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Mortasheen: Cercarious

Added 2025-02-15 15:56:34 +0000 UTC

Parasitic flukes typically have tadpole-like larvae called cercariae, which erupt from the bodies of their snail and slug hosts, then use acid to dissolve their way into their next host. Almost all aquatic freshwater snails are used this way by flukes, and the image of a dopey, oblivious snail spurting fast-moving, corrosive parasites has always fascinated me. I discussed the concept in my "Bioweapons" article here, and I later wrote about a different kind of cercariae (minus the snail) in this experimental fiction post, but it really needed to be a Mortasheen monster some day, and became a brand new Wormbrain for Book One.

I opted against making it the obvious snail-like creature, and gave it a host body resembling the "muller larvae" of other marine worms, which I previously drew from to update an old "Resident Evil" fan monster, which you can see at the end of this review.

I felt the dumpy blob, with its beady eyes and big floppy bill-mouth, was a perfect contrast to the horrifying danger it actually conceals.

You'll notice a color discrepancy right away of course. Too many monsters were pinkish, so the more toothpaste-blue version might end up being the final!

Included is an old sketch page of various design possibilities. I still like the fatter, lump-shaped, eyeless one and may still use that as a similar monster someday.