| Itchies | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| General information | |||
| Universe | Diablo | ||
| Aliases | Itchy (when singular) | ||
| Classification | Serromyia aranoch | ||
| Species type | Biting Midge | ||
| Homeworld | Sanctuary | ||
| Environment | Far Oasis, Aranoch | ||
| Intelligence | Non-sapient | ||
| Biochemistry | Carbon-based lifeform | ||
| Discovered | 1264 (in corrupt form) | ||
| Biological information | |||
| Reproduction | Sexual; lays eggs | ||
| Locomotion | Powered flight | ||
| Feeding behavior | Hematophagous | ||
| Prey | Blood of any lifeform | ||
| Distinctive features | Linked lifeforce, hive mind | ||
| Skin color | Black | ||
| Lineage information | |||
| Ancestor(s) | Unknown species of biting midge | ||
| Related species | Devouring Swarm, Hell Swarm, Noise Gnat, Plague Bugs | ||
| Cultural information | |||
| Alignment | Chaotic Neutral | ||
| Personality | Aggressive | ||
| Organization | Swarms | ||
| Sociocultral characteristics | |||
| Scientific taxonomy | |||
| Planet | Sanctuary | ||
| Domain | Eukaryota | ||
| Kingdom | Animalia | ||
| Subkingdom | Eumetazoa | ||
| Infrakingdom | Bilateria | ||
| Superphylum | Ecdysozoa | ||
| Phylum | Euarthropoda | ||
| Subphylum | Hexapoda | ||
| Class | Insecta | ||
| Subclass | Pterygota (Winged Insects) | ||
| Infraclass | Neoptera (Winged insects that can flex wings over the abdomen) | ||
| Superorder | Panorpida | ||
| Order | Diptera (Flies) | ||
| Suborder | Nematocera (Elongated Flies) | ||
| Infraorder | Culicomorpha | ||
| Superfamily | Chironomoidea | ||
| Family | Ceratopogonidae (Biting Midges) | ||
| Subfamily | Ceratopogoninae | ||
| Infrafamily | Ceratopogonini | ||
| Genus | Serromyia | ||
| Species | aranoch (Somarinoa, 2019) | ||
| Other information | |||
| Status | Least Concern | ||
| Creator | Prime Evils | ||
| Possible population | Likely in the billions | ||
Itchies are a species of biting midge that are indigenous to the Far Oasis of the kingdom of Aranoch in the realm of Sanctuary. They have been greatly affected by the emergence of the Prime Evils. Although of little threat to adventures on their own, they can sap their strength and leave them open to attacks by more dangerous monstrosities.
Normally, Itchies are driven mad by the extreme temperatures of Aranoch's deserts, causing them to swarm and ramping up aggression. However, demonic influence has led to them grouping into larger, tighter swarms that swirl and twist as if led by a single mind. Their bites cause incredible itchiness, hence the name, but they also drain the stamina of a victim which makes it difficult for their targets to escape.
Due to their tiny bodies, they are difficult to kill with straightforward melee attacks, though it is possible, indicating that there is perhaps a "queen" amidst the swarm that serves as the primary focal point of the hive mind as one can cause an entire swarm to drop dead simply by striking it enough times without actually physically killing every last swarm member. The swarms are so tightly knit that they can also keep items such as scrolls, runes, potions, and other smaller items aloft within the swarm itself.
Itchy swarms that have been most greatly affected by the Prime Evils' presence have become completely immune to physical damage, but the organisms are easily affected by elemental magics, making them easy prey to sorcerers and magical items.
Trivia[]
- Although game material refers to Itchies as "gnat-like", gnats do not bite humans. Instead, they are very likely biting midges, also known as no-see-ums, which do bite people.