East Bark Crawlworm

summary

The East Bark Crawlworm is a species of Highly Venomous Crawlworm (a form of centipede like arthropod with an armored, segmented shell). They are native to the forests of East Felsaed, and can be found under the leaf litter or burrowed deep into the bows of trees.

Physiology

Like all Crawlworms, East Bark Crawlworms have an even number of leg pairs, specifically 84 legs (42 pairs). Each of their body segments hosts 2 leg pairs, giving them a total of 21 segments. Each segment is covered by a small shell over the creatures back, and every third shell possesses a single raised spike on the arthropods back. These spikes produce a venom with hallucinogenic and anti-coagulant properties and are used both in hunting and self-defense.
The East Bark Crawlworm can be recognized by it's black-brown coloration, and the blotchy red lines on it's flanks. The head possesses both a pair of pincers and fangs, allowing the animal to latch onto it's prey before injecting a toxin that differs greatly from the venom produced by it's spine. The venom produced by it's fangs is necrotic, and will slowly eat away at victims bitten by the creature.
The nature of it's bite inflicted venom makes it toxic even to creatures that are immune to it's regular toxin, and it is dangerous to all documented sentient species. A small dosage alone is dangerous, and bite victims are often inflicted with scratches from its spines to prevent any retaliation. The hallucinations and blood loss weaken the victim and make it difficult to find help, and as such their is a high mortality rate amongst lone travelers who encounter the arthropod.

Habitat

The East Bark Crawlworms can be found burrowing into the conifers of south east Felsaed, or crawling in the needle carpet of the leaf litter.