Lurker
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The Lurker is told to be an rare hybrid between an arthropoda and a centipede. These creatures can grow up to a length of 60 feet, will have a solid carapace over its body, capable of absorbing the impact of falling rocks. It has two strong mandible connected to its head, reaching up to 55 inches long. The blue, oozing underbelly of a Lurker is where it’s most exposed. The eggs beneath are also located there, being carried and deposited safely if ready to hatch. Due to the nature of the dark caverns they inhabit, they do not have true vision, only compound eyes that can sense the level of light in its surroundings. Antennas on its head and feet allow it to feel movement around its surroundings more acutely.
Behaviour
If met with danger that it can’t fight its way out of, or run from, it’ll often curl up into a ball, using the carapace to hide its vulnerable underbelly. A Lurker’s mandible is incredibly strong; capable of crushing rock between its carapace-covered muscles. It often uses this to burrow and dig, or alternatively, as a weapon to kill its prey. While a more concealed weapon, still one worth noting; the active ooze between its limbs. The Lurker can be traced by the blue slime left behind, however, if the ooze has only recently been excreted and coats the limbs, it can actually be toxic when coming in contact with skin. A touch would cause excruciating pain before the paralysis kicks in. When this happens, a putrid smell often escapes the trapped creature, signalling to the Lurker and others nearby that there’s captured prey.
It waits upon the popular feeding grounds such as the salt lake or beneath the giant mushrooms, for the cavernous creatures to come forth to eat and drink. It will then emerge from its hiding and strike its prey with its paralysis toxin, before then proceeding to slowly devour them at their leisure.
Lore
"My Lord Bag of Rice" is a folk tale detailing a hero by the name of Fujiwara who defeats the giant centipede Seta to help an Eastern dragon princess, and is rewarded in her underwater dragon palace castle. His rewards were a piece of silk from her dress, a sword, a set of armour, a temple bell, and an never ending bag of rice, so that he may live to the ends of his days without ever going hungry.
