Hellworms: Difference between revisions
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{{Character|title1=Hellworm|image1=Hellworm.png|caption1= | {{Character|title1=Hellworm|image1=Hellworm.png|caption1=|location=[[The Hinterlands]]|allegiance=[[Hell]]}}<blockquote>''"The Hellworms work very quickly: they swallow rock, and the law furnaces within convert it into something that will not be in your way. They leave a tunnel through the mountain whose walls glow too hot to touch, that are still molten. The art of Hellworm management is to encourage them in the proper direction, and then to be a great distance away."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Help_with_the_Hellworms|Help with the Hellworms|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | ||
'''Hellworms''' are a remarkable species reared by [[devils]].__forcetoc__ | '''Hellworms''' are a remarkable species reared by [[devils]].__forcetoc__ | ||
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== Biology == | == Biology == | ||
<blockquote>''"An Isopteran Handler cares for the hellworm. It feeds on Muscaria Brandy and ancient proto-Law – the latter, you must whisper into its ear yourself, though the worm's featureless body makes it difficult to ensure you have the right orifice."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Fuel_the_excavation_with_hellworm_food|Fuel the excavation with hellworm food|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | <blockquote>''"An Isopteran Handler cares for the hellworm. It feeds on Muscaria Brandy and ancient proto-Law – the latter, you must whisper into its ear yourself, though the worm's featureless body makes it difficult to ensure you have the right orifice."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Fuel_the_excavation_with_hellworm_food|Fuel the excavation with hellworm food|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | ||
<blockquote>''"You have acquired a reasonably-sized hellworm. If it had eyes, it would stare at you in adoration. Its fur is richer than veils-velvet; its soothing, cooing noises are a balm for the soul."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Your_Very_Own_Hellworm|Your Very Own Hellworm|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | <blockquote>''"You have acquired a reasonably-sized hellworm. If it had eyes, it would stare at you in adoration. Its fur is richer than veils-velvet; its soothing, cooing noises are a balm for the soul."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Your_Very_Own_Hellworm|Your Very Own Hellworm|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | ||
[[File: | [[File:Bottlegreen.png|alt=A bottle of wine.|thumb|Muscaria Brandy]] | ||
Hellworms are serpentine, fur-covered,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Your_Very_Own_Miniature_Hellworm|Your Very Own Miniature Hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"Entirely covered in luxuriant fur."''</ref> eyeless creatures<ref name = "loyal">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Your_Very_Own_Hellworm|Your Very Own Hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"If it had eyes, it would stare at you in adoration."''</ref> with | Hellworms are serpentine, fur-covered,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Your_Very_Own_Miniature_Hellworm|Your Very Own Miniature Hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"Entirely covered in luxuriant fur."''</ref> eyeless creatures,<ref name = "loyal">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Your_Very_Own_Hellworm|Your Very Own Hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"If it had eyes, it would stare at you in adoration."''</ref> with featureless bodies<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Fuel_the_excavation_with_hellworm_food|Fuel the excavation with hellworm food|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] you must whisper into its ear yourself, though the worm's featureless body makes it difficult to ensure you have the right orifice."''</ref> and fiery maws.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Offices_of_the_Tracklayer%27s_Union:_Station_VIII_Branch|Offices of the Tracklayer's Union: Station VIII Branch|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] a painting [...] The Hellworm's fiery maw has been rendered in loving detail by someone who has obviously seen it close-up."''</ref> They can move extremely fast with tremendous force, and can even jump.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ride_your_hellworm|Ride your hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"You cling to dear life [...] it gives you more: more speed, more force. [...] Leaping over the locks at Jericho. [...] Carving a deep furrow through the [..] mud of Moulin."''</ref> It is unclear how large they are when fully grown, but an entire locomotive can fit within their tunnels.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Onward|Onward|Fallen London|}} ''"No one speaks much on the train back to London. [...] when it passes through the tunnel dug by Hellworms [...]"''</ref> Their diet includes hellish wine and ancient proto-law.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Fuel_the_excavation_with_hellworm_food|Fuel the excavation with hellworm food|Fallen London|}} ''"An [...] Handler cares for the hellworm. It feeds on Muscaria Brandy and ancient proto-Law – the latter, you must whisper [...]"''</ref> | ||
Miniature hellworms are the size of draft horses,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Your_Very_Own_Miniature_Hellworm|Your Very Own Miniature Hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"The size of a warhorse."''</ref> weigh two tons,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Play_with_your_hellworm|Play with your hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"Your hellworm [...] it weighs two tons, [...]"''</ref> and are excitable,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Play_with_your_hellworm|Play with your hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"Your hellworm rolls over and squirms like a manic puppy."''</ref> loyal pets<ref name = "loyal"/> that enjoy attention<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Play_with_your_hellworm|Play with your hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] the cooing noises it makes seem to indicate that it enjoys the attention."''</ref> and adventure.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ride_your_hellworm|Ride your hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"It is more than happy to accelerate to blistering speed on its own [...]"''</ref> Juvenile hellworms are called '''Wyrmlights''' and have gold carapaces. They are considered "child | Miniature hellworms are the size of draft horses,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Your_Very_Own_Miniature_Hellworm|Your Very Own Miniature Hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"The size of a warhorse."''</ref> weigh two tons,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Play_with_your_hellworm|Play with your hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"Your hellworm [...] it weighs two tons, [...]"''</ref> and are excitable,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Play_with_your_hellworm|Play with your hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"Your hellworm rolls over and squirms like a manic puppy."''</ref> loyal pets<ref name = "loyal"/> that enjoy attention<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Play_with_your_hellworm|Play with your hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] the cooing noises it makes seem to indicate that it enjoys the attention."''</ref> and adventure.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ride_your_hellworm|Ride your hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"It is more than happy to accelerate to blistering speed on its own [...]"''</ref> Juvenile hellworms are called '''Wyrmlights''' and have gold carapaces. They are considered "child law-furnaces;" they cannot survive if their "parent" [[Law-Furnaces|law-furnace]] is disabled.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Upwards_(Story)|Upwards (Story)|Fallen London|}} ''"Hell [...] Maybe they could loan you one of their rock-eating worms. [...] Wyrmlights [...] A [...] Menagerie-Keeper arrives [...] bearing a brass cage of crawling grubs. [...] golden carapaces cannot hide the burning glow from inside [...] "Child law-furnaces," [...] "They'll thrive so long as their parent does. Should it be extinguished, these little grubs will go out like lights." [...] You set the grubs to work on the rock of the roof. They take to their task hungrily, converting what is rock to what is not."''</ref> | ||
== The Hellworm Gamble == | == The Hellworm Gamble == | ||
<blockquote>''"Righty then. I've a cheese ripening cave down in Spite. A year of sitting there collecting the right kind of spores and we'll have a beauty of a cheese wheel, you'll see."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Offer_a_pail_of_Hellworm_Milk|Offer a pail of Hellworm Milk|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | <blockquote>''"Righty then. I've a cheese ripening cave down in Spite. A year of sitting there collecting the right kind of spores and we'll have a beauty of a cheese wheel, you'll see."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Offer_a_pail_of_Hellworm_Milk|Offer a pail of Hellworm Milk|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | ||
[[File:Cheese.png|alt=A wheel of cheese.|thumb|Hellworm | [[File:Cheese.png|alt=A wheel of cheese.|thumb|A Ripened Wheel of Hellworm Cheese.]] | ||
When roused,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Disposition_of_your_Hellworm|The Disposition of your Hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"Your hellworm is becoming more accustomed to being handled. Perhaps. For now. [...] 1+: Your hellworm seems a little warmer, a little more attentive. [...] Decreases by 7: Your hellworm seems a little more lethargic. "''</ref> miniature hellworms build up liquids in their bodies that may be harvested.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Milk_your_hellworm|Milk your hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"What liquid will come out of it this time? "''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Milking_your_Hellworm|Milking your Hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"The process is rather difficult. [...] you have a flask full of... something."''</ref> The origin of these liquids is unknown,<ref name=":3">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Examine_its_contents_25|Examine its contents 25|Fallen London|}} ''"Nikolas & Sons Instant Absolution Ablution [...] Identical in all regards to the commercial formulation, somehow."''</ref> but a hellworm may dispense quality wine,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Examine_its_contents_2|Examine its contents 2|Fallen London|}} ''"A fine old vintage; [...]"''</ref> commercial goods,<ref name=":3" /> or perhaps something stranger, like [[Cantigaster]] venom or the blood of a [[Master]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Examine_its_contents_18|Examine its contents 18|Fallen London|}} ''"Cantigaster Venom [...] hard not to get a few droplets on skin, where they burn [...]"''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Examine_its_contents_17|Examine its contents 17|Fallen London|}} ''"Master's Blood [...] How?"''</ref> | When roused,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Disposition_of_your_Hellworm|The Disposition of your Hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"Your hellworm is becoming more accustomed to being handled. Perhaps. For now. [...] 1+: Your hellworm seems a little warmer, a little more attentive. [...] Decreases by 7: Your hellworm seems a little more lethargic. "''</ref> miniature hellworms build up liquids in their bodies that may be harvested.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Milk_your_hellworm|Milk your hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"What liquid will come out of it this time? "''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Milking_your_Hellworm|Milking your Hellworm|Fallen London|}} ''"The process is rather difficult. [...] you have a flask full of... something."''</ref> The origin of these liquids is unknown,<ref name=":3">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Examine_its_contents_25|Examine its contents 25|Fallen London|}} ''"Nikolas & Sons Instant Absolution Ablution [...] Identical in all regards to the commercial formulation, somehow."''</ref> but a hellworm may dispense quality wine,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Examine_its_contents_2|Examine its contents 2|Fallen London|}} ''"A fine old vintage; [...]"''</ref> commercial goods,<ref name=":3" /> or perhaps something stranger, like [[Cantigaster]] venom or the blood of a [[Master]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Examine_its_contents_18|Examine its contents 18|Fallen London|}} ''"Cantigaster Venom [...] hard not to get a few droplets on skin, where they burn [...]"''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Examine_its_contents_17|Examine its contents 17|Fallen London|}} ''"Master's Blood [...] How?"''</ref> | ||
Latest revision as of 16:59, 2 February 2025
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Beyond this point lie spoilers for Fallen London, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, or Mask of the Rose. This may include midgame or minor Fate-locked content. Proceed with caution. You can find out more about our spoiler policy here. |
"The Hellworms work very quickly: they swallow rock, and the law furnaces within convert it into something that will not be in your way. They leave a tunnel through the mountain whose walls glow too hot to touch, that are still molten. The art of Hellworm management is to encourage them in the proper direction, and then to be a great distance away."[1]
Hellworms are a remarkable species reared by devils.
Behold the Worm[edit]
"Hellworms. One must admire the advertising enterprise of giving them such a name."[2]
Bred and marketed by devils,[3][4] hellworms are monstrous creatures with Law-Furnaces in their bodies.[5] They are used to drill tunnels through normally impenetrable land,[6][7] and can mine ores containing impossible materials.[8]
"Miniature" hellworms can be bought for a very high price.[9] These companions may be ridden with a brass saddle, along with a "bridle" consisting of a Correspondence sigil inscribed on a single strand of the hellworm's fur.[10] For the truly dedicated hellworm owner, specialized riding boots are available as well,[11] complete with their own boot polish.[12] Each sold separately, no refunds.[13][14]
Biology[edit]
"An Isopteran Handler cares for the hellworm. It feeds on Muscaria Brandy and ancient proto-Law – the latter, you must whisper into its ear yourself, though the worm's featureless body makes it difficult to ensure you have the right orifice."[15]
"You have acquired a reasonably-sized hellworm. If it had eyes, it would stare at you in adoration. Its fur is richer than veils-velvet; its soothing, cooing noises are a balm for the soul."[16]
Hellworms are serpentine, fur-covered,[17] eyeless creatures,[18] with featureless bodies[19] and fiery maws.[20] They can move extremely fast with tremendous force, and can even jump.[21] It is unclear how large they are when fully grown, but an entire locomotive can fit within their tunnels.[22] Their diet includes hellish wine and ancient proto-law.[23]
Miniature hellworms are the size of draft horses,[24] weigh two tons,[25] and are excitable,[26] loyal pets[18] that enjoy attention[27] and adventure.[28] Juvenile hellworms are called Wyrmlights and have gold carapaces. They are considered "child law-furnaces;" they cannot survive if their "parent" law-furnace is disabled.[29]
The Hellworm Gamble[edit]
"Righty then. I've a cheese ripening cave down in Spite. A year of sitting there collecting the right kind of spores and we'll have a beauty of a cheese wheel, you'll see."[30]
When roused,[31] miniature hellworms build up liquids in their bodies that may be harvested.[32][33] The origin of these liquids is unknown,[34] but a hellworm may dispense quality wine,[35] commercial goods,[34] or perhaps something stranger, like Cantigaster venom or the blood of a Master.[36][37]
A hellworm's most unique product is a sweet substance called Hellworm Milk,[38] not suitable for human consumption as even droplets can corrode stone. This milk can be made into Hellworm Cheese, though the ripening process takes an entire year.[39] When prepared, hellworm cheese is edible and enjoyable in small quantities, but in large quantities, it is said to be "one of the very worst ways to die."[40]
References[edit]
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