HOME | DD

Description
When it comes to Slimes, most of their variations and different forms are a result of their environment. It is just like how a species can diverge from its own as it adapts to a new land or role, but Slimes rarely become a different species. Rather their behavior, shape and abilities slowly change to fit the new habitat, like how a human would change as they moved from a coastal home to a desert one. So if I ever want to talk about a different form of Slime, it is important to mention they environment they live in, as sometimes it can quite literally shape them into what they are today!

The Slimes that I write of now are known as Acid Slimes (or Leg-Eaters), and they are beings that are found mainly in Hivelands. It is true that they can inhabit other rocky places, but most of their populations are found exclusively in these rare biomes. So rare are these places, that I should probably explain what Hivelands are. They are places that are found on the arid continent, only forming under extremely specific circumstances. From a distance, some may believe that Hivelands are just like mountainous regions, with the exception of the tall spire-like growths. I mean, they are just towering structures of rock right? Indeed there is rock involved, but that is not what forms this land. Travel closer to these hills and you will notice that the stone seems quite porous, with an impossible number of holes bored through it. Perhaps then you may realize that it is not a mountain you are walking on, but a hive. Looking at the name, it may seem obvious to you that this realm is made entirely of hives, but many folk don't really grasp what this really means. How could anyone even fathom such a thing until they saw it with their own eyes? That was what happened with me! I had read of these environments for years, and dreamed of seeing them myself, but my imagination failed to truly capture the real deal! Towers and spires that grow faster than trees, the ground beneath your roots trembling with the activity of millions of tiny insects, the music of the wind as it flows through the hollow earth. It is impossible to truly describe it! All of this is the result of massive colonies of termite-like insects called Mountain Makers, who constantly shape the landscape with their powerful mandibles and binding secretions. They quite literally carve the earth and rock into pieces and glue it all back together to make their ever-changing hives. This creates a land of pure chaos, towers grow and crumble, and valleys deepen and vanish. It is a beautiful sight to see, but it is a dangerous place to be!

Even if you excluded some of its more deadly inhabitants, Hivelands are not places one should take lightly. Due to the ever-changing landscape, it is quite easy to get lost and its porous structure makes every step a risk. While this chewed-and-glued stonework is resilient, it leaves hundreds of holes and openings for one to trip on or twist a root. It is also capable of crumbling beneath your feet if you happen to hit a particularly worn spot. Due to the constant work of Mountain Makers and the burrowing of other inhabitants, it is possible for the ground to be riddled with sinkholes and pits, all waiting for some fool to fall through. If you don't test the ground before you step on it, you can easily smash right through the earth and take a nasty fall. Just hope there aren't any Pitfall Moles waiting for you down there! And if the stone does hold your weight, you have to keep an eye out for any nasty surprises that may wait in the many holes and burrows. One such thing to worry about are the Acid Slimes.

The Acid Slime gets its name from the caustic fluid that it pseudobody secretes, which it uses to burrow through the ground and digest unwary critters. This acid seems to be made from the combination of fluids taken from prey, waste products and a special oil its slime generates. The result is a thick liquid that burns flesh on contact and can eat away at rock. It coats its outer layer with the stuff, making even contact with these Slime dangerous. In a pinch, it can spit gobs of this caustic stuff at fleeing prey or attacking predators, making it a long range weapon as well. This combined with the Slime's fluid form make them perfect for the Hivelands, as they stuff themselves into the smallest of burrows and burn through any they don't fit in. As long as their hearts can fit, the Acid Slime can slither in and hunt. While they can search the honeycombed rock for any hiding critters, they often prefer a bigger meal. This leads us to the reason they are also called "Leg-Eaters."

When they decide to hunt for a meal, Acid Slimes will jam themselves in a hole and wait for prey to come by. Often their hiding spots are near vegetation or a source of water (which can be scarce when the ground is filled with holes) so that it is more likely for a victim to wander by. When something tasty passes by their hole, they will lash out with a slimy appendage and try to snare them. Due to their hiding place, most attacks wind up being aimed at the victim's leg. By wrapping their tendrils around the limb, they can keep prey from fleeing and also knock them off their feet. The moment their slime hits flesh, the acid begins to eat away at it. The pain and damage can stun prey, long enough for the Acid Slime to surge from its hole and overwhelm them. If the victim puts up too much of a fight, the Slime may choose to remain in its hiding spot and instead try to pull its meal in. Though they are gooey, they are quite strong, which means they can yank prey into holes that aren't big enough for them. If this happens, the victim is usually a goner, as having all those bones crushed isn't very healthy. Those who get grabbed by the snare of an Acid Slime need to break free from its grip as soon as possible. Even if they can keep the rest of the Slime from enveloping them, the caustic grip can cause serious damage. If one stays trapped in its snare too long, the acid may just sever their leg entirely. With a hardy yank, some victims have had their scorched appendages yanked right off, leaving a charred stump in its place. It is not uncommon to see scars and missing legs in communities that border Hivelands, validating the name "Leg-Eater."

Since Acid Slimes are still Slimes, there is a chance that some of these beings may be intelligent. Any Slime is capable of learning things like speech, reasoning and mercy, but some may choose to ignore such things. Acid Slimes tend to favor instinct and primal desires over things like "conversation" and "bartering," so attempts to reason with them or appease them is quite tough. Rather, it is best to watch your step and keep a walking stick handy when you traverse the Hivelands. It is a nice tool to keep your balance, but it is invaluable when it comes to testing the sturdiness of the ground or checking for any hidden predators. I have thankfully avoided any such attackers during my studies, thanks to this simple tool. I have, however, had a number of walking sticks get sucked into some dark burrow when I started to prod around. When that happened, I just turned around and walked the other way. Best to find a different route, as I am quite attached to my roots!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

----------------------------------------------------

More Slimes and a wacky biome to go with it! What if termite mounds were just the entire landscape?

Description
When it comes to Slimes, most of their variations and different forms are a result of their environment. It is just like how a species can diverge from its own as it adapts to a new land or role, but Slimes rarely become a different species. Rather their behavior, shape and abilities slowly change to fit the new habitat, like how a human would change as they moved from a coastal home to a desert one. So if I ever want to talk about a different form of Slime, it is important to mention they environment they live in, as sometimes it can quite literally shape them into what they are today!

The Slimes that I write of now are known as Acid Slimes (or Leg-Eaters), and they are beings that are found mainly in Hivelands. It is true that they can inhabit other rocky places, but most of their populations are found exclusively in these rare biomes. So rare are these places, that I should probably explain what Hivelands are. They are places that are found on the arid continent, only forming under extremely specific circumstances. From a distance, some may believe that Hivelands are just like mountainous regions, with the exception of the tall spire-like growths. I mean, they are just towering structures of rock right? Indeed there is rock involved, but that is not what forms this land. Travel closer to these hills and you will notice that the stone seems quite porous, with an impossible number of holes bored through it. Perhaps then you may realize that it is not a mountain you are walking on, but a hive. Looking at the name, it may seem obvious to you that this realm is made entirely of hives, but many folk don't really grasp what this really means. How could anyone even fathom such a thing until they saw it with their own eyes? That was what happened with me! I had read of these environments for years, and dreamed of seeing them myself, but my imagination failed to truly capture the real deal! Towers and spires that grow faster than trees, the ground beneath your roots trembling with the activity of millions of tiny insects, the music of the wind as it flows through the hollow earth. It is impossible to truly describe it! All of this is the result of massive colonies of termite-like insects called Mountain Makers, who constantly shape the landscape with their powerful mandibles and binding secretions. They quite literally carve the earth and rock into pieces and glue it all back together to make their ever-changing hives. This creates a land of pure chaos, towers grow and crumble, and valleys deepen and vanish. It is a beautiful sight to see, but it is a dangerous place to be!

Even if you excluded some of its more deadly inhabitants, Hivelands are not places one should take lightly. Due to the ever-changing landscape, it is quite easy to get lost and its porous structure makes every step a risk. While this chewed-and-glued stonework is resilient, it leaves hundreds of holes and openings for one to trip on or twist a root. It is also capable of crumbling beneath your feet if you happen to hit a particularly worn spot. Due to the constant work of Mountain Makers and the burrowing of other inhabitants, it is possible for the ground to be riddled with sinkholes and pits, all waiting for some fool to fall through. If you don't test the ground before you step on it, you can easily smash right through the earth and take a nasty fall. Just hope there aren't any Pitfall Moles waiting for you down there! And if the stone does hold your weight, you have to keep an eye out for any nasty surprises that may wait in the many holes and burrows. One such thing to worry about are the Acid Slimes.

The Acid Slime gets its name from the caustic fluid that it pseudobody secretes, which it uses to burrow through the ground and digest unwary critters. This acid seems to be made from the combination of fluids taken from prey, waste products and a special oil its slime generates. The result is a thick liquid that burns flesh on contact and can eat away at rock. It coats its outer layer with the stuff, making even contact with these Slime dangerous. In a pinch, it can spit gobs of this caustic stuff at fleeing prey or attacking predators, making it a long range weapon as well. This combined with the Slime's fluid form make them perfect for the Hivelands, as they stuff themselves into the smallest of burrows and burn through any they don't fit in. As long as their hearts can fit, the Acid Slime can slither in and hunt. While they can search the honeycombed rock for any hiding critters, they often prefer a bigger meal. This leads us to the reason they are also called "Leg-Eaters."

When they decide to hunt for a meal, Acid Slimes will jam themselves in a hole and wait for prey to come by. Often their hiding spots are near vegetation or a source of water (which can be scarce when the ground is filled with holes) so that it is more likely for a victim to wander by. When something tasty passes by their hole, they will lash out with a slimy appendage and try to snare them. Due to their hiding place, most attacks wind up being aimed at the victim's leg. By wrapping their tendrils around the limb, they can keep prey from fleeing and also knock them off their feet. The moment their slime hits flesh, the acid begins to eat away at it. The pain and damage can stun prey, long enough for the Acid Slime to surge from its hole and overwhelm them. If the victim puts up too much of a fight, the Slime may choose to remain in its hiding spot and instead try to pull its meal in. Though they are gooey, they are quite strong, which means they can yank prey into holes that aren't big enough for them. If this happens, the victim is usually a goner, as having all those bones crushed isn't very healthy. Those who get grabbed by the snare of an Acid Slime need to break free from its grip as soon as possible. Even if they can keep the rest of the Slime from enveloping them, the caustic grip can cause serious damage. If one stays trapped in its snare too long, the acid may just sever their leg entirely. With a hardy yank, some victims have had their scorched appendages yanked right off, leaving a charred stump in its place. It is not uncommon to see scars and missing legs in communities that border Hivelands, validating the name "Leg-Eater."

Since Acid Slimes are still Slimes, there is a chance that some of these beings may be intelligent. Any Slime is capable of learning things like speech, reasoning and mercy, but some may choose to ignore such things. Acid Slimes tend to favor instinct and primal desires over things like "conversation" and "bartering," so attempts to reason with them or appease them is quite tough. Rather, it is best to watch your step and keep a walking stick handy when you traverse the Hivelands. It is a nice tool to keep your balance, but it is invaluable when it comes to testing the sturdiness of the ground or checking for any hidden predators. I have thankfully avoided any such attackers during my studies, thanks to this simple tool. I have, however, had a number of walking sticks get sucked into some dark burrow when I started to prod around. When that happened, I just turned around and walked the other way. Best to find a different route, as I am quite attached to my roots!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

----------------------------------------------------

More Slimes and a wacky biome to go with it! What if termite mounds were just the entire landscape?