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Description

The volcanic deserts certainly give rise to some bizarre species, which isn't that big of surprise when you consider the ecosystem itself. A sandy landscape constantly besieged by violent storms with the only respite from these barren wastes being active flows of lava. These burning rivers give fuel to life, but not the kind you would expect. Plants are practically nonexistent here, as the storm filled, ash choked sky makes sunlight an unpredictable presence and the ground offers little in soil. Instead, strange fungus sprouts from the banks of these lava streams, feeding off the heat and substances produced by the molten fluid. I have already covered a number of these fungal species before, but you should know that they are quite bizarre and not nearly as edible as puff loaves and rind berries. Since they leech metals from the ground or suck up heat, their composition is alien to most digestive systems found around the world. Even dryads like myself cannot consume these fungi, despite our strong stomachs and resistance to many toxins. However, life here relies on these fungi as a constant source of food, so there are a myriad of species that can actually digest these bizarre things. It should be no surprise that the end result of this adaptation has created more odd beasts to roam these storm swept deserts. One that we will talk about today is the Fume Maw, a local who has quite the taste for these roasting fungi.

In its usual state, many may be a bit confused on what a Fume Maw is. A scaly corpulent beast with a hard shelled head and armored flippers, a look that makes some try to tie it into reptiles. Perhaps it is some strange crocodile with a flip top head, or a fattened serpent, but the Fume Maw is no reptile. Instead, it's a snail, a fact easier to see when it opens its "mouth." The armored dome of this beast is no skull, but actually the snail's shell. It is hinged by muscle which allows it to flip itself open like a toothless maw and extend a serpentine "tongue." That pink appendage is the true head of the Fume Maw, hiding in its armored body until it needs to feed. Its exposed flesh is vulnerable to the harsh storms and predators, so its time out in the open is short. When it comes across tasty fungus, it pulls open its shell, darts out its head to grab hold and drag the whole thing back in with it. As you can imagine, this furthers the illusion that the shell is its true head, as this action looks like a tongue lashing out to swallow fungus whole. By pulling its food into its armored hiding place, it may feed at its leisure and not worry about being exposed to predators. Its thick scales and impenetrable shell is enough to ward off most attacks, but that isn't its only defense against foes.

Due to the Fume Maw's diet of volcanic fungi, its body builds up reserves of some noxious materials. Normally, one would just excrete this waste and leave it for the scavengers, but this snail has found another use. It can break down these substances and turn it into a gaseous state. If a predator proves to be a bigger problem then its armor can handle, the Fume Maw will open up its fake mouth and belch out a great cloud of this vapor. What is in this gas isn't fully known, but we do know it is poisonous and extremely nasty. Reports say that it causes burning and irritation in sensitive membranes, like eyes and mouth, and breathing it in sears your lungs. The damage isn't lethal, but it sounds like it can really mess you up. People exposed to the gas have been temporarily blinded and are nearly asphyxiated by the chemicals filling their lungs. Even when rushed out of the cloud and given fresh air, they choke and cough for hours after. Even then, it is said weeks go by before they can breathe normally again, after the damage has been healed. It is an unpleasant experience, so keep that in mind before getting too close to one. A good way to tell if a Fume Maw is loaded with this wretched gas is to look at its "gut." If its body is swollen, then you know it has a store of this vapor on hand, ready to burp it out on any fool who dares threaten it.

Since this weapon is tied to its diet, people assume that raising a Fume Maw without these lava fungi will make a more docile breed. With no foul materials to make its gas, then it cannot bring harm to others, and it may even be edible! That line of thinking isn't exactly wrong, but it sadly just doesn't work. Fume Maws like mushrooms, but not just any kind. Their entire anatomy is designed to digest these volcanic growths, which means it cannot properly handle most other fungi from around the world. Attempts to raise a Fume Maw outside of its ecosystem without the specific foods has only resulted in malnourished, sickly individuals who eventually die from food poisoning or disease. Either the foreign foods they eat don't digest correctly and just rot in their stomach, or they actually contain toxins the Fume Maw isn't immune to and kills it outright. So this theory does not work because there currently isn't anything else you can feed these things outside of their usual fare. Just leave them be in their natural environment and appreciate them there! Though, good luck finding any enjoyment in a volcanic desert.

While they remain confined to their desert homes, they aren't entirely forgotten by the outside world. The Venoness that live near these ecosystems have found uses from its materials and inspiration from its design. Blight Vessels carved from Fume Maw shells have been seen, and their scales have been used to craft armor. I believe their guts and gas sacs are good material for brewing as well! These poison weavers have even copied the Fume Maw's defenses, of drinking special concoctions from their vessels and then belching out deadly clouds. Yes, I know that is actually a pretty common Venoness tactic, but I feel you can't help but draw the comparison! Maybe this is where that art started, or maybe it inspired new ways to....uh....burp. Yeah, I know nothing about magic, maybe I shouldn't be talking about this stuff....

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-----------------------------------------------------

Okay, I think I have composed myself enough now to write about the burping snail.

Description

The volcanic deserts certainly give rise to some bizarre species, which isn't that big of surprise when you consider the ecosystem itself. A sandy landscape constantly besieged by violent storms with the only respite from these barren wastes being active flows of lava. These burning rivers give fuel to life, but not the kind you would expect. Plants are practically nonexistent here, as the storm filled, ash choked sky makes sunlight an unpredictable presence and the ground offers little in soil. Instead, strange fungus sprouts from the banks of these lava streams, feeding off the heat and substances produced by the molten fluid. I have already covered a number of these fungal species before, but you should know that they are quite bizarre and not nearly as edible as puff loaves and rind berries. Since they leech metals from the ground or suck up heat, their composition is alien to most digestive systems found around the world. Even dryads like myself cannot consume these fungi, despite our strong stomachs and resistance to many toxins. However, life here relies on these fungi as a constant source of food, so there are a myriad of species that can actually digest these bizarre things. It should be no surprise that the end result of this adaptation has created more odd beasts to roam these storm swept deserts. One that we will talk about today is the Fume Maw, a local who has quite the taste for these roasting fungi.

In its usual state, many may be a bit confused on what a Fume Maw is. A scaly corpulent beast with a hard shelled head and armored flippers, a look that makes some try to tie it into reptiles. Perhaps it is some strange crocodile with a flip top head, or a fattened serpent, but the Fume Maw is no reptile. Instead, it's a snail, a fact easier to see when it opens its "mouth." The armored dome of this beast is no skull, but actually the snail's shell. It is hinged by muscle which allows it to flip itself open like a toothless maw and extend a serpentine "tongue." That pink appendage is the true head of the Fume Maw, hiding in its armored body until it needs to feed. Its exposed flesh is vulnerable to the harsh storms and predators, so its time out in the open is short. When it comes across tasty fungus, it pulls open its shell, darts out its head to grab hold and drag the whole thing back in with it. As you can imagine, this furthers the illusion that the shell is its true head, as this action looks like a tongue lashing out to swallow fungus whole. By pulling its food into its armored hiding place, it may feed at its leisure and not worry about being exposed to predators. Its thick scales and impenetrable shell is enough to ward off most attacks, but that isn't its only defense against foes.

Due to the Fume Maw's diet of volcanic fungi, its body builds up reserves of some noxious materials. Normally, one would just excrete this waste and leave it for the scavengers, but this snail has found another use. It can break down these substances and turn it into a gaseous state. If a predator proves to be a bigger problem then its armor can handle, the Fume Maw will open up its fake mouth and belch out a great cloud of this vapor. What is in this gas isn't fully known, but we do know it is poisonous and extremely nasty. Reports say that it causes burning and irritation in sensitive membranes, like eyes and mouth, and breathing it in sears your lungs. The damage isn't lethal, but it sounds like it can really mess you up. People exposed to the gas have been temporarily blinded and are nearly asphyxiated by the chemicals filling their lungs. Even when rushed out of the cloud and given fresh air, they choke and cough for hours after. Even then, it is said weeks go by before they can breathe normally again, after the damage has been healed. It is an unpleasant experience, so keep that in mind before getting too close to one. A good way to tell if a Fume Maw is loaded with this wretched gas is to look at its "gut." If its body is swollen, then you know it has a store of this vapor on hand, ready to burp it out on any fool who dares threaten it.

Since this weapon is tied to its diet, people assume that raising a Fume Maw without these lava fungi will make a more docile breed. With no foul materials to make its gas, then it cannot bring harm to others, and it may even be edible! That line of thinking isn't exactly wrong, but it sadly just doesn't work. Fume Maws like mushrooms, but not just any kind. Their entire anatomy is designed to digest these volcanic growths, which means it cannot properly handle most other fungi from around the world. Attempts to raise a Fume Maw outside of its ecosystem without the specific foods has only resulted in malnourished, sickly individuals who eventually die from food poisoning or disease. Either the foreign foods they eat don't digest correctly and just rot in their stomach, or they actually contain toxins the Fume Maw isn't immune to and kills it outright. So this theory does not work because there currently isn't anything else you can feed these things outside of their usual fare. Just leave them be in their natural environment and appreciate them there! Though, good luck finding any enjoyment in a volcanic desert.

While they remain confined to their desert homes, they aren't entirely forgotten by the outside world. The Venoness that live near these ecosystems have found uses from its materials and inspiration from its design. Blight Vessels carved from Fume Maw shells have been seen, and their scales have been used to craft armor. I believe their guts and gas sacs are good material for brewing as well! These poison weavers have even copied the Fume Maw's defenses, of drinking special concoctions from their vessels and then belching out deadly clouds. Yes, I know that is actually a pretty common Venoness tactic, but I feel you can't help but draw the comparison! Maybe this is where that art started, or maybe it inspired new ways to....uh....burp. Yeah, I know nothing about magic, maybe I shouldn't be talking about this stuff....

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-----------------------------------------------------

Okay, I think I have composed myself enough now to write about the burping snail.