Kruthiks are monstrous creatures that combine the features of insects and reptiles. They originated from a dark and desolate plane of existence, where they survived by devouring anything they could find. They came to the Material Plane through a portal opened by a powerful artifact that was activated by a group of adventurers. The portal was destroyed, but not before a swarm of kruthiks escaped into the world. Kruthiks are vicious predators that hunt in packs and burrow through solid rock. They have scythe-like claws, serrated mandibles, and spiky protrusions that they can fling at their enemies. Kruthiks are highly territorial and will defend their hives and food sources with ferocity. They communicate with each other through chitters, hisses, and pheromones, and can understand simple phrases in other languages.
The Origin of the Kruthiks: A Tale of the Codex of Infinite Planes
The artifact that opened the extraplanar breach was the Codex of Infinite Planes, a powerful and mysterious book that contains the secrets of all the planes of existence. The Codex was created by an unknown entity, possibly a god or an ancient archmage, who sought to explore and catalog the infinite wonders and horrors of the multiverse. The Codex is a massive tome that weighs more than two men can lift, and has an obsidian cover and paper-thin lead pages. Each page is inscribed with writings in alien languages and illuminated with illustrations both beautiful and horrific. No matter how many pages are turned, there is always at least one more. The Codex has various powers that are triggered by reading it, such as opening portals, summoning fiends, and raising the dead. However, the Codex is also a dangerous and unpredictable artifact that can cause earthquakes, storms, fiendish invasions, imprisonment, and death to those who attempt to master it.
The Codex of Infinite Planes was discovered by a group of adventurers who were exploring a forgotten ruin in a remote region. They found the Codex in a hidden chamber, guarded by traps and monsters. They managed to overcome the obstacles and claim the Codex as their prize. They were fascinated by the book and its contents, and decided to study it and learn its secrets. They took the Codex to a safe place, where they hoped to unlock its mysteries.
However, they soon realized that they had made a terrible mistake. The Codex was cursed by its creator, who did not want anyone else to share his knowledge and power. The Codex would whisper dark thoughts into their minds, tempting them to use it for evil purposes. The Codex would also randomly activate its powers, creating chaos and destruction around them. One day, the Codex opened a portal to a dark and desolate plane of existence, where life was scarce and hostile, and where strange creatures lurked in the shadows. The adventurers called this plane the Wasteland, and they were horrified by what they saw.
The portal remained open for several days, spewing out more and more creatures from the Wasteland into the world. The creatures were monstrous hybrids of insects and reptiles that had scythe-like claws, serrated mandibles, and spiky protrusions that they could fling at their enemies. The adventurers named these creatures kruthiks, and they were terrified by them. The kruthiks spread quickly, burrowing through rock and soil, creating hives and hunting grounds. They devoured any living creature they encountered, leaving behind only bones and blood. They became a plague upon the land, a menace that threatened all life.
The adventurers tried to close the portal and stop the kruthiks, but they failed miserably. The Codex resisted their attempts to control it, and instead unleashed more of its powers against them. The adventurers were killed by the kruthiks, by the Codex’s curses, or by their own madness. The Codex was lost in the chaos, along with their bodies.