Board Thread:Off Topic/@comment-25396609-20160125214134/@comment-27425734-20160907204855

Grimm Title: Gastros

Threat Level: F

Animal Basis: Slugs, snails

Appearance: Body is covered in corrosive black liquid, and has a wormlike shape with a blunt-nosed head, and three pairs of stalk-like tentacles poking out of the top. They have bulbous scarlet eyes on end of these. The mouth is like that of a lamprey’s; located on the bottom of the head, and filled with a suction cup-like array of sharp teeth. Armor is white with red-orange spiral-like markings on it. On its underside is a thick stretch of slime-emitting muscle similar to the ventral foot of a gastropod.

Armoring(s): Has a curved, ovular shell on its back. The shell provides ample protection for the beast as it lives longer. However, this shell is hollow, and rather thin. Furthermore, it is mostly filled with slime.

Average size seen: Two to three feet in height, and up to seven yards in length when younger. Their width ranges from three to five feet. The older variant is eight feet tall, and up to fourteen yards in length. Their width ranges from six to nine feet.

Variants: Older Gastros are known as Giga Gastros. As they grow older, their shell expands into a spiral-like shape that sits atop their back. The shell oozes with corrosive liquid from the holes all over their surface. Their wormlike body contracts into the shell, and they gain an S-shaped neck. Atop their heads, they possess a dome-shaped armor that protects their skulls. The markings on their shell form an elegant pattern of interlocked spirals, and swirls. Their mouths are now hidden by a flap of skin that folds back similar to a dewlap, and is located on the bottom of their heads. Their mouths possess concentric jaws with three rows of evenly spaced teeth, and a powerful tongue that aids in scooping up their prey.

Behavior: When they’re young, these Grimm prefer to ambush their prey from below, or above. Their slimy undersides enable them to stick to most surfaces with ease, and they’re unusually patient for Grimm, waiting for hours on end to attack. At this age, they also tend to congregate into massive colonies, spreading themselves over a vast area that provides plenty of nooks, and crannies for them to take advantage of. When one of them senses potential prey, the others follow, drawn by the horrendous stench of their brethren’s slime. They devour their prey, tearing it apart, and consuming every last morsel of it. Their appetite is simply voracious. Giga Gastros, however, tend to hunt into groups of two, or three. They also move out of the wetlands that their younger kin prefer, and move into forests and jungles. They claim a large area as their territory, and are fiercely protective of it. Giga Gastros eat as much, if not more than the young, but they do not need to rely on large numbers to kill. They still ambush their prey, but have been known to give chase for a good minute or so if something encroaches upon their territory.

Attack(s): Corrosive slime melts through weak metals, fabrics, and other such protective material. The slime coats their prey, and has a viscosity similar to tree sap. The younger Gastros slam their bodies all over their prey, covering them in slime to immobilize them before feeding. Giga Gastros are capable of launching their slime in a stream from their mouths, instantly trapping their prey in place. They can fire up to eight feet away from their current position, but they lack accuracy. As such, they tend to release their slime from the holes in their shells from above their prey. They can also head-butt their prey using the shell on their heads. To protect themselves, both variants can curl their bodies into their shells. The younger ones curl up their entire bodies while the older ones squeeze into their shells.

Strength(s): Extremely strong. Their ventral foot can act as a clamp that holds down their prey, making escape near impossible once they’re able to get close enough to sit on top of them. The younger variants are also highly flexible, able to squeeze through even the tightest of spaces, and they have been known to constrict like snakes around their prey. The older variants are strong enough to break through concrete by bashing their skulls against it, but they’re not quite as flexible as the younger ones.

Weakness(es): Speed is one of their biggest weaknesses. Gastros are amongst the slowest Grimm species, and are easily outrun by even civilians. Not only that, but if they’re shell is broken, these Grimm become highly vulnerable to attack. However, the older variants have a much more potent corrosive slime that eats through even the strongest of metals, making it virtually impossible to break their shells with physical contact with conventional weaponry. Sustained, long-ranged attacks, or weapons made from organic material such as wood will still make short work of their shells, however. The exposed parts of their bodies are another weak point, and a few well-placed shots will instantly kill these Grimm. Despite their patient nature, these Grimm are quite stupid, running into traps that they should have easily seen, and even bumping into walls, trees, and other obstructions. They have even been sighted falling into holes dug by other animals, or Grimm. Therefore, it is believed that these Grimm have weak eyesight, and rely on sensing their prey through its emotions rather than with their eyes. This may explain their patient nature as being one born from a lack of ability to actively hunt their prey rather than an inborn intelligence. Nonetheless, their biggest weakness is fire. Their slime is highly flammable, and explosive. These Grimm literally burst into flames then proceed to blow up within a matter of seconds of coming into contact with the tiniest spark.

Additional Notes: The slime on their undersides is not corrosive, but it is still just as viscous as the slime covering the tops of their bodies, as well as vulnerable to fire.