feeder tube which extrudes from the mouth to puncture the skin Once it hits, the pakubrazi can automatically dram blood. Death occurs if the victim is fully drained. Any humanoid creature bitten by a pakubrazi may become tainted. If enough Pakubrazi genetic material gets into the blood stream of the humanoid, it will try to force the person to change. During any moment of excitement or stress, there is a small chance that the tainted creature will change some parts of its body into insect forms. The person becomes a wild beast lusting after the blood of the nearest available victim. The change lasts for up to 40 minutes, or until the tainted creature drains significant blood. It is rumored that the halflings may know a cure for the taint, but nothing else short of a wish spell will rid a body of pakubrazi taint. When it has a human torso, it is almost unarmored while the insect carapace gives it significant defense. It can retain a basically human shape and be protected by the carapace. Although its secondary insect legs cannot attack, they do allow it to climb vertical surfaces, and even hang from ceilings. A pakubrazi needs small cracks, bumps or somethings to cling to when climbing.

Pakubrazi are parasites, living off of other civilized races. They maintain a charade of normal life among these races, and are masterful actors. Frequently solitary, they are capable of cooperating in small groups. Each Pakubrazi or cooperative group establishes its own hunting territory. They defend this territory to the death.

 Pakubrazi are thought to be a remnant of the Green Age. On rare occasions, pakubrazi blood has been used to intentionally taint an enemy by slipping it into his food. It makes a horrific form of revenge.