Rhausk are capable of tremendous speed both above and below ground, but are also capable of standing perfectly still and motionless for hours, days, or even weeks at a time. Rhausk often stand motionless and philosophically contemplate the nature of their own existence. Likewise, they are fond of communicating with other races to learn more about the nature of existence.

Rhausk have their own language of clicks and buzzes, but are able to approximate the common language of Humans as well as the language of Dwarves, Gnomes, and other denizens of the underground.

Combat: Despite their great size, rhausk can move very quickly and have a dexterity of 20. Likewise, the slender and delicate-seeming limbs of the rhausk are enormously strong; equal to the strength of a Stone Giant (+8 damage). When fighting, rhausk retract their five digits and extend a fighting blade normally hidden within their forelimbs. The fighting blades are three to four feet long and as hard as metal sword blades. Rhausk can inflict terrible damage with their fighting blades. In addition, rhausk can bite with their powerful mandibles.

Habitat/Society: Rhausk live in large hives deep beneath remote mountain ranges. Each hive is founded by a single queen, who mates only once in her life on a mating flight. After mating, the queen finds a suitable cave to begin her hive. Her offspring, both male and female, quickly grow and begin the necessary tasks of creating a comfortable home. Though the queen rules the hive, she does not direct every aspect of its development and growth. Unlike other insect hives, every member of the rhausk hive is highly intelligent. All members of the hive are capable of carrying out any necessary task. Rhausk are capable of carving through stone with their fighting blades and work the stone of their hives extensively. In the course of such construction, they typically reveal veins of precious metals and stones which they eagerly trade with other subterranean races; especially Dwarves and Gnomes.

Rhausk are friendly and thoughtful creatures who only fight to defend themselves or their friends. The one exception to this is a rogue rhausk which becomes infected with a deadly fungus. The name of the fungus is unpronounceable in any but the rhausk tongue, but the Dwarves call it 'madness moss'. The foul black fungus sends tendrils into the affected rhausk's nervous system and turns it into a nearly mindless killing machine. Other rhausk mount search parties to find and kill affected members of their hive before they can injure any local populations but affected rhausk have found their way to inhabited lands and wreaked great havoc upon the populace.

Ecology: Rhausk eat a variety of fungus which they farm in vast underground caverns. Likewise, they will trade with other races for other vegetable foodstuffs. If necessary, a rhausk can survive by eating meat, but they regard it as nearly sacrilegious. The queen generally lays between 1,000 and 1,500 eggs over the course of her 300 year life span. Her offspring have similarly long life spans. When the queen senses her life is nearing its end, she will lay a number of special eggs; these will mature into future queens and their mates. Breeding males, whether successful or not, die shortly after the mating flight.

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