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Tormentipede — Description

The variety and adaptations of the Arimakki is one of the many reasons why they are such a plague upon this land. There are many beasts and monsters that roam this world, dangers we all must face, but often we have the comfort of their consistency. When dealing with Barbed Ogres, the minor details may vary but the strategies stay the same. No matter what you run into, they only have one book of tricks. The Arimakki, however, seem to have no end to the horrific surprises they can unveil. New variants pouring from their hives, varying populations in their nests that throw set plans to the wind the second an unknown brute emerges. No two groups are the same, thus figuring out how to purge their infestation is always a nightmare. Then you tack on the fact that some people have defected to the side of these parasites, giving up on humanity and sapience. They undergo the Koroni Netsu and lend their strength to these vile bugs, only adding to their might. Those who fight against their spread already grumble about these traitors, but recent developments have given all of man something new to worry about. It seems the Vile Red Tree and the White Worm are learning about human flesh...
The warriors and priests that were born from the Koroni Netsu already bolster the Arimakki forces and aid in their expansion, but now it appears that they may not remain as simple hosts. Everyone figured they would just be mindless fighters with a body full of worms and Feverish Sweat, but rare encounters suggests the chance for mutation. No one is fully sure yet on the "hows" and "whys," but it would seem that some hosts wind up reacting differently to the parasites within. A combination of Humors? A certain mental state during the transformation? Or is it pure random chance, a freakish mutation from out of nowhere? Regardless of how it comes to be, this results in terrible abominations that make the endless battle against the Arimakki even more miserable and deadly.
The "Tormentipede" is a crude name given to a horrible killer, a rare variant that carves through platoons in a chaotic dance. They are warriors who have undergone the Koroni Netsu, yet the parasites within have grown to incredible proportions. Terrible worms infest and fuse to the flesh, growing until they at last rip the body in two. What this creates is a towering, writhing thing, a noxious centipede of worm and limb. Tendrils and grasping arms line its serpentine form, while its upper body dangles from above. Despite being torn in half, the human parts still live, the abomination still acting like an Arimakki warrior even in this mutated state. In fact, it embraces this new form with glee, and wields it with deadly grace. The many arms are quick to grab weapons, be they from fallen friends or foes or even ripped straight from the ground. Soon, every bit of it is covered in blades and Vile Red Tree shards, ready to shred anything that stands in the way of the Arimakki. When a Tormentipede throws itself into the fray, a bloodbath is quick to ensue.
The writhing form of these mutated warriors give them incredible reach and flexibility, all while dealing out death from every angle. Shards are thrown, blades are swung and its whole mass is whipped around to send foes flying. They may slither upon the ground, or even launch themselves like springs to get around the battlefield. Their many limbs let them fight even when on walls or ceilings, keen to drop down and snare foes in a deadly embrace. They can knock about foes just by swinging their body around, or grab a single target with a precise lunge and shred them with their blades. Trying to end their chaos is an ordeal, as their writhing form rarely remains in one place for long enough. Tormentipedes tear across the field of battle, leaping and charging from one brawl to the next. Even when you do corner one, getting a strike in is difficult with their bending bodies and many arms. Despite their insanity and flailing, their limbs are quick to defend themselves even when it seems the creature isn't paying attention. Four swordsmen can be engaged in four different duels with its limbs while its upper body chitters mindlessly from above. Even severing its wormy torso doesn't mean it is over, you just cut it in half. The lower body will run about and flail with its bladed worms, while the upper body now slithers like a snake. Kill the head and chop its body into pieces, that is the only way. If you leave the flesh intact when you decapitate it, the body will go on a blind rampage til every last bit of life has bled out.
It is a thankful thing that Tormentipedes and similar mutations are very rare. Few have been sighted and fought against, and each victory against one removes a powerful unit from the Arimakki roster. Efforts are in place to try and figure out what triggers such growth, as all factions are determined to find a way to stop them. These devil bugs already cause so much grief, there is no need for more misery from abominations like these.
It should be noted that a Tormentipede has been spotted many times alongside the feverish warrior known as "The Red Queen." It seems to be one of two "bodyguards" or simple minions that follow her and join in on the chaos of her fights. It is unsure why she even has such a duo with her, as she is already a nightmarish champion in her own right. Their presence just means that anytime she appears during a siege against the Arimakki, the casualties will skyrocket and the chances of victory against the bugs drops considerably.
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Had the sudden desire to whip up some Arimakki stuff that has been sitting on the list! Morir Es Vivir!