Atrocities

Rough artist's impression of an Atrocity, based on an outdated description. Note the incorrect scale, exaggerated teeth, and lack of segmented mandibles.

Genus Mytikos

Mutated crustaceans of enormous proportions, their passage is credited by the Dunefolk as having helped sculpt the fantastic landscape characteristic of the southern end of the Continent, where desert and beach converge. Though the Sunfolk have observed them for cycles, Atrocities remain mysterious, with scant records held even by the Slenders. The Sunfolk culture has cultivated a practice of raiding the dwellings of these gigantic beasts, at great risk to themselves, as part of their rights of passage.

Averaging 600 strides in diameter, it is notable that their visage is rather more terrifying than their size. The creatures appear asymmetrical, sporting multiple heterogeneous heads - typically two - that culminate in jaws with separate mandibles, each trailing a tendril-like goatee. The vortex created by these elastic jaws is assumed for baleen feeding when submerged, though that may be optimism on our part. Rare Atrocity carcasses reveal their exoskeleton to be segmented, resembling a combination of terrestrial crab, lobster and turtle, with stoat legs as thick as ancient tree trunks. Much of their bulk is apparently hollow; a frame held together by muscle and sinews, reducing their weight, and allowing for whole colonies of symbiotic organisms. Their legs in particular can only be described as an organic system of girders - long flowing shapes weaving and interlocking - leaving much of their mass hollow.

Shepherds of the waters

The Atrocities are amphibious, mobile sea colonies, traveling in search of fresh nutrients. Whole ecosystems live on, and within, their expansive shells, seemingly providing all they require. Some of these creatures attach themselves to the outer plastron much like barnacles or coral polyps; these develop parasitic or symbiotic relationships with its colossal host, exchanging nutrients via vessels and pores. Likewise the predators of the community lay eggs within nooks in the carapace; specially adapted compartments that protect the offspring. The Atrocity, in turn, is rewarded with much of the rich birthing fluids, stillbirths, and other unsuccessful hatchlings, which form a significant percentage of its sustenance. Flora on the carapace behaves much the same, providing scarce minerals and chemicals in exchange for salts and other nutrients the host extrudes as waste. In this way, much of the Atrocity's energy requirements are supplied by the community inhabiting its shell. Presumably, for this reason, the Atrocity defends against intruders with violent ferocity, the segmented heads and limbs allowing for great range of movement, omni-directional eyes darting independently in all directions. During mating and pregnancy, their metabolisms requires large amounts of energy. During these times even the stalwart Sunfolk avoid their territory, as these mammoth crustaceans will actively hunt out prey; what they cannot find in the seas and oceans, they source by wandering inland.

To compound their enigmatic behavior, there is their tendency to defend the Repository of Lume; long, tubular caverns filled with detritus stored over the cycles. While much of this is arguably scrap, cheap trinkets or naturally-occurring baubles, the adventurous and resourceful Sunfolk can find old technology amongst it all.

The Atrocities inhabit only the southern beaches of the Continent; a predisposition the Races of Lume are thankful for.