| Dicey Dangers, Primordial Periodical
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Game by Joel Hills
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Cask Beetle
A Cask Beetle is a large, beetle-like creature found in abandoned wineries and cellars. Its hardened exoskeleton resembles the wooden staves of a wine barrel, providing it with excellent camouflage among the casks and barrels it inhabits. Measuring about three feet in length, the Cask Beetle has a rounded body with segmented plates that can mimic the grain and color of aged wood. Its six legs are sturdy and end in small, clawed feet, allowing it to scuttle quickly across cellar floors and up walls.
Cask Beetles are typically passive unless provoked. However, when threatened, they can release a foul-smelling, corrosive liquid from their mandibles, which they use both as a defense mechanism and to dissolve organic matter for consumption. They are known to be particularly fond of fermenting fruits and can often be found near wine barrels or vats. Their presence is a telltale sign of a neglected or abandoned storage area. Despite their intimidating appearance, they play a crucial role in breaking down organic waste in their environment.
