It comes to the surprise of absolutely no one that the frozen north carries danger. Ask any ship captain that had to navigate its waters, or any traveler who found themselves stranded upon the icy shores. The sea can claim any who are not vigilant and experienced, and even a bout of rotten luck can take these pros down. On land, the elements are no kinder. Wind up on an ice shelf, or a barren island or a Tears glacier, and you will find how ruthless they can be. The howling wind cuts through clothing and flesh like a frozen knife, and the cold seems impossible to defeat. And if you are on a Tears glacier, it will rob more than just your body heat, draining victims of all warmth and hope til freezing despair turns them into an icy statue. But amongst the frozen sea and countless islands of the Aurgelmir Archipelago are havens where life exists. Snowy forests, expansive tundras and hot bile springs! Even the mountains and icy lands can provide for those adapted to its challenges. That means food, shelter and hope, or at least beasts to hunt to gain warming fur, tasty flesh and precious fluid!
But of course, life out here can be brutal, and thus the creatures have been hardened by the elements. They have learned long ago how to survive, how to eat and how not be eaten. These cold places are no simple stroll through a lush hairfield, they are places that demand wariness and respect. One wrong move can lead to death, and desperation can make even the most levelheaded fellow slip up. A common trap is the panicked desire for shelter, the terrible wind and cold driving folk to any semblance of safety. So desperate they are to be out of the elements, that any cave or icy tunnel seems like sanctuary. They don't stop to think, don't take time to observe the situation to determine any threat, they just run to this haven. And if fate is unkind, they rarely even make it to the tunnel's mouth, as another maw rushes out to greet them...
There are many great and powerful beasts of the frozen north, yet there is one that is feared but not for its brutal strength or potent fluids. It is no titan, no glorious predator of an icy kingdom. It is a repulsive slithering thing, a writhing shape beneath the ice or within the frozen tombs. Its name is spoken with both disgust and fear: the "Corpse Weasel." They are long, pallid worms that live within the glaciers and frozen graveyards. The thick floor and walls of ice can be filled with many winding tunnels, a chilling labyrinth of burrows, veins and cavities. There are creatures in these lands that have adapted to carving through the Tear ice, making home in these great tombs, and the corpse weasel is one of them. Its boneless maw can open to reveal a wicked proboscis covered in grinding teeth, and it is this part that allows it to gnaw through ice. Corpse weasels chew extensive networks through the ice, a perfect shelter from the cruel elements outside, but also a buffet of frozen flesh. The frozen north and its seas bear the graves of the giants and many other megafauna from the Age of Eitr, those entombed in their own Tears. Time has ensured they never wake, the sleep turning permanent over the centuries. But one beast's tragedy is another's feast, and the corpse weasels revel in the meal. Their drilling proboscis carves through frozen flesh, allowing them to feed on the dead within. Their icy tunnels worm through great corpses, and their nests are typically set in their guts. Quite the buffet to enjoy, yet the corpse weasel is not just a scavenger, for they also have a taste for warmer things...
These long worms are opportunistic hunters, rarely letting a meal escape their sights. The frozen rotted flesh offers some nutrients, but not as much as live prey. When food walks by their tunnel networks, the vibrations of each step act as a dinner bell. The weasel quickly slithers through the ice veins, bringing itself to exits that are near the source. The land is perforated with these tunnel openings, big and small, and the boneless nature of these worms lets them cram into every one of them. They will hide within the gullet of these openings, waiting for food to wander closer. If the victim is not wary of their surroundings, they will blunder right past an entrance, and the corpse weasel will strike. These worms are incredibly fast, launching their upper bodies forth like a snaring tongue. Most of their body will remain in the tunnel, anchoring themselves so that their stretchy necks can perform such violent movements. In a pale blur, they shoot out of the tunnel and try to grab prey with their barbed lips. Despite the number of teeth, their bite is not meant to sever or chew, just to grip. The hold of a corpse weasel's mouth is surprisingly strong, with the teeth and flexible lips wrapping around and digging in for maximum grip. All for what is about to come next.
The second the corpse weasel has its hold on its victim, it retracts back into its burrow with the same speed it came out. All their muscles contract to yank them back to safety, dragging their prey with them. The sheer abruptness of this ambush causes food to be unaware of what is happening, never having the time to resist. Attacks occur in the blink of an eye, one second standing and the next being violently pulled into an icy pit. Corpse weasels can lash out from any opening, no matter the size, which can result in some grisly fates. If grabbed from a big tunnel opening, you get dragged into the bowels of this frozen maze and the weasel will try to tear you apart with its grinding proboscis. It is possible to fight back and kill this monster, but then you will be lost in this network, with plenty of other weasels looking to claim the prize. Snagged from a much smaller hole, and your demise will be faster and messier, as your body is forced through this bottleneck. Either option has given much to the corpse weasel's terrifying reputation, as travelers spot gore smeared cracks in the ice, or have a companion vanish before their eyes, their fading screams echoing from the yawning maw.
Be it locals or outsiders to these places, everyone is warned about the corpse weasels. They are an important lesson in attentiveness, being aware of one's surroundings while out in the frozen wilds. Always be on the look out for holes in the ice and signs of corpse weasel activity. Seal entrances around where you are with Tears ice or even Black Bile shards so that they cannot emerge. At times, it can be easy to spot them, as their writhing bodies can be seen slithering under the translucent layers, but that isn't always the case. Snow and other elements can hide their forms or their burrows, making them harder to track. If you are not wary, a weasel may strike and you have little time to react. Those with incredible reflexes and instinct may be able to dodge in time, but not many can pull off such feats. Instead, the recommendation is to wear a loose outer layer of clothing that will take the brunt of its attack. Something that can easily tear away when pulled, leaving the weasel with a useless mouthful when it retreats. Steps like these are vital for survival, as ruining the worm's ambush ends their chances at a successful hunt. They need that stealth, that speed, that blindsiding attack to win, for when locked in actual physical combat, they will be torn to bits. When threatened, corpse weasels run, they rarely ever fight. Slaying them grants cold-resistant membrane and wormy flesh, the value of these materials varying wildly depending on the individual. Their meat can be eaten, but it is typically seen as a last resort food, as their diet of frozen, time rotted flesh makes the flavor quite unpleasant.
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Another horrid beast born from a prompt for a "horrible weasel worm monster" granted by @Lediblock2 ! And also, dang, that blue color does not show up on my scanner. Ah well, it was just ice ground anyways.
