HOME | DD

Description
Like I said for my entry on Slime Chimeras, this is a "species" that technically really isn't a separate species. The creatures known as "Flayers" are just Slimes that have adopted a certain lifestyle and appearance. Their unique look and ruthless hunting methods have made them feared by those who live in their territory, which probably created the notion that they were unique monstrosities. In truth, they are just regular old Slimes, just ones that have taken a more bloody route for survival.

While Flayers could technically be found anywhere Slimes can survive, many of them tend to live in somewhat arid environments. Places like canyons, shrublands, caves and savannas are all potential homes for them. They seem to prefer dry, rocky places that have a good source of prey. Some may wonder why they tend to hang out in places that have little water, as Slimes are vulnerable to desiccation and dehydration. The current belief is that Flayers are not drawn to these environments, but are rather born in them. The shortage of moisture and the challenges of such a habitat may have caused Slimes that lived there to take on this behavior in response. From there, they expanded out into other environments, still carrying the same adaptations to places that do not require them. Even when they are surrounded by water sources, Flayers may still chose to hunt the same way. On the other hand, Flayers that have gained access to more hospitable places may discard this lifestyle and take on another behavior. This is important to tell people, as many get the impression that once a Slime goes this route, they are forever stuck on it. This is not the case, it is just that many Flayers are perfectly happy with their current setup.

As you may expect for one with such a diabolical name, Flayers are predators and vicious ones at that. Since they live in places where rain and groundwater is a bit scarce, they require a different source of moisture. Their solution is to go after the moisture that other creatures carry inside them. Blood is their primary food source, so much so that the slime that makes up their pseudobodies is tinted red by their numerous meals. I am immediately going to say right now that this does not mean all red Slimes drink blood or are hypercarnivores. You can have a crimson Slime that enjoys fruits and insect larvae, it is just that Flayers consume blood in such vast quantities that they tend to be colored by it. When it comes to hunting for blood, Flayers can go at it in different ways. Some choose to actively pursue prey, while others can set up traps and go for an ambush style. Their long tendril arms are perfect for snaking out and binding prey, which makes up for the fact that Flayers walk quite slow. A pursuit style of hunting works in environments that have cliffs and walls, as the Flayer will slowly force prey into a dead end. Ambushing Flayers will stick to caves and places with thick vegetation, as they can hide and shoot out their tentacles when prey gets close. The common tool that they use is their unique body structure. Since they are going after live prey, Flayers require a way to take down victims and deal with a struggle. To help make it easier to subdue prey, Flayers will thicken the slime of their pseudobodies to make it sticky and adhesive. Much like the Kelpie, they use this slime composition to snare prey and trap them. To further aid this ability of theirs, Flayers use bones of previous victims to help add structure to their slime. They want to add as much surface area as they can so that prey has more chances to be adhered to them. Since walking around as a thin wall of slime is a bit impractical and unstable, they use bones to create a frame to support them. With a tall lanky form, they can pull prey into their bodies and trap them in their sticky slime. The many joints and supports will fold in to fully engulf the victim, and this is when they put their names to use.

When Flayers successfully snare prey, they will use the bone shards on their bodies to stab and shred them. With no chewing mouthparts of their own, the broken bone and teeth of previous prey is used instead. They wrap their bodies around the victim and begin to convulse and move their slime in a rubbing motion. The bone spurs will rip through skin and leave deep cuts, which is perfect for bleeding victims dry. The Flayers will continue to rub and shake, peeling off clothes, skin and armor so that they can bath in the prey's blood. In cases where two Flayers are hunting at once, when prey is trapped in one, the other will join in. The two will sandwich victims between their bodies and grind them to a bloody pulp. Some may find this act as humorous due to the image of two Slimes grinding against each other, but I assure you that the victim trapped inside is not having any fun at all. Often, the Flayer will not fully consume their victim and they will carry the drained corpse back to a nest. These nests are often located in caves and holes within rock, and it is where multiple Flayers will take up residence. The dead prey will be taken back to the cave and left there, their meat being saved for the young or for when they are resting. In time, the Flayers will go back to their nest and feed on these left over carcasses. The bones that are leftover are either incorporated into their bodies or are tossed into a pile for later use. When young Flayers develop, they shall go to these bone piles to make their own frames so that they can hunt prey. In time, they shall add the parts of their own victims to their bodies.

As you can probably imagine, Flayers are feared creatures and are widely hated by the public. Their carnivorous diet and terrifying way to dispatch prey has made them famous threats to those who dwell near canyons or caves. The news of a nest being found near a settlement is enough to whip the populace into a frenzy, sometimes leading to a village-wide evacuation. At times like these, calls for hunters, warriors, knights and slayers will go out, but very rarely will they be answered. Flayers are difficult beasts to dispatch, and many mercenaries will refuse to take on such a job. Their sticky frames and spike covered bodies make attacks on them difficult, especially since their hearts are the only weak point. Those who try to stab or slash them will find their weapons glued to their hide. A moment's hesitation can also lead to a painful demise, as all it takes is a single tendril to trap you in an inescapable grip. The key is to target their heart and take it out, but that can be difficult at times. Their thick slime is opaque, making it hard to locate the heart visually. They can also hide their heart in any one of their thick joints or bulbous parts, turning it into a guessing game. Some claim that the heart is always kept in the head, but that is because those who have found out otherwise are often piles of shredded meat. In most cases, slayers will refuse to go on such a hunt. If you find someone who is willing to participate in such a quest, then they are either extremely experienced or really stupid. You will know which it is when you stumble upon the Flayer nest, as the inexperienced will often run scared at the site of flayed men and mountains of dried bones.

I have had a chance to study Flayers during one of my adventures, but funny enough, it wasn't at all intentional! I had been working on my research of Nipper Wyrms out in the canyons near Fels-Len, when I stumbled upon a cave entrance hidden at the bottom of a cliff. Curious to see if it was a roost for Nipper Wyrms, I lit up a torch and headed inside. After a long winding tunnel, I stumbled into a large chamber that was filled with bones and flayed bodies. I immediately realized where I was and ran back into the tunnel for a hasty retreat. Unfortunately, two Flayers were returning from the hunt and were heading down the tunnel with their prizes. With the entrance now blocked, I had no choice but to run back into the chamber and find a place to hide. I snuffed the torch and buried myself in a pile of bones. Everything went pitch black, and all I could hear was the squishing of slime and the clicking of bone on stone. In time, my eyes adjusted to the dark, and I saw the two Flayers discard their dead prey. I waited for them to turn to leave, but luck was not on my side. They instead chose to rest, sloshing their bodies onto the floor and falling asleep. At that point, I figured I would try to sneak out, but once again, fate had other plans. Three other Flayers came into the chamber, and they all decided that it was a good weekend to laze about at home. With five Flayers in the chamber, I had no chance of escape as long as one of them was awake. For three days I was stuck in there, forced to remain in that pile of bones. During that time, I chose to observe them and study their movements. It was partly for research, but also for me to figure out a way to escape. Though I was scared stiff the entire time, I did learn some neat stuff! One was that Flayers do not like to collect or carry skulls. Any skulls they pulled from prey were immediately shattered against the rock, and they took the teeth from the broken remains. Perhaps they are too bulky for them to carry? Another is that Flayers actually care about their appearances, taking time to arrange the bones in their body and swapping out ones that do not fit right. I saw two of them squabble over a humerus once, as they both seemed to want to add it to their collection. Eventually it was settled through trade, as one Flayer took a broken femur from its body and gave it to the other. Satisfied, the other gave up possession of the humerus and left with its new addition. I also found that Flayers do not seem to be all that wary or concerned when they are in their nests. Several times I accidentally caused some bones to rattle in my hiding place, which earned some confused looks. Never did they come to investigate, they just shrugged it off. I guess they don't expect any prey to be dumb enough to enter their homes, or perhaps they are tolerant of scavengers. Another thing I learned is that dried human meat tastes kind of like pig jerky, but a lot less salty (which is mainly because it was raw). I got hungry during my imprisonment, so I had to gnaw on some loose chunks that were laying about. I think they belonged to some spelunker who entered the wrong cave, but I can't be too sure. It was rather tough and chewy, but that is because it was desiccated and old. I never ate that stuff dried before, as it is much better when it's fresh, juicy and hot off the grill. Add the right seasonings and spices, and you got yourself a meal! I practically fantasized about that while I laid in that pile. It made me yearn for the fancier dishes I had, but beggars can't be choosers!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

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

More Slimes, with these ones acting like Adherers. Really love how they turned out!

Description
Like I said for my entry on Slime Chimeras, this is a "species" that technically really isn't a separate species. The creatures known as "Flayers" are just Slimes that have adopted a certain lifestyle and appearance. Their unique look and ruthless hunting methods have made them feared by those who live in their territory, which probably created the notion that they were unique monstrosities. In truth, they are just regular old Slimes, just ones that have taken a more bloody route for survival.

While Flayers could technically be found anywhere Slimes can survive, many of them tend to live in somewhat arid environments. Places like canyons, shrublands, caves and savannas are all potential homes for them. They seem to prefer dry, rocky places that have a good source of prey. Some may wonder why they tend to hang out in places that have little water, as Slimes are vulnerable to desiccation and dehydration. The current belief is that Flayers are not drawn to these environments, but are rather born in them. The shortage of moisture and the challenges of such a habitat may have caused Slimes that lived there to take on this behavior in response. From there, they expanded out into other environments, still carrying the same adaptations to places that do not require them. Even when they are surrounded by water sources, Flayers may still chose to hunt the same way. On the other hand, Flayers that have gained access to more hospitable places may discard this lifestyle and take on another behavior. This is important to tell people, as many get the impression that once a Slime goes this route, they are forever stuck on it. This is not the case, it is just that many Flayers are perfectly happy with their current setup.

As you may expect for one with such a diabolical name, Flayers are predators and vicious ones at that. Since they live in places where rain and groundwater is a bit scarce, they require a different source of moisture. Their solution is to go after the moisture that other creatures carry inside them. Blood is their primary food source, so much so that the slime that makes up their pseudobodies is tinted red by their numerous meals. I am immediately going to say right now that this does not mean all red Slimes drink blood or are hypercarnivores. You can have a crimson Slime that enjoys fruits and insect larvae, it is just that Flayers consume blood in such vast quantities that they tend to be colored by it. When it comes to hunting for blood, Flayers can go at it in different ways. Some choose to actively pursue prey, while others can set up traps and go for an ambush style. Their long tendril arms are perfect for snaking out and binding prey, which makes up for the fact that Flayers walk quite slow. A pursuit style of hunting works in environments that have cliffs and walls, as the Flayer will slowly force prey into a dead end. Ambushing Flayers will stick to caves and places with thick vegetation, as they can hide and shoot out their tentacles when prey gets close. The common tool that they use is their unique body structure. Since they are going after live prey, Flayers require a way to take down victims and deal with a struggle. To help make it easier to subdue prey, Flayers will thicken the slime of their pseudobodies to make it sticky and adhesive. Much like the Kelpie, they use this slime composition to snare prey and trap them. To further aid this ability of theirs, Flayers use bones of previous victims to help add structure to their slime. They want to add as much surface area as they can so that prey has more chances to be adhered to them. Since walking around as a thin wall of slime is a bit impractical and unstable, they use bones to create a frame to support them. With a tall lanky form, they can pull prey into their bodies and trap them in their sticky slime. The many joints and supports will fold in to fully engulf the victim, and this is when they put their names to use.

When Flayers successfully snare prey, they will use the bone shards on their bodies to stab and shred them. With no chewing mouthparts of their own, the broken bone and teeth of previous prey is used instead. They wrap their bodies around the victim and begin to convulse and move their slime in a rubbing motion. The bone spurs will rip through skin and leave deep cuts, which is perfect for bleeding victims dry. The Flayers will continue to rub and shake, peeling off clothes, skin and armor so that they can bath in the prey's blood. In cases where two Flayers are hunting at once, when prey is trapped in one, the other will join in. The two will sandwich victims between their bodies and grind them to a bloody pulp. Some may find this act as humorous due to the image of two Slimes grinding against each other, but I assure you that the victim trapped inside is not having any fun at all. Often, the Flayer will not fully consume their victim and they will carry the drained corpse back to a nest. These nests are often located in caves and holes within rock, and it is where multiple Flayers will take up residence. The dead prey will be taken back to the cave and left there, their meat being saved for the young or for when they are resting. In time, the Flayers will go back to their nest and feed on these left over carcasses. The bones that are leftover are either incorporated into their bodies or are tossed into a pile for later use. When young Flayers develop, they shall go to these bone piles to make their own frames so that they can hunt prey. In time, they shall add the parts of their own victims to their bodies.

As you can probably imagine, Flayers are feared creatures and are widely hated by the public. Their carnivorous diet and terrifying way to dispatch prey has made them famous threats to those who dwell near canyons or caves. The news of a nest being found near a settlement is enough to whip the populace into a frenzy, sometimes leading to a village-wide evacuation. At times like these, calls for hunters, warriors, knights and slayers will go out, but very rarely will they be answered. Flayers are difficult beasts to dispatch, and many mercenaries will refuse to take on such a job. Their sticky frames and spike covered bodies make attacks on them difficult, especially since their hearts are the only weak point. Those who try to stab or slash them will find their weapons glued to their hide. A moment's hesitation can also lead to a painful demise, as all it takes is a single tendril to trap you in an inescapable grip. The key is to target their heart and take it out, but that can be difficult at times. Their thick slime is opaque, making it hard to locate the heart visually. They can also hide their heart in any one of their thick joints or bulbous parts, turning it into a guessing game. Some claim that the heart is always kept in the head, but that is because those who have found out otherwise are often piles of shredded meat. In most cases, slayers will refuse to go on such a hunt. If you find someone who is willing to participate in such a quest, then they are either extremely experienced or really stupid. You will know which it is when you stumble upon the Flayer nest, as the inexperienced will often run scared at the site of flayed men and mountains of dried bones.

I have had a chance to study Flayers during one of my adventures, but funny enough, it wasn't at all intentional! I had been working on my research of Nipper Wyrms out in the canyons near Fels-Len, when I stumbled upon a cave entrance hidden at the bottom of a cliff. Curious to see if it was a roost for Nipper Wyrms, I lit up a torch and headed inside. After a long winding tunnel, I stumbled into a large chamber that was filled with bones and flayed bodies. I immediately realized where I was and ran back into the tunnel for a hasty retreat. Unfortunately, two Flayers were returning from the hunt and were heading down the tunnel with their prizes. With the entrance now blocked, I had no choice but to run back into the chamber and find a place to hide. I snuffed the torch and buried myself in a pile of bones. Everything went pitch black, and all I could hear was the squishing of slime and the clicking of bone on stone. In time, my eyes adjusted to the dark, and I saw the two Flayers discard their dead prey. I waited for them to turn to leave, but luck was not on my side. They instead chose to rest, sloshing their bodies onto the floor and falling asleep. At that point, I figured I would try to sneak out, but once again, fate had other plans. Three other Flayers came into the chamber, and they all decided that it was a good weekend to laze about at home. With five Flayers in the chamber, I had no chance of escape as long as one of them was awake. For three days I was stuck in there, forced to remain in that pile of bones. During that time, I chose to observe them and study their movements. It was partly for research, but also for me to figure out a way to escape. Though I was scared stiff the entire time, I did learn some neat stuff! One was that Flayers do not like to collect or carry skulls. Any skulls they pulled from prey were immediately shattered against the rock, and they took the teeth from the broken remains. Perhaps they are too bulky for them to carry? Another is that Flayers actually care about their appearances, taking time to arrange the bones in their body and swapping out ones that do not fit right. I saw two of them squabble over a humerus once, as they both seemed to want to add it to their collection. Eventually it was settled through trade, as one Flayer took a broken femur from its body and gave it to the other. Satisfied, the other gave up possession of the humerus and left with its new addition. I also found that Flayers do not seem to be all that wary or concerned when they are in their nests. Several times I accidentally caused some bones to rattle in my hiding place, which earned some confused looks. Never did they come to investigate, they just shrugged it off. I guess they don't expect any prey to be dumb enough to enter their homes, or perhaps they are tolerant of scavengers. Another thing I learned is that dried human meat tastes kind of like pig jerky, but a lot less salty (which is mainly because it was raw). I got hungry during my imprisonment, so I had to gnaw on some loose chunks that were laying about. I think they belonged to some spelunker who entered the wrong cave, but I can't be too sure. It was rather tough and chewy, but that is because it was desiccated and old. I never ate that stuff dried before, as it is much better when it's fresh, juicy and hot off the grill. Add the right seasonings and spices, and you got yourself a meal! I practically fantasized about that while I laid in that pile. It made me yearn for the fancier dishes I had, but beggars can't be choosers!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

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

More Slimes, with these ones acting like Adherers. Really love how they turned out!