The creatures of this world have been shown to offer many things. Wondrous gifts of meat, bone, chitin, hair and fluids. They carry our goods and even ourselves. Of the livestock and steeds that man relies on, they invoke many things within. Pride in a healthy herd, joy in a trusted companion. Creatures that embody ruggedness, reliance and plenty. Some bring happiness with their cute appearance, others confidence in their instincts and abilities. But there are few beasts out there that invoke what the bonnacon does, and that is "disgust." Sure, there may be some livestock handlers are wary of, or people are outright terrified of. Some may bring bodily harm if angered, others could inflict environmental damage if left unchecked. But there is at least some semblance of respect within those fears, acknowledgement of power and potential. The bonnacon is.....well...just plain gross to most people.
The species has a horribly misshapen look to it, like the creature couldn't decide if it wanted to be mammal or insect. Its mottled, slick flesh hangs in loose clumps, with sparse sickly hairs sprouting from head, back and limb. It trots about on six legs, snuffling through the Rot with its warty snout. Stiff curled horns sprout from its head like antennae, though their actual purpose is not yet known. Its whole body reeks with putrid decay, somehow even stronger than the fecal swamps they dwell in. Yet these are not the traits the bonnacon is infamous for. Pretty much everyone who has heard the name "bonnacon" knows exactly what it is all about. Just look to its swollen rear end, and pray you never have to experience the actual event yourself.
The bonnacon's body is filled with Rot and Yellow Bile, both fluids the reason for, and the result of, its diet. They hang around rotted lands like fecal swamps, grazing upon the horrible growths and muck that is found there. Grinding teeth for vegetation and a long snout for slurping up gunk, and all of it is sent into its expandable gut. Within is a Yellow Bile furnace that breaks it all down, turning even the most putrid garbage into nutrients. Yet even this mess is too foul to perfectly sanitize, and its trip down the digestive tract results in excessive amounts of gas, Rot and other nasty byproducts. What is made and slowly digested is stuffed into its rear end, a bloated abdomen that swells as it eats. As the bonnacon goes about its grazing, its huge bowel grows and glows with a sickly rotted light. It is working long and hard to strain every bit of nutrients hidden in the filth, and once it is all depleted, it is released. Gods be merciful that you aren't anywhere near the beast when this occurs.
When it is time to "clean house," the bonnacon releases the built up fluid and waste from its abdomen in a single powerful blast. Gunk slathered in Rot and Yellow Bile is launched from its rear, coating the area behind it. The spray is so noxious in its stench that people swear you could go blind from it, but that isn't the worst part. That would be the flaming feces that are flying through the air, the burning slop able to eat through armor and flesh. The mixture of Rot and Yellow Bile makes the liquidy dung like acid, burning everything it touches and even staying potent for hours after it has been expelled. Those who are splattered with it face terrible pain as it burns through protective layers and skin, demanding the victim to wash the area clean as soon as possible. But even if one is quick to douse the fiery fudge, the battle is not yet over. Medicine and disinfectants are vitally needed, as the putrid payload is rife with bacteria and other nasty bugs. Infection is guaranteed if not quickly treated, and it still requires heavy doses of sanitizing Yellow Bile, healing Phlegm and invigorating Blood to clean the wound and ward off necrosis. This is only for those who are splashed with a little bit of this bowel bomb. Those directly in the blast zone are written off as dead, because there is no real coming back from that. Pray that the destructive doo-doo finishes you off quickly, as there is no medicine that will be able to fight off that full body infection, and certainly no healer that will let you within five miles of their ward. Not with that stench!
Obviously, the bonnacon is nobody's favorite, as it is a species that is seen as pure Rot, stench and pestilence. Even if it doesn't carry any actual plagues in its gut, its nasty nature is enough to make people assume it does. They point to folk who get visibly sick when in its presence, see how they grow pale, how they puke and shiver! Of course, this isn't because of any disease, it is just their powerful stench that gets people gagging. But why would anyone ever get close to one? In truth, very few people do. However, it has unfortunately been found that the bonnacon actually has some useful bits. Its Yellow Bile, once filtered of gunk, creates long lasting flame when used with dried dung fuel, and it has strong sanitizing properties. Its flesh is an excellent fertilizer, but the real winner in that department is its feces. The burning butt brew is good at destroying, but once it cools off, it is loaded with nutrients for plants and growths. Spray a load of this caustic crap over an overgrown field and its heat will kill all unwanted weeds and even fry seeds hiding in the soil. The land will be cleared and prepped with the fertilizer, making it the perfect place to plant crops. Fields that utilize bonnacon dung show better harvest and less intruding plants to steal resources. And since that is a good thing, that unfortunately means someone has to go get it. The harvesting of a bonnacon's anal ammo is one of the grossest jobs around. The gooey goods do fetch a high price, but there isn't enough coin in the land for any man to make a career from it.
Thankfully, the wormfolk seem to get along with the bonnacon, and they may keep a few like livestock. Folks buy it from them, which spares them the misery of fetching it themselves. However, you should still wear clothes you are willing to burn once you are done hauling it to your field. And that cart is going too, because you aren't getting that stink out. You could pay extra for a wormfolk caravan to bring the fertilizer to your place, leaving the handling up to them. There are traveling carts of the dung that offer that service, though obviously they are found far from any city or town. The stench that comes off of them makes the eyes water, and many travelers will quickly change routes if they catch wind of one sharing a road with them. Well, most do. Some daring souls are actually happy to travel close to one of these wormfolk caravans, because the odor is so unbelievably awful that even bandits pack up shop and head for the hills.
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You knew it had to happen eventually, right? The bonnacon is way too fitting of an idea for FOI to be left out. So here is a horrible cow/bug version of it! If you want the more lore accurate version, go to KotWT's one!
Shar? Nogoon?
