The Tarantula Hawk, native to North America, including Maine, where the game takes place, often makes burrows in naturally formed cavities, or dens stolen from other bugs. As such, this would affect multiple aspects of gameplay, including location, atmosphere, and more.
Arena: The Pepsis' Nest would be located in a cave underneath the section of the deck farthest to the left. A cracked rock would block the entrance to a dimly lit tunnel representative of a Black Widow Den. Upon entering, the (still breathing, although paralyzed) body of a Widow can be seen pressed against a wall with a Pepsis Egg laying on the underside of its abdomen. The room would have a few Black Widow Egg Sacks spread across it, some opened, as well as some Spider Webs.
Environment: The Widow Egg Sacks and Spiderwebs around the room act as normal, and can be broken. During the fight, the Pepsis Egg located on the Black Widow can be harvested/attacked with a Tier 3 Axe, and would drop Spider Wasp Webbing as well as affect the boss fight (more details below).
Lure: Spider Salad - "A Disgusting Mixture of the most dangerous spiders the yard has to offer, coated in a odorous dressing and certain to alert the Huntress Wasp."
2 Infected Broodmother Chunks
2 Broodmother Chunks
2 Black Widow Fangs
3 Acid Glands
Recipe Unlock: This recipe can be unlocked by finding a research file about a study, conducted by Wendell, in regards to the disappearance of large spiders, which he distinctly remembers the nesting grounds of. The study would detail him watching an emerald colored wasp hunt down a wolf spider near the Oak Tree, sting it, and drag it back to it's nest underneath the deck. Upon locating the nest, Wendell would explain his reasoning for believing the mixture of spider parts would be perfect for baiting out the bug, thus unlocking the recipe.
Basic Stats:
Health - 4500
Weaknesses: Salt (+25%), Chopping (+25%)
Resistances: Spicy (-25%), Sour (-25%), Stabbing (-25%), Busting (-50%)
Stun Threshold: 450
Special Mechanics: This fight would function almost as a backwards Mix.R, where the Wasp attempts to defend the Black Widow body as her larva inside feeds on it. Attacking this egg would damage its health bar, and upon reaching each of the four checkpoints, the Pepsis would let out a cry, and collapse to the Ground stunned, although giving the egg a healing effect, but removing the checkpoint on its health bar. If the egg is eventually broken, the Pepsis enters a special phase, labeled Phase 5.
New Effect - Paralysis: When hit, stops the victim from performing any actions other than using consumables such as smoothies, food, or bandages. Weapons can be used, Player can not move or turn screen, etc. Duration can be halved and the number of hits required to inflict it can be doubled (1->2) by using Anti-Paralytics such as Tarantula Hawk Tiramisu or Pararemedy.
Phase 1: While above 75% health, the Wasp would prioritize protecting the egg, using a variety of moves that inflict knockback, and her special effect, "Paralysis." The moves during this phase would consist of:
Basic Sting - 90 Damage, Inflicts Paralysis for 5 seconds
Wind Gust - 40 Damage, Inflicts Minor Bleed for 20 Seconds, Does Major Knockback
Screech - Applies a Healing Effect to her egg, and debuffs the player with -Attack Speed, -Attack Damage, and -Attack Resistance. Applies +Attack Speed and +Speed to self. This move can only be used once during each phase and is separate from the scream used when the egg is damaged.
Phase 2: While between 50% and 75% Health, the Wasp takes a more active and aggressive role in defending her egg.
Basic Sting - 120 Damage, Inflicts Paralysis for 7 Seconds, Does Medium Knockback
Triple Sting - 50/40/50 Damage, each hit inflicts Venom, little knockback
Double Gust - 60 Damage, Inflicts Minor Bleed with each flap of the wings, pushes player extremely far away
Screech - Applies a Healing Effect to her egg, and debuffs the player with -Attack Speed, -Attack Damage, and -Attack Resistance. Applies +Attack Speed and +Speed to self. This move can only be used once during each phase and is separate from the scream used when the egg is damaged.
Phase 3: While between 25% and 50% Health, the Pepsis gains a more aggressive move set focused on staying alive, as well as stacking effects on the player.
Triple Sting - 60/60/50 Damage, each hit inflicts venom and 3 second paralysis, little knockback
Dive Bite - 140 Damage, Charges a long dive bomb-esque move where she charges at the player, and inflicts heavy venom as well as staggers the player if hit.
Poison Shot - 100 Damage, Fires a quick explosive from her stinger of 6 second paralysis and medium venom towards the player
Barrage - 30 per hit, fires a barrage of elemental stingers towards the player, inflicting poison, venom, or 1 second paralysis on each hit.
Screech - Applies a Healing Effect to her egg, and debuffs the player with -Attack Speed, -Attack Damage, and -Attack Resistance. Applies +Attack Speed and +Speed to self. This move can only be used once during each phase and is separate from the scream used when the egg is damaged.
Phase 4: When under 25% health remaining, the Pepsis attempts a last ditch effort to kill the player, keeping all of her moves from Phase 3, as well as gaining a passive move being that for each successful hit on the player, the Pepsis now gains a new positive effect for the rest of the fight, including +Attack Damage, +Damage Resistance, Lifesteal, or one of the "+ damage Resist" effects, including physical or elemental damage types.
Triple Sting - 60/60/50 Damage, each hit inflicts venom and 3 second paralysis, little knockback
Dive Bite - 140 Damage, Charges a long dive bomb-esque move where she charges at the player, and inflicts heavy venom as well as staggers the player if hit.
Poison Shot - 100 Damage, Fires a quick explosive from her stinger of 6 second paralysis and medium venom towards the player
Barrage - 30 per hit, fires a barrage of elemental stingers towards the player, inflicting poison, venom, or 1 second paralysis on each hit.
Screech - Applies a Healing Effect to her egg, and debuffs the player with -Attack Speed, -Attack Damage, and -Attack Resistance. Applies +Attack Speed and +Speed to self. This move can only be used once during each phase and is separate from the scream used when the egg is damaged.
Phase 5: This phase can only be entered when the egg on the Black Widow is completely broken. The Pepsis will enter an enraged state, and, regardless of it's health at the time, enter Phase 5 for the rest of the fight until it or the player dies. The Pepsis also gains the Phase 4 passive positive effect for the rest of the fight, including +Attack Damage, +Damage Resistance, Lifesteal, or one of the "+ damage Resist" effects, including physical or elemental damage types.
Triple Sting - 75/75/60 Damage, each hit inflicts venom and 3 second paralysis, little knockback
Dive Bite - 170 Damage, Charges a long dive bomb-esque move where she charges at the player, and inflicts heavy venom as well as staggers the player if hit.
Poison Shot - 130 Damage, Fires a quick explosive from her stinger of 6 second paralysis and medium venom towards the player
Barrage - 45 per hit, fires a barrage of elemental stingers towards the player, inflicting poison, venom, or 1 second paralysis on each hit.
Screech - Debuffs the player with -Attack Speed Major, -Attack Damage Major, and -Attack Resistance Major. Applies +Attack Speed Major and +Speed Major to self. This move can only be used once during each phase and is separate from the scream used when the egg is damaged.
Rest - Exasperated, the Pepsis will collapse to the ground for ~25-30 seconds after any combination of 5 attacks. All effects affecting the boss at this time are temporarily paused/disabled, until it regains consciousness and starts attacking again.
Drops:
Tarantula Hawk Chunks (5-8)
Tarantula Hawk Wings (2-4)
Tarantula Hawk Stinger (1)
Tarantula Hawk Venom (3-5)
Emerald Hawk Trinket - Critical Hits inflict Venom and 5 Second Paralysis
Craftable Weapon: The Glaive of the Emerald Hawk
Cost: 4 Tarantula Hawk Chunks, 1 Tarantula Hawk Stinger, 2 Tarantula Hawk Venom, 5 Silk Rope, 5 Pond Moss
Does Slashing and Stabbing Damage, having alternate attack methods, hold block, then hold attack until the grip on the weapon changes to alternate styles.
Slashing Style has a 3 Hit Combo with extended range that inflicts Heavy Venom on the last hit, does 60/60/80 Damage, Two-Handed
Stabbing Style has a 3 Hit Combo with extended range that inflicts 3 Second Paralysis on the last hit, does 50/50/90 Damage, One-Handed
A light, deadly polearm crafted from parts of a paralyzing emerald huntress.
Craftable Armor Set: Armor of the Emerald Hawk
Light Armor Class
Piece Bonus: Invasive - Attacks have a chance to weaken enemy attack strength
Sleek Bonus - All DoT Effects caused by the player do 30% more damage, 50% more if inflicted on Spiders
Set Bonus - Hawk's Guidance: While in combat, for every bug killed, the player instantly regains 50 hp as well as a random positive effect from this list that will last for 15 seconds after combat ends. The effects will continue to have an unlimited duration if combat is reentered within the 15 second window of combat ending however: +Attack Damage, +Attack Stamina, +Attack Speed, +Movement Speed, +Damage Resist, +5% Critical Hit Chance, Regeneration
Helmet
Cost: 2 Tarantula Hawk Chunks, 1 Tarantula Hawk Venom, 3 Lint Rope
Appears as an Emerald Green Samurai Helmet with a Black Oni Mask representing a Pepsis on the front
Chestplate
Cost: 2 Tarantula Hawk Chunks, 2 Tarantula Hawk Wings, 5 Pupa Leather
Appears as an Emerald Green Samurai Chestplate to match the helmet, also has arm guards
Bracers
Cost: 2 Tarantula Hawk Chunks, 1 Tarantula Hawk Stinger, 5 Pond Moss
Appears as Emerald Green Colored Samurai Bracers protecting most of the legs, includes large shimmering boots.
Decoration:
Stuffed Pepsis
Cost: 2 Tarantula Hawk Chunks, 2 Tarantula Hawk Wings, 1 Tarantula Hawk Stinger
Pepsis Head Mount
Cost: 4 Tarantula Hawk Chunks, 2 Tarantula Hawk Wings, 3 Tarantula Hawk Venom
Pepsis Game Table
Cost: 2 Tarantula Hawk Chunks, 1 Tarantula Hawk Stinger, 4 Firefly Goop
Can appear as a Pool Table, Foosball Table, or Card Table, has customizable lighting underneath, and allows multiplayer groups to start minigames to mimic the games that can be show on the table's design.
