Antoid Platoon

The Weirding Warrior tried to bring his foot down on the Ant Miner, but the vile little insect skittered away and disappeared down a hole in the soft silt of the forest's floor.

The Weirding Warrior rubbed his calf where it had struck him with its pickaxe, limped over to the hole, and peered inside.

“Come on out little fella,” he hissed. “I won't bite.”

A rustle of shifting dirt, and an Antoid Platoon consisting of five red ants wearing armor and wielding shields and spears poured out of the hole and skittered toward him.

The Weirding Warrior snorted and raised his boot. “Am I supposed to be impressed?”

The rustling grew louder. He paused and cocked his head. Suddenly, a flood of fire ants poured from the hole and surged toward him.

Eyes wide, he gasped and turned to flee. Tiny pinpricks tore into his lower legs. He stumbled and fell.

And the Antoid Platoons swarmed over him. An Antoid Platoon typically consists of five to seven Fire Ants, each approximately the size of a man's fist. They are well armored and wield shields and spears that, while tiny, provide a formidable defense and offense against the antoid's foes. Operating through a shared hive mind, the Antoid Platoon is employed to defend Ant Miners, other workers, the colony, and its queen. They are also known to become aggressive when invaders encroach upon their homes and surrounding territory.