Vespidan
I'd recommend staying out of that section of the forest. It is home to a Vespidan hive. And while they are friendly to my kin, they may choose to run you out before you have the chance to even speak with them. The waspfolk are often careful with who they choose to ally themselves with and you, Human, are no exception.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Vespidan are bipedal wasp humanoids native to Faenum. Due to their connection to bugs, they have two sets of arms adding up to 4 total and insectoid wings on their back. These wings usually serve for gliding purposes but some Vespidan are able to use them to actually fly, both of which are hampered by the use of heavy armor or aided by strong winds. They all have a carapace which can serve as standalone armor or cover areas that armor such as breastplates can't.
Biological Traits
Drone Vespidan are usually men of the Vespidan species. Sharing a similarity to wasp, they are usually frail but have more of a connection to the Leylines of Avestra, making them capable casters and even allow them to channel their magic into others.
Queens are the leaders and ambassadors of their hives, sharing the biggest similarities to humans and elves. However, they are also wiser and stronger than the other subraces, able to both read and inspire others easier than other Vespidan.
Workers are powerful in groups, built to be hardier and more perceptive to aid them in defending their hives. Due to their role as builders and warriors in Faenum, they have a knack for learning artisan tools faster than others and can easily fell even a great threat when they and their allies swarm them.
Both Vespidan Queens and Workers have stingers, filled with potent venom that can kill someone caught unaware and not resistant to its effects.
Genetics and Reproduction
Vespidan usually reproduce through eggs, each egg only requiring about two weeks before it hatches. These are usually created in a large number, similar to how insects and animals in nature have a large amount of young.
Growth Rate & Stages
After a "larva" hatches, they are cared for by the Queen and elite workers if the family or hive is large enough. By the time they are one year old, they appear as wingless and stingerless versions of what their adult form will look like. When they reach eight years old, Queen and Workers gain their wings and stingers. And when they reach 12, all Vespidan reach physical maturity.
Civilization and Culture
History
Vespidan are another child of the Fey but they were unique in the fact that they were rather isolationist compared to the rest of their kin. They lived in settlements with only Vespidan, with the other races only serving as visitors. Over time, this became the case less and less as they got to know their fellow Fey but the politics of Faenum would eventually tear them from their grasp.
When the Alomri and Lunari were cast out and the Elves and Harengon fled, the Vespidan found themselves with only the Satyrs and Owlin. As some of the Owlin left to explore Avestra, many of the Vespidan followed suit. Avestra was a strange and hostile land to them at first and they once again kept inside their hives if they found themselves in lands their kin didn't rule. Eventually, these strange and new races beguiled some of them as Vespidan began to spread across the continents. Others didn't trust these outsiders still but they came to call upon their aid when the Elders came.
The Elders came up with a cruel trick for the Vespidan, creating the "Hive-broken." While many Vespidan lived outside hives and even without knowing someone from a hive without issue, there was an innate trait within them that allowed them to connect to others of their own species when in close contact. The Elders perverted this connection, sometimes even severing it entirely. This had two effects: It made Vespidan much more aggressive towards social interaction, especially with their own kind as some part of their brain would always scream that something was wrong or missing. It also gave the Elders a backdoor connection to the hive-broken, allowing them to plant subliminal messages within their minds, turning some into sleeper agents.
The worse part is that this condition can be passed on to children so entire generations of families can be agents of the Elders and never know it until they are activated. Their continued existence is another example of the levels of depravity Elders are willing to sink to in order to eradicate reality. Many Vespidan wish to help their hive-broken kin, freeing them from whatever influence the Elders have over them. As such, they turn to fellow Feyborn and even outsiders to aid them in one day breaking this curse and getting revenge on the abominations that did this to their own.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Vespidan are closely tied to fellow Fey, particularly the Lunari who always served as Guardians for them in Faenum. It is common for Lunari to be honorary members of the Hive, being one of the few people who can live amongst them. The Owlin are another favored race as their people have been hard at work looking for a cure for the Hive-Broken condition. Some adventurers of these two groups are exploring Avestra to aid in this matter.
For the non Feyborn, Vespidan are usually amicable to them though Hive ones keep them out of their territory to keep their people safe. Due to the climates they like, they often find themselves butting heads with wandering tribes that intrude on their territory such as Goblinoids or Carinthi.
Comments
Author's Notes
The Vespidan are a homebrew race developed by u/nielspeterdejong.