Ironcrown:Rainbow Beetle

From Cyradon Wiki

The Rainbow Beetle is one of the most beautiful animals on Cyradon. These 3' long beetles have carapaces in deep glowing colors; rich reds, greens, blues, purples, and even, in rare cases, gold and silver. The beetles shed their carapaces twice a year, and these discarded carapaces are highly prized by the Arali Elves. The Elves maintain herds of Rainbow Beetles to ensure a steady supply of these carapaces. The beetles also secrete a resin-like substance, which has a variety of uses.

Discarded carapaces are carved into scales or molded into armor. This armor has the same properties as chain, and the encumbrance of reinforced leather. Beetle armor is very durable. The carapaces are also used for decorative inlay, jewelry making, and many other decorative arts. Some of the ancient mosaics of Belynar are made from Rainbow Beetle carapaces, proving that the Cyrads also valued these giant insects.

The beetle resin has a variety of practical applications. A light coat of this resin will harden soft leather armor in a few hours, converting it into hardened leather armor. (The resin must coat the entire piece of armor.) It is also used to strengthen and waterproof small light fishing coracles, stiffen cloth, lacquer wood, and to protect and beautify a variety of objects.

Rainbow Beetles are omnivorous, and about as intelligent as most insects. Their minds run to normal insect activities, food, mating, etc. They cannot be trained, and are normally not aggressive unless they are hungry or feel threatened.

#4300 Cyradon, page 162