Gorm-ba

The native millipede-like beasts of burden for the Mhenuur of Khorrum, Gorm-ba are the relatively docile animals that have been displaced and changed since ancient times.

Physiology

Gorm-ba start out life as pig-sized larva, being born in small clutches of two to three just below the surface. They eat the roots and insects in the dirt until their head carapace thickens enough to allow easier travel through the dirt. In adolescence, the begin to develop their secondary carapace plates on their back to protect them from predators. Fully ground adults average a five car train in size, but larger specimens have been found. Their head carapace sports a hollow horn at the top, swerving backwards. this 'head horn' acts as the Gorm-ba's body temperature regulator, expelling sweat gathered under their primary carapace that collects in a large gland that settles directly in front of the animal's first secondary carapace plate. The act of moving causes the plate to push into the gland, forcing the built up fluids to spray up and out the 'head horn'; the residual liquid that falls on the Gorm-ba's back helps moisturize its carapace. Gorm-ba have weak eye-sight, seeing only black, white, and green colors as well as a extremely limited field of vision. They live on average up to 40 years, but the oldest known Gorm-ba lived up to 100 years old. Their diet consists of small insects, tubers, and other roots.

History

Originally a medium sized, subterranean beast, the Gorm-ba were drive from their feeding grounds by the Wurxith, who saw them as pests for making holes in their cavern settlements, eating root crops, and causing tunnel collapse. The Gorm-ba initially found little welcome on the surface, as the beasts destroyed Mhenuur land in their attempt to flee Wurxith hunting them. The Mhenuur originally hunted them both as pest control and as housing, as their secondary carapaces made sturdy hovels; their meat deteriorated too fast and had a putrid taste, making eating Gorm-ba not an option. But over time the Mhenuur found the beasts easy to tame and docile by nature, leading them to be used as beasts of burden and being bred for larger size and speed to expedite work. Their domestication has lead to the species loosing its ability to burrow underground. Their secondary carapaces are hollowed out and shaped on the sides to load cargo or passengers for long distance travel between larger settlements. In recent years, the Krim-thun have been breeding some Gorm-ba for their older traits for burrowing, using the beasts as a warrior transport underground to strike Wurxith settlements with great efficiency.