Kalphite (race)

Kalphites (Kalphiscarabeinae) are a species of large, carnivorous,^[1] poisonous insects native to the Kharidian Desert. They can be found in the Kalphite Lair south-west of the Shantay Pass as well as the Kalphite Cave to the east of the Shantay Pass.

According to legend, some time in the early Fourth Age, the demi-god Scabaras proclaimed himself omnipotent and demanded that he be the only god worshipped. The people rebelled and banished the god, upon which his blood washed over scarabs to create the race of kalphites.^[2] How far this is accurate remains up to debate, but the effect of the Keris dagger does seem to suggest that Scabarites and kalphites are somehow related.^[3]

Kalphites live in large underground nests in the Kharidian Desert.^[4] They prefer warmer, sandy caverns for their nests, but they have a natural resilience to the cold.^[5] They exist in a caste-based society, ruled by a queen (Kalphiscarabeinae pasha).^[6]

They begin as larvae, which are are born from small, brown eggs laid by the kalphite queen. Once a group of eggs are successfully laid, they are taken by kalphite workers, who raise the eggs in special nursery areas within the hive. These eggs will hatch quickly, each yielding a larva.

Larvae will develop quickly in order to ensure their hive is fully protected at all times. The exact nature of this development, though, depends on what level of the caste system they were biologically chosen to become at birth. Larvae will develop into either workers, soldiers, guardians, or, in rare cases, a queen. Though there are large differences between the different species of the Kalphiscarabeinae family, the basic evolution process remains the same.

Larvae, regardless of what their role in the hive will be, begin the development process by growing six large legs, the two front of which are particularly powerful and designed specifically for tunnelling into the desert sands.^[7] Soldiers, guardians, and queens also develop spikes along the length of their legs, which they use for combat and additional maneuverability. At the same time, their soft bodies will begin to harden, gaining powerful plates on their exoskeleton known as lamellae.^[8] They gain a green colour at an early age, although its shade and patterns vary greatly based on what its role in the hive will be.

As they enter the late stages of development, the larvae will grow two large antennae, which they use to detect movement.^[9] The plates will continue to advance and harden, eventually gaining the ability to fan out and detect odors.^[10] If the larva is to be a queen, it will also develop powerful spines on its abdomen that can be thrown at foes by thrusting the body upwards. It will also develop a type of magical attack and a holy protection, possibly due to its unclear connection with the god Scabaras.^[11]

Once fully developed, the now adult kalphite will unquestioningly take up its role in the hive, building and fighting to protect its species. When a queen dies, a new queen fills the role.^[12]

• Kalphite Queen
• Kalphite Guardian
• Kalphite Soldier
  • Kalphite soldier (Construction)
• Kalphite Worker
• Kalphite Larva
• Reanimated kalphite

• A newly hatched kalphite larva
• One of the many kalphite workers
• A dangerous kalphite soldier
• A powerful Kalphite guardian
• The first form of the Kalphite queen
• The second form of the Kalphite queen
• A kalphite soldier in a player owned house dungeon.