Nice stuff, Jamie. A few comments...
Mole crickets ("changa"):
Seeing as the males of the real versions dig the tunnels to act as
trumpets for their stridulations, I think you could incorporate this.
Actually, seeing as you have the trolls use them for military
purposes, this could easily be a military function too - have them dig
all around a potential battlefield then sing like crazy when required.
If the trolls can't perceive that frequency (so are immune), you have
some potential fun.
Mantids:
I think you could add Warning Hiss here. I have been scared silly by
coming across a hissing mantid. It was hanging off a leaf, exposing
rainbow wings, so was unrecognisable.
Weevils:
These could easily have Cling On - weevils have a very strong grip
which could be quite inconvenient if they are a foot long and there
are a lot of them.
Longhorn beetles:
These make a nice anti-Aldryami beast for the trolls. The adults will
remove bark with their mandibles in a ring (so killing a branch in the
real world or a tree if they are gigantic). The larvae will feed
inside the live (but killed by the ringing) wood. For Aldryami, there
is an interesting dilemma as the only practicable means of control is
torching the dead wood.
Just some thoughts.
Sam.
Powered by hypermail