A biological study of the Glomdoring. by Guido

Merit for February 2005

The Glomdoring is host to a very wide variety of tainted lifeforms. Study of
these creatures has so far yielded astounding information regarding the effects
of the taint on natural beings. The corpses of these beings are required to
complete many of the forest's rituals, and the beasts also make for fine
training. The following is a publication of all my research into the beings. I
have taken the liberty of withholding some of the more intricate secrets these
creatures hold, in the interest of Glomdoring's well-being.

Burgundy Spore Grass:
This grass can be recognized by its odd, bright red hue, and the numerous
spores coating the blades of its leaves. When disturbed by predators the grass
ejects its spores into the air, causing various allergic reactions in most
organisms. These include causing the victim to feel as though they are on fire,
sending their legs off balance, and sending the target into a state of total
paralysis. Although they are rarely fatal, you should handle patches of spore
grass with extreme care. They are also a favorite treat of Gibber (See 'CLHELP
EBONGLOM'). It is suggested that more research be performed on these excellent
examples of nature/taint adaptation.

White Spore Grass:
An highly dangerous strain of Spore Grass, this species grows in white clumps
throughout the forest and can be identified by its clear spores. Its spores
have been found to be far more aggressive to living organisms than that of
other spore grasses, inflicting blindness, deafness, and paralysis on its
victims. It also has a disorienting effect, leading to the loss of general
balance and leg balance, and prolonged exposure to the plant will lead to
chills and feelings of coldness. If left untreated the spores will soon leave
the victim frozen near solid. Gibber seems to enjoy eating these, for some
reason. See the above entry on Burgundy Spore Grass for additional info.

Giant wasps:
These wasps, warped to huge proportions by the taint, are mostly concentrated
in the multi-level hive found in the northwest forest, although a handful can
often be found elsewhere, hunting. The rapid beating of their large wings is a
horrible noise, and can usually be heard from quite a distance. The stinger of
a Giant Wasp can cause considerable damage, when compared to their untainted
cousins, but the threat is minimal to any semi-experienced hunter. Their large
abdomens store sacs of the poison Mellitin, which is released with each sting,
causing muscular degeneration and overall weakness. If slain, a skilled
venomist may extract the Mellitin.

Pythons:
Sometimes found in the forest's western swamps, these huge pythons can be found
slithering through the watery muck. They are fairly dangerous, and attack by
either wrapping around and constricting their opponent or through biting. The
fangs are especially dangerous due to the numerous specialized organs developed
in the python's head, each carrying a different type of venom. They may employ
these venoms to weaken the legs, sending their target toppling towards the
ground, cause extreme fear, and induce uncontrollable shyness. The shyness
venom, Aleutian, is the only one capable of being extracted due to the nature
of the snake's venom sacs.

Black Widows:
These huge spiders have taken over the path leading to the Master Ravenwood,
making travel difficult in that area of the forest, sometimes even spreading
out beyond the Spider's Larder. Black Widows are covered in a shiny black
carapace, breakable only by multiple strikes, with a red hourglass symbol on
the bottom of their abdomens. Although they lurk in the trees, anyone who
passes beneath will be ensnared in their webs and yanked up. Once you've
writhed free you can climb down to escape, although there is a chance of them
snatching you back up. If you choose to stay and fight you may be blown from
the trees and break your legs, and the Widows tend to launch additional webbing
at you once you've freed yourself. If you manage to slay one it may drop a
spinnerette, which can be delivered to certain denizens to increase the silk
production of a village and earn yourself a bit of gold. Also, one of the
Widows will sometimes be a disguised counciler.

Eyelash Vipers:
These small snakes can befound throughout the forest, and sport a layer of
raised scales above their eyes. Although they are little threat to anything
much bigger than a Faeling, their Dendroxin venom can cause serious
degeneration to arm tissue and they should thus be only taken on by those with
apt healing abilities. The venom Dendroxin may be extracted from their corpses.

Ooze:
These slithering lumps of black acid are one of the more interesting creatures
i've happened upon in Glomdoring; they seem to be mutated from simple
waterborne bacteria and algae. The globs have the ability to change their
shape, extend, stretch, and morph themselves in odd ways. They seem to be the
more pure representation of the taint present in the forest or anywhere in the
basin. In terms of self-defense, these blobs may attack by entangling their
foes in slimy webs and knocking their legs off balance with powerful smacks.
The Ebonglom Wyrm loves to slurp down the splattered remains of these ooze.

Translucent Spiders:
These spiders, about one to two feet in length, generally feed on tiny animals
that dwell on the forest floor and in the undergrowth. Their odd, transparent
skin is soft and easily pierced, making these spiders easily defeated.

Bulbous Spiders:
There is usually one of these standing guard at the Spider's Larder. These
freak, mutated spiders (Likely an offshoot of the Translucent variety) will
attack anyone who enters their clearing without warning. Harder to kill than
Translucent Spiders, and with a tougher hide, it is suggested that young
travellers keep their distance from these. They can also shoot an odd yellow
pus from their backsides, causing the victim to stink badly.

Tarantulas:
Seeming unaffected, for the most part, from the taint, these are fairly
run-of-the-mill tarantulas. They are fairly dangerous, but will only attack if
provoked. Handle them with caution.

Carrion Beetles:
Carrion Beetles are massive, high-powerful insectoid creature. It can only be
assumed they mutated from regular beetles, but the transformation would have
had to have been massive. These predators are protected by a thick, blue shell,
capable of withstanding multiple blows, and are armed with a pair of long,
vicious horns. In combat they knock their opponent to the ground and then crush
their legs, then bleed them to death by impaling them on their horns. Also, one
of the Beetles will sometimes be a disguised counciler.

Loamadores and Hanging Loamadores:
Composed entirely of soil, Loamadores are humanoid creatures that populate the
forest and hang from the ceilings of the cave that leads to Rowena's room.
Although it is unclear exactly what force keeps them bound together, I suspect
it is some yet-unknown ability of the taint. When forced to defend themselves
Loamadores hurl clods of dirt that will knock your legs off balance, mud that
can blind you, and will in some cases assault the victim directly with their
fists. Ceiling dwelling Loamadores may pick up tough foes and then drop them,
sending them falling to the ground below. Gibber enjoys the taste of Loamadore,
although why he will eat them but not plain tainted soil is a mystery.

Giant Bats:
The pesky giant bats inhabit the caves of the eastern Glomdoring. Giant bats
are very difficult to kill, as they tend to flee in the middle of combat, and
will often suck the blood from an opponent, causing them to smell in size and
regain most (If not all) of their lost health. This sucking also thins the
blood, and will cause you to suffer a relapse if you try to cure any other
afflictions before curing the thinned blood. Also, one of the Bats will
sometimes be a disguised counciler.

Starving Deer:
These malnourished creatures roam throughout the forest. They are no threat,
and will flee when assaulted. The Harpies have a taste for them, and delivering
one to their feeding grounds will earn you a reward.

Harpies:
These winged beasts are an odd mix between human and bird. As the race of
humans was introduced to the Basin quite some time after Glomdoring was
tainted, this must mean that the taint within the forest is still thriving.
Greedy and violent, Harpies craze the meat of deer, and will reward anyone who
feeds them. If you seek to engage one in combat, be warned: Harpies often
attack by carrying an enemy into the air and dropping it on its head, causing a
severe concussion, amnesia, and heavy damage. Bring a levitation enchantment or
plenty of regenerative salve it you cannot fly.

Thorn Beasts:
Writhing masses of thorny vines and brambles, Thorn Beasts are some of
Glomdoring's most dangerous inhabitants. They often lash out at random
explorers, tripping them to the ground, wrapping them right in their vines, and
then going in for the kill. A Thorn Beast's teeth are extremely powerful and can
pierce most armor, not to mention flesh. Gibber has an unexplainable love for
Thorn Beasts, and will devour any you bring him.

Ravenwood Trees:
Once the guardian trees of the Glorina, these twisted things now act as grisly
sentinels, watching over the forest with gnarled eyes. Although they can take
quite a bit of abuse, a Ravenwood's lashing branches cause little actual
damage. They can use their roots to trip you, and will sometimes open their
dark maws to emit a terrifying laugh. These trees seem to have been affected
far more poorly by the taint than the rest of the forest's plant life, and if a
Glomdoring commune is to be raised a way must be found to more fully integrate
these trees with the taint. When slain they drop piles of lumber than can be
brought to certain Denizens to increase a village's wood production and earn
yourself some gold.

Rotting, Serpentine, and Stunted Zombies:
These zombies wander the eastern Glomdoring, around the fissure that leads into
the caves. Powerful, if a bit mindless, these rotting once-members of Glorina
are difficult foes. Their strong strikes can shatter the bones of the arms and
legs, and once assaulted a Puppetmaster will appear to defend them.

Puppetmasters:
These floating Elfen heads are all that remain, save for Rowena and Brennan, of
the Glorina's elfen population. Highly enhanced by the presence of the taint,
their pulsating heads may strike out with tentacles. These tentacles may attach
to the sides of the victims head and drive a powerful pulse of energy into their
mind, causing severe damage and sending the victim to the ground. They may also
use the tentacles to gouge out someone's eyes, and are capable of raising
protective shields. They flee upon being attacked, and after being killed their
brains will crawl out.