Velvet Worm
When in towns or near human habitation, be careful what you use your swords on, for that large sluglike Velvet Worm you might be facing could well be someone's beloved family pet.
Full Description
The Velvet Worm in it's orginal wild state can be up to three feet high and six feet long. It looks very like a giant slug, but is different in several ways. First it has a soft furry coat, velvetly and warm to the touch. Secondly, it has a poisonous bite and can spit a strong and sticky glue, which is hard to escape from before the worm, which can move as fast as a walking human, is upon it's prey.It leaves no slime trail unless sick or injured, although when in heat the female leaves a faint meaty smell behind for males to find
In the wild state it eats most kinds of plants but will ambush a duck or even a rabbit if it can, sticking it to the ground with glue before biting and killing it.Meat is it's favourite diet but not often eaten. Whilst it will normally avoid trouble with humans, it will fight in self defence or if it feels that it's young are threatened.It can have up to six young at a time,which feed on plants rather then meat at this stage.
Additional Information
Over the thousands of years that it and humans have had a relationship together, it has been tamed in many cases and bred for different reasons. Guard worms, for example, have a black and orange fur and a tendency to spit web and bite intruders far more readly then other kinds. Most tame worms will not attack unless provoked, and to an owner who treats them well and adds plenty of meat to their diet they are totally faithful.All kinds of different furs have been seen in different breeds, and in large cities there are licensed and trusted kennels where they can be brought for a reasonable price.
When it really wants to be caressed it flipps over, grunting softly, and pulls it's belly fur tight against it's belly.Tickling it's stomach makes it wriggle happily and it's fur will change colour to a bright green, but only whilst it is being tickled,after which it regains it's normal colour.
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? Responses (12)
A bit bizzare, but hey: why not? With all those weird fantasy monsters out in the open, humanoids are bound to to find them a use, or at least make pets of the nicer ones.
It is compact but still sufficient. Only one thing: what do they do if they are caressed? Roll around in pleasure, give off strange sounds? It should be something exotic to fit this kind of a pet. :)
Updated: Updated to show what it does sometimes when carassed.
What do you think they do? They purr! Certainly a bizarre creature, but it owuld not be the first time man has semi-domesticated a worm, the silkworm comes to mind. Good work Cheka.
The critter is awfully big for a pet. Are non-working, domestic versions smaller. I mean Pot Belly pigs are great pets when they are 15 lbs, but most people start trying to get rid of them when they hit 150.
That is a lot of food those things are going to need.
It is the orginal wild version that reaches that height.The tame versions range from that size to the size of a King Charles spanial of our world,with most being dog sized.
Ok, I gave this a +.5 for the weird factor.
It is definately far different than anything else in a fantasy realm I have ever read, but that is what fantasy is for right?
I cans ee that these things could be intriguing but the size issue is pretty big with me. It needs ot state in there about how large domesticated worms can get. You say they vary in size, well how much. Do the gaurd worms tend to be closer in size to their wild cousins? That kind of information is needed.
Also why do the guard worms spit a web based spittle as apposed to a glue? Wouldn't they be the same? What caused it to be so different?
Breeding.Web is easier to get out of carpets and off walls.As for the size, if buying one it's like buying a dog-some want Great Danes, others chiwawas.It depends what you want it for.
This is a strange one - but I like it.
Nice one, odd like an old Fiend Folio critter, which is a good thing.
Very unusual. Petting them would NOT have come to my mind. :)
I wonder if you are seen wearing a green fur of this worm then those would know you were playing with it when you killed it....
Very weird overall, but interesting.