#drame

Reconstructed notes on the lifecycle of Wyrms

Original author unknown, recovered from a standard Sweep of the eastern outskirts.

1. Egg

Wyrm eggs are fairly uniform. Soft and moist, glued to hard substrates with a natural adhesive. Their top is ringed with a double row of hard spines. Hatchlings emerge from a sort of natural hatch in the center of these rings, before squirming their way to the ground. They tend to appear in hidden, moist environments with plenty of hard surfaces they can stick to. Unfortunately this makes underground spaces in the outskirts a perfect environment. Eggs occur in clusters that almost never number less than ten, and can easily reach the hundreds. As there have never been any confirmed observations of these eggs actually being laid, we can only guess whether these groupings represent one clutch or many.

2. Wyrm (Instar 1)

These newborn Wyrms tend to be little more than pests. They are not yet dangerous to anything bigger than a mouse. They are, however, voracious, and will eat anything they can get their mouths around. They will begin to grow and molt soon after they begin eating. No molts have been recovered as the wyrms almost always consume it.

3. Wyrm (Instar 2 and beyond)

As they feed, Wyrms seem to reach an internal energy threshold that triggers growth and molting. Each molt causes worms to develop more specialized anatomy, theoretically in response to the threats they've endured. Their forms remain relatively simple, but begin to show signs of variance. They also start to become more dangerous. Their variable adaptations mean Wyrm Cleaners never know what to expect. Based on current observations wyrms can molt between two and five times before reaching the next stage of their life.

4. Doll

After at least two molts, a wyrm's skin hardens and they become immobile for a time, entering the Doll stage. This transition period lasts between a week and a month, based on available observations. In this state they show slight responses (shaking, temperature changes) to disturbances, but are immobile and vulnerable.

5. Drake (Shed 1)

After the Doll period, the former wyrm becomes a much more dangerous Drake. Typically larger and more dangerous, with even more variable anatomy. Notes detail that this individual endured many scraping wounds as a wyrm, and as such developed tough, scraping scales to deter threats. A drake's appetite is even greater than a wyrm's, and their primary goal is to feed. However, their diets tend to begin specializing in this stage.

6. Drake (Shed 2 and beyond)

Similar to their earlier wyrm stage, Drakes grow and shed as they meet unknown internal energy thresholds. This is believed to be the same individual from figure 5, whose tough scales allowed it to find success by charging prey and shredding them against its body. Recovered notes call it a rasping drake. Such names tend to describe the behaviors or characteristics of a drake, but are not necessarily unique.

7. Effigy

A transition period similar to figure 4. It is unknown if there is an upper limit to how many sheds a drake can go through before reaching this point, but it has never been known to happen in less than five sheds. Unlike the Doll stage, Effigies have no signs of life, and react to no stimuli. It is certain, however, that cracking an effigy open and spilling the internal fluid prevents further development. Drake Hunters tend to thoroughly destroy effigies, as discovering an effigy that has merely been split may signify the damage done by other hunters, or may be a sign of developments that are much, much worse.

8. Dragon

Everyone knows OF dragons, but very little research can be done on such creatures, as dangerous and (thankfully) rare as they are. Their forms seem to be unbound by the limits of known science, and their appetite is unending. This section of notes had the worst damage by far, and seems to have been made in haste. All that remains is a rough sketch in charcoal, and a name. "The Rending Dragon".

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