Soul Leaches

One of the more interesting of the Valorn wildlife, the full life cycle of the Soul Leach is not yet known. The Leach inhabits the Wall - the large edifice between the desert and the wastelands. The Wall can be seen from far away, and in its depths the temperature is usually rather constant. That the Soul Leach has so far been found only in this environ might indicate that the full lifecycle is best accomplished within a specific temperature range. While only a few types of leaches have been found, if they are in a colony formation (akin to ants and termites) the breeder or ‘Lady’ Leach has so far gone undiscovered.

Opinion is split on if the leaches are each adapted to a specific duty as in a colony or hive, or if instead their various sizes and toughness are due to age. Attempts to capture and study the Leaches in a more controlled environment have so far proven futile. Please read Stalking the Wild Leach: Torn Apart for a survivor’s account.

The Soul Leach nest itself is in the deepest, most climate controlled part of the wall. The largest and fiercest of the leeches - the warriors and lords - guard it. It may well be that these and the young Leaches need more specific temperatures when compared with the large and ‘normal’ leeches. If that is the case, it explains why only those last two are seen any distance from the nest itself. If they are not the juvenile and young adult of the species as some posit, it may well be these are Soul Leaches specifically adapted to change in light and climate. This could cause some concern in the future if they are seen as a beneficial adaptation to the species and spread out into more territory. Currently the Wall seems the only place a population may be found.

However, as they are such prolific breeders, it may be there are other populations as yet undiscovered in various parts of Valorn. So far the constant travels of Adventurous within the Wall have kept the Soul Leach population in check – whether it also feeds these creatures is yet to be determined.

Although an apparently boneless creature, when killed most Soul Leaches reveal a hardened piece of material that merchants and others have dubbed Soul Stones. Hypotheses and rumors on the nature of this material vary widely. Some state with assurance that it is a bit of life energy from the Leach’s prey. Others affirm that the stone comes from the slime the leeches produce hardening around an irritation or piece of undigested food.

The larger specimens, if killed properly, yield a daggerlike tooth. This light dagger has long been prized by younger members of Adventurous.

Visually the Soul Leach is a rather disgusting creature. Its pasty-white coloration and odious, soft flesh has turned many a stomach. When cut open, the soul stone is revealed. The rest of the creature putrefies rapidly perhaps accounting for the terrible stench down where they live.

Unlike the name might indicate, the Soul Leach diet does not consist merely of life force, unless flesh and blood is taken into account as well. A Soul Leach’s mouth and teeth are quite capable of fastening on prey and shredding them.

Talon Shardblade: “Big an' squishy. Good fer earnin' a bit o' coin if ya got tha patience”

by Ellyana Lilli