The Gemstone Wyrm
Croaks and bellows bounce off the stone cold walls of a darkened labyrinth; lost through waves of time. A moving shadow lurks within intricate cavern tunnels, stalking those who descend the rocks, awaiting patiently to strike. Miners alike dare not to grace this territory, fearful of an encounter with the gemstone wyrm, Exovráchos. Exovráchos is an oddity among the elemental wyrms, having its core embedded somewhere within its body; hidden amongst countless glistening gemstones. While blind, Exovráchos can detect even the slightest of vibrations, however it prioritizes larger vibrations. This wyrm maneuvers its labyrinth with such precision and ease, having a near perfect memory of its entire layout. Gemstones oriented across Exovráchos' face are capable of altering their hues and brightness—all seemingly done at will. Exovráchos is said to use these gemstones on its victims, forcefully inducing a hypnotic trance at their gaze. From there, Exovráchos will reduce their victim to nothing but a twisted and mangled corpse; contorting their being to until they are nothing more than a pile of unrecognizable flesh and bone. Opening its mouth, Exovráchos releases three tendril-like tongues, speckled with colorful stones and secreting globs of a thick tarry substance. Overtime the substance will expand and harden, forming a sturdy rock-like carapace around what remains. Stories tale of how this carapace prevents the souls release, forever trapping those who enter the labyrinth. Fragments of those poor souls seep through the smallest of fissures, clawing desperately to escape, only to form new gemstones for the wyrm to garner and wear. Trembling cries still linger, ceasing to dissipate, forever bound to gemstone tombs. An explorer who escaped with their life once said, "I heard them all around me... Like a chorus of pained screams. It was so disorienting... Whatever that thing was, I just know it was trying to mislead me..."
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