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Lore Post #4 - Water Slimes
🕑 Added 2016-06-20 22:18:36 +0000 UTC Bestiary Entry #4– Slimeous Aquais
Common Name –Water Slime, Water Blob
Habitat – Lakes, Rivers, Oceans
The Slimeous Aquais is a member of the “Slime” family, and is the most frequently sighted slime-type in Talyron. The Water Slime shares an extremely close resemblance to its cousins the Slimeous Folious (Forest Slime) and the Slimeous Aridous (Desert Slime).
The Water Slime appears to consist of a gelatin-like mass that can be reshaped at will. It will often assume a humanoid-like shape when challenged. Scholars hypothesize that humans are the creature’s most common predator, and the humanoid shape is a learned defense mechanism. The gelatin-like mass that makes up the Water Slime’s body is highly sought after for the oils that are contained within. These oils are used in all forms of machinery, lighting mechanisms, and fishing equipment.
Water Slimes are highly territorial, but no one has ever seen where these creatures reside. Perhaps their lairs are hidden underwater, or perhaps they simply roam a particular area without forming a lair. Hunters report that Water Slimes do stick to certain areas and can be avoided by simply steering clear of their territories. They are not known to migrate or travel extensively.
As with all slimes, their reproductive process is unclear. It was reported that Water Slimes will form a “phallus-like” protrusion when near human females. In an effort to test this, we recruited a few female slaves and evaluated how a captured Water Slime reacted. As suggested, a phallus-like protrusion emerged from within the creature’s body, although it is unknown if this body part is permanent or formed at will. Interestingly, the Water Slime restrained the female slaves and proceeded to use this protrusion in a human-like fashion. When questioned, the female slaves reported the protrusion felt “hard and slimey” inside of them. No reproductive fluids appeared to be released during the process, but it was noted that the slime was far more timid for days following the ordeal. While this test did answer a few questions, we are still unclear how this creature reproduces and whether this behavior is merely learned from viewing humans or whether it is biologically driven.
As fisherman and hunters most often deal with these creatures, a number were questioned regarding how they are dealt with. Most reported simply avoiding known “slime areas,” but a few had reported slaying these creatures. First and foremost, archery weaponry is nearly useless against the gelatin like material, and iron weaponry is of limited use. It does appear that when a portion of the gelatin body is severed from the whole, it become dry, cracked and useless—implying that some form of system exists within the creature keeping the mass alive. One hunter highly recommended severing the creature’s “head” as a way to eliminate it. The gelatin-like material also appears to be “sticky” when still alive, and both hunters and fisherman report the danger of letting the creature get in contact with your skin. Interestingly, I was also unable to find any reports of the creature killing human females, only males. Perhaps, after using a female, it loses the drive for further aggression?
Given what we learned in this examination, it is recommended to merely avoid slime-infested areas when setting up fishing operations or building bridges. If one must enter a known slime area, a contingent of no less than 4 soldiers is recommended, and nets are the preferred method of containment. Given the need for the body to stay intact at all times, the slimes have trouble freeing themselves from a tightly woven net. Finally, like other slimes, Water Slimes can submerge themselves in the water for extended periods of time, making spotting them extremely difficult. Once they appear, they are usually in the process of attacking.
Sudoh Lu’Kear
Royal Cartographer and Historian
Comments
YummyTiger Gaming
They're in chapter 1, so you'll see what they can do there!
YummyTiger Gaming
Thanks! Yea, Sudoh Lu'Kear is a researcher through and through. I kind of cracked up at his discussion of the "female slave testing," as though it is just so matter-of-fact. When, in reality, it is quite terrible when you think about it. Maybe that makes me sick and twisted, I'm not sure...
YummyTiger Gaming
Well, I did think about that, which is why I put "tightly woven" in there. I'd concluded that the slime could eventually work itself through a tightly woven net, but it would take awhile. Additionally, it would leave itself quite vulnerable to anyone simply cutting off pieces as it did so. Therefore, nets would be an ideal way to limit the slime and then destroy it. Since slimes do have some intelligence, the slime would stop trying to escape after a few times having chunks of it cut off. Survival would take over.
Hmm. I'm curious - on nets not working against slimes, can they not rejoin themselves around something? A sword blow could utterly sever a piece of the slime from the core body, but with a net, it seems like it'd be possible for them to bulge through the holes and then flow to rejoin on the other side, keeping themselves intact. On the toher hand, this might not be a kind of control they're capable of, or it might just be so slow to accomplish that the slimes are vulnerable for followups while netted.
Denpa
"protrusion" :D i like how this lore seems from a researchers point of view.
YummyTiger Gaming
Fixed. "At will" was a weird choice anyways.
You said "Water Slimes can submerge themselves in the water AS will" you mean At?
Cory Carson
I never get sick of these lore posts and i just can't wait to see exactly what these bastards can do
YummyTiger Gaming
Well, I'm sure they'll try to reproduce, hehe.
YummyTiger Gaming
You are correct, you know, I've made that mistake like 5 times now! Damn it, we're talking about "beasts," it should be "BEASTiary!" Hehe. As for crafting, none in this game, but I do plan to have loot related to what you're fighting. No rats carrying around swords, armor, rings, etc. So, with Bogwort's always helpful advice, perhaps Aylia might use one of the bottles she can purchase to retrieve some slime and sell it? Who knows!
InsaneBrain
Liking this post, I like the idea behind the slime creatures having to remain whole. I also like the idea that human forms are a learned defense, I suppose it actually gives them a reason to assume those forms, rather than just being a ball of slime. Though I do wonder exactly HOW the reproduce? Maybe we'll find out? Eh? Wink wink.
InsaneBrain
You know what, I was just thinking that!
Linking this and the elephant post, the pic of the slime reminds me of the nightmare elephants from dumbo.
Baarogue
Are the uses for water-slime products just more fleshed-out lore, or is there going to be an economy or crafting in the game? Also, I hate to sound pedantic in case you're taking creative license, but iirc it's spelled "Bestiary." >_<;;
