Crest Worms

(May contain graphic/gruesome descriptions. Viewers' discretion is advised.)

Basic Information

Anatomy

Crest worms have a physical anatomy similar to maggots. They are rather small, have no bones, and is just a magical maggot.

Biological Traits

Crest worms are magically created and resemble maggots. However, they all have black runic markings on their bodies. This is a way to tell if what you're looking at is either a crest worm or a maggot. Their most well-known and well used trait is their excretion of magical energy upon the consumption of humanoid flesh.

Genetics and Reproduction

Crest worms can't reproduce, but are rather created by nefarious mages.

Growth Rate & Stages

Crest worms can live for up to 50 years, as long as they have constant supply of energy/food.

Ecology and Habitats

Crest worms are usually kept in a sort of stasis-like vessel. This can be in large air-tight jars or even in large pits in deep basements. Dark and dank areas are the best places for crest worms to be in if they are not being parasites.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Crest worms, unlike maggots, feed off of live humanoid flesh. When it consumes a bit of flesh, it also excretes a very small amount of magical energy. Dead/Rotting flesh will never be consumed by crest worms, as the dead flesh can't be properly digested by the worm.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Crest worms have a rather nefarious usage. Crest worms were created by some morally questionable mages in order to exploit the worms' magical excretions. Individuals who may be particularly desperate for magical power may pay a high price in order to actually have these unsightly worms be inserted into their very bodies. As hundreds of these worms begin to crawl through the muscles and blood vessels of their host, they consume the flesh and excrete magical energy that is promptly reabsorbed by the host's body. Crest worm recipients soon find themselves to have magical capabilities that can rival certain wizards and sorcerers. 
The obvious drawback with this procedure is the immense amount of pain the host goes through, as the worms are eating their bodies from the inside, usually faster than the body can repair itself. Muscle loss, organ damage, and insanity are all symptoms that come from the insertion of crest worms. Constant healing spells and pain-management treatments are needed and even then, it may not be enough. Recipients usually only have around a decade or less to live after the treatment.
Particularly evil mages and worm-creators may even modify the worms further so that hosts of these worms will also be under the control of the mage themselves. The host will be able to hear the mage's commands and must comply with them or suffer even greater amounts of pain.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Crest worms are blind and as such, purely rely on their magically granted blind sense.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Crest worms are magical parasites, and that form of behavior was intentional during their creation process. Procedures involving crest worms involve the intentional allowance for crest worms to be parasitically inserted into a host.

Lifespan

50 years

Average Weight

0.25 grams

Average Length

7-10mm

Host of Crest Worms

Must go through Crest Worm Procedure

Legends speak of those who have succumbed to the lure of Crest Worms, gaining incredible power at the cost of their sanity. While the power they wield is immense, the cost is too great for most to bear, leading to a slow, agonizing descent into madness and death. Those who have encountered Crest Worm hosts describe them as tortured souls, capable of both incredible feats of magic and acts of unspeakable cruelty.
You've agreed to put yourself through a brutal procedure to have special crest worms be inserted into your body. Once the procedure is finished, you gain the following attributes:

• You gain a massive boost in magical power. You can now cast spells as if you were a sorcerer of a level equal to your character level + 5. Additionally, you gain two additional 9th-level spell slots and can cast any spell you know without needing material components.
• You take a permanent -2 to all ability checks and saves.
• Life Drain: The Crest Worms continously drain your life force. Every 7 days, when you wake up, you must make a DC-20 Constitution save. On a failure, your max HP reduces by 10 points.
• Severe Pain: You have disadvantage on concentrating on spells. For every hour you are conscious or not at rest, you take 1D6 psychic damage. Despite the pain, your power is bolstered enough that you can't be frightened or charmed.
• Your life expectancy is reduced by 50%. 

This procedure is irreversible beyond anything other than a Wish spell or divine intervention. If the worms are forcefully removed by any other means, the host will die.