“Scalarvae are parasitic type Grimms that rely on a host in order to pose a real threat. They embed themselves to the back of a corpse enter into a state of metamorphosis where they surround themselves with a sac-like membrane. The gestation usually takes 3 days to complete wherein the corpse and the Scalarvae are both broken down into a messy goop inside the membrane before the rebuilding process takes place. After the three days of gestation, the newborn monstrosity tears through the membrane surrounding it, in what can only be described as an abominable rebirth.”





Journal Entry:

After a month of traveling with my Bedohari companions, we finally reached our destination, a stable settlement named Tel Oasar that is a fair distance away from the kingdom of Vacuo. I bid farewell to the Bedohari people and thanked them for their hospitality and kindness. The chieftain had made me an honorary member of their tribe and had promised me that I would always be welcomed in their tribe much to my utter astonishment. I shall have to make a separate journal for what I have learned from traveling and living with them soon.

It was nearing dusk when I finally found a tavern to shelter in for the night. The tavern also served as the local pub for Tel Oasar. This came as a pleasant news since pubs tend to be a gathering place for people, and with people gathering together, one is able to catch different sort of information ranging from rumors to news. Sure enough, as the night grew later, locals and travelers such as myself started to gather. A few exchange of beer and ale later and pretty soon mostly everyone were in hearty moods. That is except for a certain person who sat alone. My experience as an observer has taught me that it is the rather quiet ones that have the most interesting story to tell. So I mustered my courage and approached the person.

Now there’s something you should know about me; I am not a smooth talker. I managed to only say “Good Eve-” before I was met with a cold glare from the person that stopped me cold. I froze and considered walking away when the person’s glare suddenly faltered and softened. The person pointed to my chest and said in a female voice, “Bedohari?” I looked to where she was pointing and saw the emblem given to me by the Bedohari leader. I nodded and the woman gestured to the seat across her.

Apparently, the woman was part of another Sanus desert tribe that had good relations with the Bedohari clan. She asked me how I became an honorary member of the Bedohari and I went into detail about my experience and travels with them. After that, chatting became quite easier. After some time, I managed to ask her what she was doing in Tel Oasar. At my question, a forlorn look crossed the woman’s face. I started to apologize but she merely raised a hand to dismiss it before she lowered the veil covering the lower half of her face. After a moment of silence she let out a silent sigh and started to tell me her story:

The woman, who revealed her name to be Ecru Shedoah, was traveling with her tribe to investigate a small settlement that had sent out a cry for help through one of their messenger falcons. Upon arriving, Ecru and her companions came upon a ravaged and desolate settlement. The buildings in the area showed signs of extreme damage as well as traces of dried blood. But what was surprising was the lack of bodies, alive or dead. The only exception to this was a young girl who Ecru found to be hiding underneath an overturned sandsurfer.

At this point of the story, I could not help but notice an ominous pattern with my previous journal regarding the “Harbingers of the Sand.” I could not help but also notice Ecru’s growing agitation as she continued the story.

It took some time before the child was finally able to talk. She said that two days ago, the settlement came under attack by what seemed to be a horde of insect-like Grimms. Just like with the “Harbingers of the Sand”, the Grimms attacked in successive waves. First were the smaller ones that caused the chaos. Then came the larger types that plowed through Shelters like they were nothing. When the inhabitants of the settlement tried to fight back, they found themselves run down by Grimms that sported lance-like limbs. And from the skies came the Grimms that dove down onto the inhabitants and grabbed them with their tendrils, whisking them away back to the mountains.

After sending the child with one of the rescuers to take to their own tribe, the remaining rescuers, led by Ecru decided to scout out where the Grimms came from. In the mountains they discovered what appeared to be a cave entrance that led them to an underground cavern. What they found inside was something that would enforce the primal fear that man held in regards to Grimms. In a certain part of the cavern, they found the remains of the settlement inhabitants and it became clear why the Grimms had taken the bodies. They discovered that the bodies served as hosts for larvae-like Grimms that attached themselves to the corpses and underwent some form of perverse metamorphosis, changing the host’s form into that of what looked like misshapen humanoid Grimms.

Ecru and her companions could not hope to fight against such numbers so instead, with the use of explosives, they collapsed the entrance to the cavern, blocking the pathway and sealing the Grimms inside.

We were both silent for a while and when someone broke the silence, it was Ecru who did so. She told me that she planned to personally go to Vacuo to inform the kingdom of what had transpired in the settlement. I told her that I too was going to Vacuo and with that, she offered to accompany me much to my utter delight. We spent more time discussing the travel while downing ales (Well only one ale for me). After that, I excused myself and decided to retire to my room. But before I left, I inquired as to the situation of the child that survived. Ecru’s face actually relaxed at my mention of the child and she replied that the child would recover in time. I asked her as to how she could be so sure, given the child’s terrifying experience. Ecru had this weary and knowing look on her face as she replied, “She’s a survivor. It may be a long path to recovery but she’ll make it. I know I did.” Her last line was enigmatic to me but I set it aside then and bid her goodnight as I retired to the confines of my room.

End of Journal