Soothing Wasp (Basic Lore)

Soothing Wasp (CR 16)
Neutral - Tiny - Vermin
Soothing wasps are a particularly dangerous kind of vermin, that are fairly uncommon, but widespread. They can be found almost anywhere, their haystack-sized nests tucked out of sight and very well hidden. They have been found in attics, basements, ruins, keeps, mausoleums, caves, attached to trees in forests, tucked against cliff faces, snuggled under over-hanging river banks, and many more places besides. It is rare to find an actual nest, as the wasps are cagey fliers who approach in circuitous ways, and finding a nest is usually very bad, as they like nesting in large numbers. They maintain a teetering peace if they are not disturbed, but are aggressively territorial against creatures and things they perceive as threats, and perhaps most disturbing, carnivorous. They will vigorously defend their nests, but also send out patrols of a few wasps at a time in the nearby area to hunt for food. One clue that a nest is nearby is that local fauna is nearly completely absent, having been thoroughly predated by the swarm. Soothing wasps are brightly colored, featuring distinctive orange and black stripes. Notably, they are quite large, approximately the size of a humanoid head. They are rarely found alone, and more often, when you see one, there are many more nearby.