Rhapsody Wasp (Basic Lore)

Rhapsody Wasp (CR 19)
True Chaotic - Small - Vermin
Rhapsody Wasps are a type of deadly monstrous vermin, who make large clay nests that look like assemblages of vertical masonry tubes, rather akin to an earthy pipe organ. They will sometimes build nests (usually larger ones) right out in the open, but there is no guarantee with these erratic vermin, and they will also frequently hide these nests in a myriad of places. Rhapsody Wasps are not terribly common (and considering how deadly they are, this is a good thing!), but they can be found in a remarkably wide variety of habitat. Temperate forests, prairies, coniferous woods, boreal wastelands, swamps, deep in caves and dungeons, infesting sewers, mires, high sere deserts, high upon mountain cliffs, all these and many more are places where these droning terrors have been encountered. Even worse, there have been reports of other monsters encouraging these Wasps to nest in inconvenient places, which can be a serious problem! Rhapsody Wasps have even been found in active volcanoes, and there are credible reports that they have been found in other dimensions than the Prime Material, lending credence to the theory that they aren't even 'real' creatures, although every test shows them to be simple vermin. Just very dangerous ones. Fortunately, Rhapsody Wasps seem to like relatively quiet nesting sites, and so nests in cities and towns are quite rare. Occasionally, a Rhapsody Wasp nest will be discovered inside a city, typically tucked as far from activity as the Wasps can get it, inside some large ruined and abandoned building. Rhapsody Wasps are haphazard in their behaviors. They can and will range for many miles from their nest, and will even spend several days away, finding hidden nooks to rest and sleep. They prefer to travel in small groups, called 'flights', and they frequently rove far and wide in search of food, and in defense of their territories. Rhapsody Wasps are omnivorous, and will eat fruits, succulents, herbs, nuts, and grains, as well as small animals, large animals, weaker (or stronger!) monsters, various types of minerals, ores, and gems, and worst of all, people. Being near a Rhapsody Wasp nest is always a gamble. They might casually ignore you for years, then one fine morning, attack without preamble. Rhapsody Wasps are not extremely large, being about the size of a small dog (although that is terrifyingly huge for a wasp!), but they are very strong flyers. A Rhapsody Wasp can carry impossibly huge things through the air, and reports of single wasps carrying away humans and other civilized races are discouragingly common. Rhapsody Wasps are not actively inimical, but they are deadly dangerous just the same. Any nest that is identified anywhere near civilization must be dealt with sooner or later, and the services of seasoned adventurers is widely seen as the best way to handling these dire threats.