Osuin was seated upon a stone with his map open and his eyes scanning the rising mountains to both sides. A brief stop had confirmed it - after several days of travel, the hunting party had arrived at the valley that had been their destination. An assignment had been put forth to hunt a devouring worm, and this was the location where one had most recently been reported. Osuin had never seen one before, but research in the Monastery’s library had provided some insight on the creature that was to be their quarry.
He plucked his written notes from his pocket, tucking the map in its place.
“Alright, now this is a hunt, not an extermination. We need to not just kill it, we need to kill it in good enough condition that we can still use most of it. Especially the stomach and intestines, that’s what the Wyvern’s Nest needs. But the rest can’t go to waste, we’ve got use for the rest of it.” Osuin began, reading aloud from the unfolded parchment held taut between his hands. A hunt was simpler in some ways, but more difficult in others. It was simpler in that the only consequence for failure was a return to Astenvale with empty hands, for this was neither evil nor corruption. Matters were more complicated in that simply destroying the wurm would do them no good. They needed to kill it with care, and they needed to use as much of the kill as possible.
“The wurm is reported to be upwards of fifteen feet in length, and broad of width. Its skin is told to be thick, easier to pierce than to cut, though even weapons of ordinary steel should fare against it. It makes for flexible but highly durable leather when tanned. Thick, but really heat resistant. Spines dot it, about three inches in length and several feet apart, flexible but sharp.
It has corrosive saliva, though it won’t eat through metal. Doesn’t say anything about leather or cloth, so uh, don’t get it on that stuff. It can be processed into powerful acid though, and there’s a gland that secretes it.” Osuin continued. “It has chitinous teeth, blunt and more for grinding than biting. Those located in its oesophagus, so if that becomes a danger things have gotten pretty bad. Anyhow, those are really tough and highly abrasive. Attached to millstones, they can grind down some really tough stuff.
The wurm has three lungs, and they’re kind of spongy. Puncture resistant, apparently. They seal up after a stab wound. You can make bellows from them, not great bellows though. Rulgak wants one anyway.”
“The slimy fat is a great insulator, and uh, a nutritious delicacy, a useful base for a stew....Apparently. Reportedly.” Osuin continued, his eyes hastily scanning the remainder of the notes he’d been handed. He’d never eaten wurm fat before. He’d never known that was considered food, though awareness that it was did nothing to make him desire to try it.
Apparently the hearts was edible too, recommended to be served with the stew and there were five of them.
If this hunt went well, Osuin wouldn’t relish the next day’s meal at the mess hall.
Putting the parchment away, Osuin continued with his own additional wisdom of the creature and how they might fight it.
“Right! Killing the creature is notably difficult. It will bleed out, but that process takes up to a day, so we need to keep it contained until that happens. Lungs are tough, and there are five hearts, all spread throughout its body. There’s only one brain, but its really tiny, buried right in the middle of its head. Its more vulnerable towards the back, but that’s where the intestines are and that’s the main purpose.
Finally, it is blind. It sense of hearing is poor, but its especially sensitive to ground motion. So we need to walk carefully once we’ve caught the trail of one of these things. They tend to make burrows in places sheltered from the wind, and mostly stick underground. We need to find a habitat then, and we'll need to contain it once we find it. I've brought some chains and hooks, but we'll need suitable ground for that. To deal a lethal blow and allow it to escape would be a tragic waste.” Osuin concluded.
The wurm was a unique foe, and the constraints upon their hunt a touch challenging. It was not the sort of problem Osuin could solve by wild stroke of sword. If they could goad one to leave its burrow he held a ward that would prevent its retreat back within, but it would still have to be contained. He had brought chains and a hooked bill to aid with that, but the task of controlling such a massive monster was taxing. Yet they were Knights, and were no stranger to such challenges.
“Right now, we're merely scouting for either a burrow, or a good spot to contain it. Any questions or comments?” Osuin asked, pulling out a small loaf of bread packed in a satchel. He took a bite as he heard out any inquires or concerns from those accompanying.
Emmeline Hildebrandt Abrielle Huxley
He plucked his written notes from his pocket, tucking the map in its place.
“Alright, now this is a hunt, not an extermination. We need to not just kill it, we need to kill it in good enough condition that we can still use most of it. Especially the stomach and intestines, that’s what the Wyvern’s Nest needs. But the rest can’t go to waste, we’ve got use for the rest of it.” Osuin began, reading aloud from the unfolded parchment held taut between his hands. A hunt was simpler in some ways, but more difficult in others. It was simpler in that the only consequence for failure was a return to Astenvale with empty hands, for this was neither evil nor corruption. Matters were more complicated in that simply destroying the wurm would do them no good. They needed to kill it with care, and they needed to use as much of the kill as possible.
“The wurm is reported to be upwards of fifteen feet in length, and broad of width. Its skin is told to be thick, easier to pierce than to cut, though even weapons of ordinary steel should fare against it. It makes for flexible but highly durable leather when tanned. Thick, but really heat resistant. Spines dot it, about three inches in length and several feet apart, flexible but sharp.
It has corrosive saliva, though it won’t eat through metal. Doesn’t say anything about leather or cloth, so uh, don’t get it on that stuff. It can be processed into powerful acid though, and there’s a gland that secretes it.” Osuin continued. “It has chitinous teeth, blunt and more for grinding than biting. Those located in its oesophagus, so if that becomes a danger things have gotten pretty bad. Anyhow, those are really tough and highly abrasive. Attached to millstones, they can grind down some really tough stuff.
The wurm has three lungs, and they’re kind of spongy. Puncture resistant, apparently. They seal up after a stab wound. You can make bellows from them, not great bellows though. Rulgak wants one anyway.”
“The slimy fat is a great insulator, and uh, a nutritious delicacy, a useful base for a stew....Apparently. Reportedly.” Osuin continued, his eyes hastily scanning the remainder of the notes he’d been handed. He’d never eaten wurm fat before. He’d never known that was considered food, though awareness that it was did nothing to make him desire to try it.
Apparently the hearts was edible too, recommended to be served with the stew and there were five of them.
If this hunt went well, Osuin wouldn’t relish the next day’s meal at the mess hall.
Putting the parchment away, Osuin continued with his own additional wisdom of the creature and how they might fight it.
“Right! Killing the creature is notably difficult. It will bleed out, but that process takes up to a day, so we need to keep it contained until that happens. Lungs are tough, and there are five hearts, all spread throughout its body. There’s only one brain, but its really tiny, buried right in the middle of its head. Its more vulnerable towards the back, but that’s where the intestines are and that’s the main purpose.
Finally, it is blind. It sense of hearing is poor, but its especially sensitive to ground motion. So we need to walk carefully once we’ve caught the trail of one of these things. They tend to make burrows in places sheltered from the wind, and mostly stick underground. We need to find a habitat then, and we'll need to contain it once we find it. I've brought some chains and hooks, but we'll need suitable ground for that. To deal a lethal blow and allow it to escape would be a tragic waste.” Osuin concluded.
The wurm was a unique foe, and the constraints upon their hunt a touch challenging. It was not the sort of problem Osuin could solve by wild stroke of sword. If they could goad one to leave its burrow he held a ward that would prevent its retreat back within, but it would still have to be contained. He had brought chains and a hooked bill to aid with that, but the task of controlling such a massive monster was taxing. Yet they were Knights, and were no stranger to such challenges.
“Right now, we're merely scouting for either a burrow, or a good spot to contain it. Any questions or comments?” Osuin asked, pulling out a small loaf of bread packed in a satchel. He took a bite as he heard out any inquires or concerns from those accompanying.
Emmeline Hildebrandt Abrielle Huxley
