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Wormfolk — Description

All that is this world exists because of the death of gods. Great celestial corpses that have converged here and formed the land, sea and sky. Over countless millennia, these carcasses have fallen upon this world and built it into the thriving place that it is today. Even though it is the very ground we trod upon, their deaths have brought so much more. Fertile soil fit for growing vast ecosystems of trees, fungi and invertebrate. Potent fluids and humors that flow in endless rivers and bottomless oceans. And perhaps the greatest gift of all is the life that has come to call this world home. It is well known that man was born from Ichor, the blood of the gods, but many other creatures were brought here from these celestial corpses. Some emerged from the fluids, others generated from the rich bountiful flesh. But for the likes of the wormfolk, it was said that they already knew life before coming to this world, as they lived within the guts of the great gods.
It is said that the wormfolk were parasites of the gods, but that role was lost in ages past. According to their tales, the Hostia Prima was the god in which they inhabited, their kind born and living within the Intestinal Cradle. When death struck their divine host, it was devastating to their lives and culture. The corpse fell upon this world, and their original civilization collapsed. Yet, some of the wormfolk survived and were able to slither free of their perished god. Emerging into the light for the first time, they were witness to a bountiful land of plenty, where a new life for their kind could be made. And so, like man, the wormfolk took to this world and soon called it home.
Though much of their ancient knowledge and past was lost in time due to the destruction of the Intestinal Cradle and their kind abandoning much to survive in this new land, the wormfolk are not haunted by this. What happened long ago does not matter, and the world that their ancient ancestors knew is forever gone. Best to focus upon the lives of the present, and find purpose in what they have. Compared to the great works of man with his sprawling cities and grand inventions, the wormfolk are simple folk. Hunters, gatherers and farmers, living in crude villages. There are no impressive automatons built by their hands, or towering works of art erected in their name. They choose a simple life and seem content with it.
The wormfolk have boneless bodies, their flesh soft yet flexible and elastic. They possess a primary pair of tendril arms with which they do most their work. Running down their chest is another six stumpy limbs which are mainly used for grasping or holding onto objects. Their long serpentine bodies terminate in a thorny barb, which is used to anchor themselves when needed or as a weapon if threatened. Their heads possess three eyes, many sensory organs and a impressive mass of teeth. This thorny nest may look perfect for ripping into prey and carving through flesh, yet there is no mouth behind it all. The wormfolk have no mouths, rather their bodies absorb nutrients whenever it comes in contact with food. These teeth are primarily used for sifting and churning through rich muck, or pulverizing thicker globs into easier absorbed fluids. The flesh they are anchored in is more absorbent than other patches of their body, which is why they often "eat" by utilizing this part of their face. The ability for these teeth to move and vibrate to better churn its food is how the worfolk communicate with each other and man. They have learned how to quiver these teeth in such a way that when combined with air exhaust from various opening, they can speak in human tongues.
Though they eat through their skin, wormfolk do not often go about naked, as this very same flesh is also vulnerable. No tough hide to protect them, or potent spines to ward off attackers. So they may clad themselves in crude "clothes" that may be harvested from prey, or built with their own secretions. Wormfolk can excrete a glue-like substance that hardens over time. This was originally used in their host to build nests or anchor themselves in place, but now this fluid is used in the construction of homes, armor and even pottery. Wormfolk mix this liquid with clumps of waste to make a sculpting material, shaping it in the way they want before letting it dry. Once fully hardened, it becomes dense and tough, perfect for making armor or sturdy shells. While they may erect huts or sleep in burrows, wormfolk can also construct coiled shells from this material. This serves as a sort of mobile home that they can drag with them, much like a snail with its shell. Here they can store items while also using it for defense and rest. One just has to retreat inside to be safe, as the tough shell protects them. To make it even better, some wormfolk construct plug-like hats that can seal the entrance whenever they hide, making it harder for foes to breach.
Their method of feeding makes things simple at times, as they only need nutritious muck to bathe in. Places like fecal swamps have this stuff in great abundance, and thus many wormfolk villages are found there. With such a setup, the village merely needs to construct a central pool to collect the richest waste in which they rest in. However, wormfolk still may partake in solid food, be it through gathering, hunting or farming. Their setup makes tougher, crunchier foods hard to consume, so they lean more towards the squishy, fleshy and juicy. With these goods, they use their teeth to pulverize it so that they may soak it up more easily. It is said that wormfolk "eat" solid foods like this because they enjoy new flavors, while some claim this method became more popular when they came in contact with man. And when invited to their table, the wormfolk felt it polite to find a different way to feed to better engage with these fine fellows.
Interactions between worm and man are often pleasant, as either side has no ill will towards the other. The fecal swamps tend to be territories far from the Church's shining cities, and thus such foul regions are often ignored. Poorer communities tend to crop up around fecal swamps, as folk make a living by harvesting waste for fuel or hunting the creatures within. Thus, it is these people who interact most with the wormfolk, and they have built a good bond. Wormfolk tend to be kind and warm towards those they meet. Though they have little to offer, they are content with exchanging polite words or fulfilling favors.
Sadly, the kindly wormfolk are not exempt from the great war that ravages these lands. Though they have no ties to any church or front, they suffer at the madness that has gripped many. With the land falling into chaos, and horrid forces now running rampant, the wormfolk have been seen in a new light. The Arimakki that swarm the land and boil the flesh are parasites as well, and terrified souls have started to connect the two parties. It does not help that the wormfolk fit the description of the White Worm, and thus are believed to be tied to the Vile Red Tree. In their madness, soldiers and cleansers have started to believe that the wormfolk are aligned with the Arimakki, and thus they are met with burning yellowflame. After a few of their villages have been scorched, the wormfolk have packed up and fled deeper into the fecal swamps. They retreat now to more rank and sludgy regions where man struggles to travel. Here in the foul pits they hide, hoping that the flames of war burn out before they reach this rotting haven.
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Things just ain't right til you got sentient worms!