Los Worms

## **Visual Description**

Los Worms are pale, maggot-like creatures with cartilage that resemble a rudimentary spine with ribs on the mid points of each joint segment. Each end of the Los Worm has a large, malleable mouth with rows of serrated teeth; at the back of each mouth is a different tool, the ‘bottom’ mouth holds a two pronged proboscis and the other ‘top’ mouth holds a special flat saw tooth.

Most Los Worms can vary in size depending on their age, however they tend to range between the lengths of a thumb to a forearm.

## **Known Abilities**

Los Worms have acidic blood which is harmful to both living and non-living things, this blood acts as a tool for the worms to burrow into hard to reach places as well as act as a deterrent from removing them. They also have surprising mobility, being able to stick to most surfaces and leap short distances, albeit clumsily.

Once attached to a host Los Worms have the potential to take complete control of their host via the attachments they have made to their nerves, however as Los Worms have little cognitive ability past their instincts so this only occurs when they have perceived a threat.

Typically an attached Los Worm will only influence a hosts needs through excreting different hormones into their blood, additionally they will enhance the pheromones given off by their host to make them seem more appealing to others of the same species.

## **Typical Behaviours**

Los Worms burrow into stone using their blood as a tool when there are no potential hosts nearby, once settled in their carved burrow they leave their bottom mouth partially exposed to monitor outside activity. Once disturbed they will leave their homes to find a host during the night, or if possible attach to the source of the disturbance.

Disturbances which cause them to become active can be noticeable movement or jostling of their chosen home or the detection a sleeping host using a combination of smelling the scent of sweat and sensing when a creature exhales.

Once a host has been found the Los Worm uses its two pronged proboscis to inject a potent painkiller similar to morphine into the host before burrowing into the base of their spine using their saw tooth mouth, leaving their bottom mouth just visible outside the incision in the skin.

A sleeping host will generally not notice the attachment due to the abnormal attachment location and regular doses of painkiller introduced into their blood, this painkiller can also cause feelings of elation and boosted confidence. However, if the Los Worm attaches to an awake host successfully it will flood the host’s body with a toxin that causes temporary unconsciousness and short term amnesia.

Los Worms will take a period of around a week to be accustomed to the host’s body, after which it will increase the sex drive of the host over time to aid in its own reproduction.

## **Reproduction / Creation**

Los Worms are only able to reproduce while attached to a host, using their soul essence as a form of sustenance for themselves and the growing infant Los Worm. Their reproduction is done asexually through the creation of a second skin layer within themselves, which when fully mature is excreted through the second mouth.

This birthing only occurs after the host has successfully copulated with another individual, after the copulation the parent Los Worm will produce a scent similar to alcohol to encourage the new Los Worm to leave and attach to the next nearest host, which is most commonly the other partner.

## **Weaknesses**

Bathing regularly, burning strong smelling things such as incense or candles in sleeping areas, and rubbing alcohol or vinegar on the base of ones back can repel Los Worms.

Los Worm stone burrows are uniformly circular and often they group close together when possible, to see if one is occupied a light can be shone over it safely as they are typically inactive during the day, if a Los Worm is present the light will reflect off their skin.

As Los Worms need to breathe, covering a burrow or host attachment site with glass for a period of time will force them to attempt to leave where they can be removed and destroyed, most commonly with fire.

Infant Los Worms have a lower tolerance to alcohol exposure due to their skin not yet being developed enough, and in high enough concentrations it can kill them.

## **Trivia**

* The first Los Worm was said to have been brought into the world by the Demon Lord Levian.
* The illegal practice of ‘worm chasing’ involves individuals intentionally attempting to become attached to a Los Worm and aiding in its propagation. This practice was most notably found in the Sun Kingdom.
* It has been noted by Spire scholars that Los Worms will actively avoid attaching to Kindlers, this lead to Los Worms being categorised as a Devoid as it outlined how essential taking soul essence is to their life cycle.