The Coleform
A Forward
The Coleform, while far from a new subject to Lismore, have largely been a mystery, nothing more than a reoccuring tool used to try and break down Lismore's frontlines in the days of it's open war with the Twisting Sands Order. Recently, however, a mysterious tome was delivered to me, which, while difficult to translate, revealed an incredibly deep history and a unique insight into the history and structure of these creatures, so that we may hopefully come to better understand them, should we have to face them again.
It's generally known that the bulk of the desert's forces are, in fact, it's seemingly endless hordes of undead. However, the coleform provide a serious supplement, their individual numbers vastly more powerful than any undead construct. With their hardened carapace, incredible strength, and deadly physiology, these creatures must not be underestimated on the field of battle.
Abbadon, Head Librarian
The Beginning and the Insectacats
The Coleform were once an independent hive-race. They lived deep in the deserts of another world, and references in the mysterious tome suggest they were positioned at the top of the food chain in their environment. They lived in primitive but strong societies and cities, and though certainly built as fearsome predators, they were reported to be fairly docile towards other sentient species.
At an unknown time during the very height of their development, the coleform were beset by an invader from another world - the insectacats, a race of, as their name would suggest, feline-insectoid hybrids, which wielded a level of tactical prowess and magical fortitude that the cloeform were entirely unprepared to contend with. Though they fought bravely, the Anarch of their greatest city fell, and the young insectacat woman who had lead the assault, who the coleform refer to as the "Maiden of Flame", claimed the empire and all it's subjects in the name of her people. And so, the insectacats became their rulers, installing themselves into the royal hierarchies. Many coleform hives still have their previous ruling class in tact, but every coleform hive is now, at the very least, headed by an insectacat queen. Since then, the coleform have been bred with the purpose of serving as workers and soldiers for the insectacat race, whatever they might have been before is now lost.
The Hierarchy and the Castes
The Worker Caste
The worker caste is comprised of coleform who's phisiology has been modified to suit laboring tasks, such as hauling, mining and construction, as well as those permanently assigned to guarding them. There are no real notable specimens among this caste, asides from the 'foremen', which tend to be very large coleform capable of spraying a powerful acid, used for construction, and to punish or destroy workers who are slacking in their duties.
The Warrior Caste
All members of the warrior caste are referred to as 'knights'. Those in this caste have been specifically bred for use on the battlefield, possessing deadly talons, the hardest carapace, and in many cases, the ability to spray acid on their opponents. These intimidating foot soldiers should not be engaged in one on one combat, and it's worth noting that many members of this caste have been known to explode violently upon death, spraying their surroundings with fire or acid. The warrior castes are often lead by powerful insectacat generals, but are otherwise lead by the hive's strongest and largest warrior.
The Mystic Caste
I'm afraid even this tome contains scant information about the coleforms' magic class. It is known that the insectacats have been attempting to teach the enslaved race magic, but it's known if the notion ever enjoyed any success.
The Royal Caste
Rulers of the various hives, and most of the members of the primary hive, the royal caste sees the highest population of insectacats. However, it should be noted that there are still many coleform occupying ruling roles, and that they are - by far - the largest and most fearsome members of their race, capable of deathly feats that lismore has not yet had the misfortune of seeing in person. The primarch of the coleform is an insectacat named Lorne Kazi, of whom little information is known.
In Closing
While this tome was a great help in understanding these creatures, I think it can be agreed that we still don't know most of what there is to know about them, and that we may not be prepared for a potential return. Other scholars in and outside of Lismore are, as always, encouraged to try and learn more on this subject, so that we might prepare ourselves for this possibility.
