Mollusca Gargantua
"Why do the Quality gather in this seedy, dismal area? To gamble. Specifically, to race slugs. Specialist mollusc-breeders have taken the Neath's hardy little gastropods and bred them for speed and intelligence."[1]
Slugs in the Neath, known scientifically as Mollusca gargantua,[2] are noted for their large sizes. These mollusks live in the chytrid woods, and according to rumor, the fungi that grow there apparently seep into their brains and compel them to dance during moonless nights. The slime that covers giant slugs is also apparently quite valuable for reasons unknown, though the slugs themselves may have unpleasant temperaments.[3] Giant slugs also burrow through the depths below Fallen London, leaving behind large tunnels in their wake. These tunnels are large enough for a person to fit through, though they may be quite sticky.[4]
Mollusca gargantua can apparently grow to the size of a hippo, and may grow large enough to ride on using special saddles.[5] Furthermore, slugs are a popular pet in London, owing to their personable dispositions and cooperative nature.[6] For this reason, slug-racing is a popular hobby amongst London's wealthy, complete with high-stakes bets and specialized breeding practices.[7] These racing-slugs are larger than a cat,[8] are bred for their speed and smarts,[1] and are fed on a steady diet of nutritious lettuce.[9] They're also powerful swimmers, in case a slug-race leads through inconveniently marshy terrain.[10]
Notable slug races in London include the Gastropod Cup, the Pulmonata Memorial Derby, and most notably, the Mollusca Tour de London, a race that spans all the way from Ladybones Road to Watchmaker's Hill and back, and may in fact take several months to complete – even the finest racing-slug is still a slug, after all.[11]
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A Racing Slug of Fine Pedigree. -
Doña Villar
References
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