"There are some things we were not meant to know, they say. But you wouldn't be down here if you took that seriously."
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"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.
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
"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]
Muscaria Brandy
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
"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]
A Ripened Wheel of Hellworm Cheese.
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]
↑Help with the Hellworms, Fallen London"The Hellworms work [...] they swallow rock, and the law furnaces within convert it into something that will not be in your way."
↑Purchase a hellworm saddle, Fallen London"Ah, d__n – of course it wasn't included in the original purchase. [...] The saddle itself, made of infernal brass [...] The 'bridle' is simply a sigil of the Correspondence, finely inscribed [...] onto a single strand of the hellworm's hair. [...] your hellworm is ready to ride. [...] "One simply climbs aboard and learns if one is worthy.""
↑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."
↑Onward, Fallen London"No one speaks much on the train back to London. [...] when it passes through the tunnel dug by Hellworms [...]"
↑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."
↑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. "
↑Offer a pail of Hellworm Milk, Fallen London"While it is not suitable for the Apicius Club's immediate consumption, [...] He takes the pail [...] sloshing a few drops onto the street. They [...] leave pockmarks in the cobblestones. [...] "I've a cheese ripening cave [...] A year of sitting there [...] and we'll have [...] a cheese wheel, you'll see." [...] A year."
