Argatoria: Neue Er’Sael Preview

Spellcrow zeigen einen weiteren Teil ihrer Ork-Armee für Argatoria – die Larven von Nalharap.

LARVA OF NALHARAP

Few now remember that, in ages past, the larvae of Nalharap grew up to a metre high. Today, such stature is common only among the young, while adult larvae may reach heights of six or even seven metres. Orc mages often took them on war expeditions to carry their equipment or guard their camps. When the army returned, the larvae would be released near Nalharap, where they would continue to dwell. Yet the magic they had endured caused the young to be born ever larger and ever more aggressive. This fact pleased the Orc mages rather than troubled them and the colossal beasts became inseparable companions to the clan of Er’Sael.

The larva of Nalharap is a very unusual beast, whose round abdomen is remarkably distinctive. It is lined with numerous openings, the largest of which are connected by channels to the larva’s stomach. It is through these that the creature spits stomach acid at its prey. By the time the larva reaches its prey, the victim has already been partly digested by the acid and is ready to be consumed through the mouth at the front. Once its stomach is full, the larva ceases to pose any danger to its surroundings, entering the process of digestion. Thick black smoke then seeps from the openings on its abdomen, accompanied by the low rumblings of its stomach. One of the stranger features of the larva is its wide range of colours. Some mimic the terrain upon which they hunt, displaying hues of brown and green. Others, dwelling nearer to the caves, bear shades of grey and brown, or are entirely black. There are even some that have been affected by Orc magic to such extent that they began having an incredibly vast array of colours.

The larva is completely blind, yet just above its mouth it possesses two membranes of exceptional sensitivity to sound, with several smaller ones above. These allow the creature to locate its prey with remarkable precision. The creature positions itself conveniently from a distance, lying in wait without movement until the unsuspecting victim draws near. It then unleashes several precise shots, which are usually fatal.

The mages of the Er’Sael clan discovered that manipulating sounds with simple spells would be enough to cause the larva to advance straight toward the foe, avoiding Orc units entirely. Should the enemy, in their folly, think to destroy the larva, they are likely to taste the power of its stomach acid. Today, the Orcs primarily use the larvae to occupy the enemy or to defend key positions, though smaller specimens are still used by mages as beasts of burden.

The lord of the Er’Sael clan knows full well that the larva is incapable of inflicting significant damage upon the enemy – but there is no need to pay them anything or share the spoils of war with them.

Quelle: Spellcrow