Miran's Magnificient Monster Manual

[Togetak]

Magimals Catalogue

(Note: This section is subject to change, as I encounter more of these creatures in the wild, to observe them)

II. Grubworms

Pictured: A rather adorable grubling named Gilbert

Strangely named given their sole resemblance to grubs and not worms, Grubworms are perhaps the easiest Magimal I have ever had the pleasure of studying. Not only because of their relatively docile nature, significant numbers, and immobile disposition- but also because their full life cycle is so immediately visible to the observer.

The nest I was able to locate for my observations was in the very same mine as the paired Crellus, yet their influence on the area was quite clearer than that of the mushroom den. These creatures seem to have burrowed into the mine, disrupting it's industrial functions and generally made a mess of things, tearing apart minecart tracks and burrowing through the tunnels in an attempt to make it more homely for themselves. I would wager most of those who mine by profession will have seen this  colony dozens of times in their trips into it's bowels, and yet I very much doubt any have ever stopped to wonder exactly how they live.

The Grubworm life cycle is a very visible one, particularly so as they take such a laissez-faire approach to their child rearing, allowing them to wander in the open under adult supervision, and caring little if foreign entites wade amongst them. They defend their young ferociously if attacked or threatened, of course, but otherwise are rather laid back for giant, monsterous insects. In the interest of brevity, I will outline each stage in the Grubworm life cycle indivually below.

Stage I: Grublings

All Grubworm begin their lives in this miniscule (and, frankly, rather cute) form, each standing roughly half the height of a man. Grublings wander the nest of their colony, rarely far from the adult Grubworms acting as their guardians. At this stage of life, these creatures are rather curious- often chasing or becoming transfixed by new creatures and objects that pass by them- but this childlike wonder should not be mistaken for the kind of intelligence you or I share, they are foolish creatures by nature. Fast movements and bright lights will spook them as they would any common animal, and their mandibles are quite painful to bitten by even at this early stage of development. Still, they are interesting creatures, and I have grown quite fond of them.

In my travels, I came across a lost Grubling deep within the mines, evidentally having fallen down a shaft and been unable to return to its caretakes above. While the infant (which I have chosen to call "Gilbert" due to his very Gilbert-like disposition) was otherwise a perfect specimen of his kind, it is notable that he was remarkably docile- refusing to attack even when I physically handled him (although, of course, I could never imagine harming such a creature). I believe this to be because, seperated from the parental influence of the adult Grubworms, he was never in a position to develop their wariness to those outside their species. 

I find this interesting for twofold reasons- firstly, that their territorial nature is taught implies a good deal of their life skills may indeed be passed through mentoring rather than innate, as in most animals, and more importantly that it may be possible to domesticate these magimals as we have with other, more simple animals. The possibilites of this are rather fascinating to theorise about, is it not? The feasibility of collecting a young Grubling before it learns suspicion from it's fellows is, of course, not exactly useful for mass domestication, but it does beg the question of what someone could achieve, were they patient and intrepid enough to attempt it.

Stage II: Adult Grubworms

Standing around a head taller than a man, adult Grubworms lose much of the wonder of their youth. Still rather adorable, just on a larger scale, the adult Grubworm is a much hardier and more powerful magimals than their infants.

Within the colony, the adult Grubworm fulfills the vast majority of the workforce, taking care of the Grublings while gathering food and drilling out new tunnels to grow the colony. Adult Grubworms also fulfill the role of defenders of the colony, and are more active in engaging with intruders should they wander too close to the Queen or Grublings. Their mandibles, while more developed, are fortunately scarcely more dangerous than those of the Grubling due to the specialization that occurs as they mature, becoming better in shape for grasping and digging, but unwieldly for biting.

In all, I find them interesting creatures, but far less enaging than their young.

Stage III: The Grubworm Queen

With a single one per colony, the Grubworm Queen is a colossal creature- and the mother of all those around it. A giant beast, constantly writhing and birthing more Grublings for the colony, the Queen is the highest rung on the Grubworm totem pole. Waited on hand and foot by its Grubworms spawn, the role it fulfills in the colony is an incredibly vital one, ensuring perpetual expansion. 

While you would not be foolish to asume such a massive creature specialized into such a tender role would be weaker than its kin, you would be mistaken, for the Grubworm Queen's size is its most powerful weapon. Few strikes can easily penetrate the overgrown hide, thick and stretchy to accomidate constant birthing, and its mandibles are just as powerful as any other Grubworm- and this is not to mention the constant entourage of rabidly protective Grubworms, desperate to protect their mother.

That is not to say that the death of a Queen means the death of a colony, however. Should their mother die in combat, or of natural cause, it seems another will quickly take her place through a process unknown to me. Perhaps the mere presence of a living Queen supresses the ability of the other Grubworms to grow so large, and so fertile? Or maybe there is some alchemical compound, some magic energies, within the body of a Queen that the Grubworms will feast on upon her death, to claim her position? Whatever this unseen succession takes, it is a mystery I would love to solve.