Lollusc
RARITY: ★☆☆☆☆ | THREAT: ★★★☆☆☆ SIZE: Adults the size of a deer; most are juveniles and small.
HABITAT:
Usually buried in the intertidal zone in New England beaches, though the domestic subspecies can be found as household pets.
OVERVIEW:
Lolluscs are large, clam-like creatures that spend most of their time buried in the sand. They’re a very diverse species with many subspecies offshoots, though it often takes an expert to visually distinguish between them. They vary in size, with the more common juveniles looking (and tasting) like regular clams, and adults reaching the size of a deer. A lollusc buried in sand will remain inert if dug up, and won’t bother anyone. However, when the tide goes out, lolluscs unearth themselves and walk around using long tendrils, searching for food while everything else is being dried out from the sun.
It’s when lolluscs encounter humans while in this active hunting state that there’s usually trouble. When a lollusc encounters prey too large to simply toss in its gullet, it emits nitrous oxide gas (“laughing gas”) forcefully toward their intended prey, which is supposed to disorient. Though the lolluscs aren’t affected by their own gas, the change in their internal pressure when releasing it creates a noise that sounds like laughter. Fishermen harvest lolluscs all the time, and this isn’t usually problematic if the lolluscs are stationary and simply dry out.
ABILITIES:
Few are immune to the nitrous oxide lolluscs pump out at high speed. Many have lost their lives by laughing at a lollusc while they should have been running the other way.
Their shells have razor sharp edges which can easily cut people, and infection of the wound is likely.
Lolluscs do have tendrils they scamper around on, so they’re mobile, but not especially quick. These tendrils are actually modified offshoots of the “foot” found in all molluscs.
WEAKNESSES:
The shell of a lollusc is very difficult to break, but targeting their squishy innards is the most effective way to kill them.
They can be rendered immobile if their tendrils are cut, though they grow back quickly.
Countering the nitrous oxide can be a bigger problem given the aim and speed of a lollusc; while gas masks can work, most better hope they’re able to keep their bearings while high.
The undead are unaffected by the gas.
When a lollusc is dug up and inside of its shell, it is harmless until the tide goes out and it senses it’s time to hunt.
A lollusc exposed to the sun for a prolonged amount of time (hours) is liable to dry out.
VARIANTS
BAWLLUSC:
This less common subspecies of lollusc is visually indistinguishable, but their method of hunting differs which can take people off guard. Rather than laughing gas, bawlluscs release a strange gas that makes victims begin to cry uncontrollably. This is functionally similar as it distracts the intended prey more than enough for the bawllusc to have lunch.
CLAWLLUSC:
You thought you knew what kind of lollusc you were dealing with. Maybe you even took care of it for years, bedazzling its shell. Lollusc taxonomy isn’t so hard. But then yours matured, and it became clear in the worst way that you have a clawllusc. Some mature lolluscs grow razor sharp claws along their tendrils and whip them at anyone nearby when the shell opens. That person is usually either the owner or a very unlucky beachgoer.
DOLLUSC:
Once part of a luxury line of domesticated lolluscs (or rather, lollux), dolluscs were bred to enjoy having their shells painted with vibrant colors, and they almost seemed to smile when a tiny hat was placed on them. Past tense. Dolluscs were released into the wild and formed a new wild population. Rather than decorating their shells with paint, they rejoice in coloring it with your blood. They will wear your entrails as a hat. People stopped breeding pet dolluscs, but lollux are as popular as ever.
DRAWLLUSC:
These lolluscs “draw” in the sand using their tendrils, creating patterns and designs that lure people in closer. Something about these markings mesmerizes those who look at them too long, causing them to essentially freeze in place as they admire or try to understand the work. The drawllusc takes advantage of this and strikes.
LOLLUX:
Of all the dang options, someone decided it was worth domesticating lolluscs. This started out as a simple aquaculture venture for food purposes, but the lolluscs were bred for smaller sizes making them suitable for home. These small lolluscs were branded “lollux” and over time have become a distinct subspecies. They’re about the size of a normal clam and need a sandy aquarium tank to thrive, and happily eat snails or small fish. Lollux no longer blast nitrous oxide but instead emit a foul odor when frightened (it smells like bad milk). Many owners paint their lolluxs’ shells in fun colors with lollux-safe paint, and enter them into contests at the Annual Lollux Convention.
SPRAWLLUSC:
This subspecies of lollusc has especially long tendrils, which they’re uniquely able to extend while buried in the sand. These spread out into a large network, allowing the sprawllusc to sense the footfalls of possible prey in the sand anywhere over one of the tendrils. The sprawllusc then tunnels underneath and springs up like a trap, attempting to swallow their food whole. Sprawlluscs lack any kind of offensive or defensive gas, and their tendrils are a bright orange, distinguishing them from the others.
WALLUSC:
These large lolluscs have wider and flatter shells than other variants, and rather than lying flat in the sand, they prop themselves up vertically. While this can make them easier to see and avoid, don’t assume they aren’t sneaky. Barnacles, algae, and other small creatures grow on their shells, making them look like large rocks. If you get too close, they’ll fall, crushing you like a waffle press.