Creature:Hermicee/Feral

"What a strange, marvelous adaptation to have; become faster, better, stronger... and savage in an evolutionary instant."

- Centapedus Empire

"Admitably an excellent specimen of an evolutionary genetic advantage of reverting to tribe-based savage who's instincts of survival can block out it's stupidity."

- Gigapedus Dominion

"Analysis: Coenobita Bardus, savage variant. Demonstrates combat capability far beyond their space-faring counterparts. Threat Level: Minimal. Conclusion: EXTERMINATE"

- The Grox Empire

Overview
Feral Hermicees, or sometimes referred to as Savage, Wild, or Sand Hermicee are a presumed subspecies of Hermicee. Like their space-faring counterparts, these Hermicees resemble arthropods, with an abdomen, thorax, head, and several legs.

Similar to Wild Boars on Earth, after a few generations of being separated from their hive, Hermicee adapt quickly to their environment. Their exoskeletons become more thick, their muscle mass increases, they grow larger tusks, and curved spines. In some recorded populations, they have been known to sprout wings that are capable of limited gliding.

Feral Hermicees have lost most of their ability to speak interstellar languages fluently. Instead, they speak in their native tongue. Feral Hermicee also have no direct allegiance to any clan or the Hermicee Legion as a whole. They tend to keep to themselves, though they are usually not hostile to other Hermicee, feral or otherwise.

History
Feral Hermicee are widespread throughout the Chaordo Galaxy, often as a result of troops being left behind after attacks, pillaging runs, or invasions by Hermicee Clans.

The Rising
During the Centapedus-StoneClaw War, coined as "The Rising" by the Centapedus, Commander Jargin, Captain Stone, Lieutenant Irt, an anonymous mercenary captain, and Marshall Ortaj encountered Feral Hermicees during a planned diplomatic meeting with a Gigapedus General to discuss possible cooperative solutions to dealing with the StoneClaw Clan. The savages that attacked the group were not affiliated with the StoneClaw, but they did manage to kill the Gigapedus General before the group of Centapedus officers could reach him, thus angering the Gigapedus and triggering them to attack the Centapedus home planet, Blrince.

Months later, a day after the Siege on the StoneClaw Clan launched by the Centapedus Empire, the Clan's Leader, Lord Deatharot StoneClaw, escaped with a few of his forces and took control of a nearby group of Feral Hermicee. He used the savages to build him a new bastion, complete with catapults and other defenses for the oncoming final assault that he knew was coming. Despite Deatharot's efforts, he was killed by Centapedus forces, the StoneClaw were obliterated, and the Feral Hermicee he had taken control of were all killed.

Formation
In many cases, Feral Hermicee tribes or clans are formed when several Hermicee individuals are left behind or separated from their original clan with little or no technology. Obviously, a tribe can only be formed when a female (Crackrina) is present, so the tribe may produce offspring.

Hierarchy
Unlike regular Hermicee clans, Feral Hermicee work in a tribalistic pack-like mentality. They compete for dominance in one-on-one fights until one of the participants submits. Feral Hermicee are lead by Chieftains, who usually hold the power to eat first and command his tribesman. Occasionally, Crackrinas will establish dominance over a given tribe. Due to the Crackrina's natural intelligence, this will usually cause the tribe to prosper greatly in the fields of economy, with fishing and occasional cultivation going alongside the regular hunting.

Operation
Typically, a tribe is run on the raw instincts of it's members. The Chieftain may direct all main courses of action, but due to the natural stupidity of the Hermicee species, it is difficult to maintain absolute control. It seems to follow the most basic animal instincts, find food, water, and shelter. By day, Feral Hermicee tribes will go out hunting for food. Predominantly, large animals are used as a source of meat. Feeding does not typically occur until sunset.

Once a location with ample ways of obtaining food and water is established, Feral Hermicee begin to work on structure. Many times they will build their homes within caves or may even dig trenches or tunnels to dwell in. In locations where no such shelter is possible, they will build huts and tents from any suitable material they may find.

When a Feral Hermicee tribe becomes large and prosperous enough, they typically begin establishing a hard-written hierarchy and rules. This is where they begin breeding Workers to create structures and do general work around the tribe, while the basic Drones go about hunting. Crackrinas will begin innovating ways of hunting or other ways of obtaining resources. They, along with the Workers, begin to create tools and weapons for the tribe to use. At this point, it is merely assumed that a Feral Hermicee clan may eventually evolve into a civilization or even a space-faring clan, as none have ever been recorded to do so yet.