Bet y'all weren't expecting this one. What's the deal with these, I wonder?

[hider=Stone Isopods][center][colour=f6989d][h3]Urteverm[/h3][/colour]
[b]Species - Bestial[/b][/center]

[b]Appearance:[/b] An urteverm, or slater, is a creature very similar to Urtelem in composition yet more like an insect in shape and intellect. Much like urtelem, they are capable of curling into a stone ball, although verm balls are both smaller and smoother, almost polished. A curled verm is marble-sized as a larva, and reaches maturity at a comfortably palm-filling size and weight. Substantially older individuals can approach the size of dogs when unfurled, though the true limit of a slater's growth is not known. Stories, of course, are told.

Unfurled, a slater resembles a long isopod, or woodlouse. Wild-type urteverm are however much more jagged than a pillbug, and touching them should follow the same protocol as touching a porcupine or especially nasty cactus. Domestic breeds are much smoother. Both have a line of crystals down their back, one per segment, that have peculiar radiation- and telepathy-amplifying properties, and may fluoresce in a variety of colours. The colour sequence is useful in identifying individuals.

Slaters have anywhere from six to sixteen limbs or more, which are slightly finned. They bear short antennae and small black eyes.

[b]Life Cycle:[/b] Verms lead simple lives. Adults mate by fusion, much like urtelem, and after the split each parent carries a number of live young. These grow under the armour segments of their parents for some weeks before being birthed live in litters of four to twelve, depending on the size of the parent. Most of the youngsters inevitably die, as juveniles will rapidly cannibalise one another if not separated.

The primary barrier to verm growth is acquiring the minerals needed to produce its crystals, which are retained across moults. A poorly fed urteverm will still mate and bear young, but the offspring will be stillborn. A slater requires both igneous stone and some organic matter to grow, which it grinds with glass-sharp corundum teeth.

An urteverm grows by moulting. Its geomancy is substantially weaker than an urtelem, and as such both changing its shape and protecting itself from wear by weather and its own subtle radiation is difficult. As such much of its body must be shed and replaced often. It takes about six instars over one year to reach maturity. After this moulting slows down exponentially.

Moulting is an active process. A submerged slater in moult produces enough heat to boil water easily. The radiation it emits during this time, about a day or so, will make its crystals shine brightly and also poses something of a cancer risk.

[b]Description:[/b] Urteverm are notable animals in that they are a source of elemental magic, which allows them to swim through stone and gain energy from consuming it. That this magic is constantly leaking in the form of radiation and shed shells means that they can function as primary producers even in pitch darkness.

Upon their creation Heartworm blessed these insects with a variety of pseudofungal parasites and symbionts. The symbionts mostly take the form of lichenous growths which feed readily on the high-energy stone of the slater shell, and can turn a smooth ball into a mass of colourful organic growths. These can grow quite large if the verm is restricted from tunnelling,
and bred into edible cultivars. Such lichens will happily continue to grow on the shed exoskeleton for some time, and swiftly recolonise a freshly moulted verm.

The parasites, on the other hand, function much like the cordyceps fungus. Secreting acids to burrow deep into the verm's brain, it guides its motions towards the signals given off by other verms and causes the dying victim to infect others until the population in the region is restored to normal levels. A well-kept farm will usually be safe so long as wild verms are kept out and infected ones are removed. The larger the farm, however, the greater the risk of plague.

Like urtelem, verms are empathic. However, their animal intelligence makes this ability largely useless for anything beyond simple communication through stone. They mimic signals of fear or satisfaction among others of their species to avoid danger and seek food and mates.

Around mortals, this leads to some odd interactions, especially with wild-types, who are smarter and more sensitive. Wild-types will be drawn to those feeling strong emotions, and can sometimes be seen playing harmlessly with happy children. They will sulk and curl around mourners and skitter away from the afraid. Be careful not to get lost in a verm tunnel when you are suppressing rage or self-hatred. The creatures will be drawn to your violence, and by the time they begin to feed your fear may not be enough to drive away the swarm.

Parasite urteverm are even stranger wielders of this power. The parasitised brain must by necessity be smart enough to outwit its healthy prey, and as they latch on to emotional signals, the parasite swarms have been known to make mistakes. Beware the chains of light that shine brightly in the dark. Beware the beam of emotion that has learned to flow both ways. Beware the dreadful urge to throw yourself into the depths to escape the misery beneath your feet and chase the bliss that lies below.[/hider]