The Burning Beetle

The original purpose of the beetle has been lost in the mists of history. It may not even have been a weapon. The beetle had four components. A small transformer operating at a high frequency gave it its characteristic high-pitched whining sound as well as its power. An airfoil, similar in shape to a dragonfly's wings, provided the propulsion. An tiny antenna transmitted a signal, searching for tell-tale signs of free electrons. Once a likely source was found, the beetle would fly towards the target, and strike it. The beetle was light and slow enough so that the impact would not cause any immediate damage, but would activate the fourth component.

Once the beetle found it source, and struck the target, the beetle generated an electric pulse from the draining of a capacitor, and, in addition, an intense flash of heat would be generated that would last a few seconds. These flashes would persist, once every fifteen seconds, until a switch the size of a rice grain could be shifted a few millimeters.

Fred, Astra, and the goblin knew nothing of capacitors, free electrons, transformers, and electricity. The did know, or would find out, that the beetle would seek any metallic object, attack it, and force any muscles adjacent to the object to contract, all while scorching the victim with short bursts of heat until he was cooked.

Astra, in her broadcloth, and without a weapon, was invisible to the beetle. Fred, with his sword, armour, and a few metal objects in his pack, appeared to the beetle to be lit up like a Christmas tree.

Fred and Astra heard a soft, high-pitched whine coming toward them from the rear. They reacted by

1. attempting to find the source of the noise and crush it.
2. fleeing toward the Arsenal.

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