New (minor) Race: The Sirunr

The Sirunr are a parasitic race. Unlike most races, the Sirnur start out their lives exactly the same as a normal human. Most Sirunr do not even realize they aren't human. When they are swallowed, however, everything changes.

Upon contact with digestive acids, a Sirunr will undergo a metamorphosis. From the waist up, nothing outwardly changes, except for the growth of six pincer-like claws from the sides of the chest. From the waist down, their skin turns black, scaly, and stretchy. Their legs disappear, replaced by a long tail, usually growing to two-three times the length of their upper bodies. Nothing else seems to change outwardly, but internally their bones soften, becoming as pliable and elastic as possible while still supporting their bodies. Many small unnoticeable changes occur to allow the Sirunr to survive in the stomach of whatever swallowed them, including an immunity to stomach acids. They also form a magical link to their host, allowing them to share many things (sometimes even thoughts).

Once a Sirunr metamorphoses, it is permanent. They remain in the stomach of their host for the rest of their lives. The pain from the metamorphosis often leaves a Sirunr devoid of any rational thought, leaving them as little more than mindless beasts (although there are cases where a Sirunr manages to retain their minds, often leading them to form friendships with their hosts). A Sirunr survives by eating what their hosts eat. Thanks to their stretchy skin and bones, they are able to swallow prey the same size as them, and some that are even larger. Predators who have a Sirunr are often forced to eat two or more times the amount of prey they would normally eat. Drastically increased appetite is often a pretty good sign you have a Sirunr, as is constantly feeling something moving around in your stomach long after you've finished eating.

It is virtually impossible to get a Sirunr out of a stomach. The pincer-like claws on their sides allow them to hold on to the walls of the stomach, meaning trying to vomit them out is all but pointless. Magic cannot get rid of a Sirunr, as any magic that affects the Sirunr will also be transmitted through the magical link to the host. The only solution that has been found to get rid of a Sirunr is starving them to death, but this is dangerous, as they can live without food for as long as a normal human can, and the first few meals the host eats will be eaten by the Sirunr. The only other known way to externally get rid of a Sirunr is to kill the host.

It is interesting to note that the only known Sirunrs have all been female, leading many to believe that there are no males of the species.

They look a little bit similar to the Obdelae, but definitely different enough to stand out... Woe to the predator that gets stuck with both.

Though I figure if the Obdelae ever found one infesting their host, they'd make it their first priority to kill or at least fight them with their psionics (probably at the expense of the host).

For balancing purpose, there should be a or some ways to get rid of the parasite. Even this world has logic. For exemple, they can't stand spicy food and would die if they hate a human that loves eating spicy or something like that. They need a weakness, every creatures do.

Sean Okotami wrote:

For balancing purpose, there should be a or some ways to get rid of the parasite. Even this world has logic. For exemple, they can't stand spicy food and would die if they hate a human that loves eating spicy or something like that. They need a weakness, every creatures do.

They're still vulnerable to most of the things a human is vulnerable to. For example, if a host were to swallow a human with a sword, and that human were to stab the Sirunr, the Sirunr would die just like a human who was stabbed with a sword would.

But they are sentient, nothing stops them from having the mouth wide open right below the cardia (the "doorway" of the esophagus that opens to the stomach) which wouldn't leave the time for anyone to react as they would be swallowed (again) right way.
Oh just read that most are non-sentient, but still nothing prevents them from doing that.

Cool idea

It reminds me of a Dryad Gut Worm, just as dangous but humanlike.

Sean Okotami wrote:

But they are sentient, nothing stops them from having the mouth wide open right below the cardia (the "doorway" of the esophagus that opens to the stomach) which wouldn't leave the time for anyone to react as they would be swallowed (again) right way.
Oh just read that most are non-sentient, but still nothing prevents them from doing that.

Well, their skin and bones may be fairly stretchy, but they can still only hold so much at once. The Sirunr could indeed put its mouth below the cardia, but it would eventually have to remove its mouth or risk being ripped apart from the inside out.

Wow great idea ^^ I love it!

Wow lot of parasit-like creatures lately
This one is interesting and original ^_^
Poor preys, being eaten twice XD

Actually, I could kind of see a predator hiring a particularly brave, gullible, or indigestible adventurer to rid them of such a parasite. Possibly even using a good bit of antacid (or something like epicac) to make sure there's a chance to pay that adventurer back.

Not the most glamorous job, but when your client is up to a hundred feet tall and sentient, chances are good they can pay pretty well.

Karbo wrote:

Wow lot of parasit-like creatures lately
This one is interesting and original ^_^
Poor preys, being eaten twice XD

Same thing can happen with Dryads, you know sometimes they get a Worm and since escape is all but impossible, you get the picture.

Haar wrote:

It is virtually impossible to get a Sirunr out of a stomach. The pincer-like claws on their sides allow them to hold on to the walls of the stomach, meaning trying to vomit them out is all but pointless. Magic cannot get rid of a Sirunr, as any magic that affects the Sirunr will also be transmitted through the magical link to the host. The only solution that has been found to get rid of a Sirunr is starving them to death, but this is dangerous, as they can live without food for as long as a normal human can, and the first few meals the host eats will be eaten by the Sirunr. The only other known way to get rid of a Sirunr is to kill the host.

I'm not agree with that point because there is different way to extract a parasite to a body without killing the host, in nature there is always a natural counter by example plants etc...

But it's a very interesting idea

I can see it now...

Predator to prey: "Look, I know I'm not your favorite person right now, but when you get down there, you think you could take that sword and just jab it right into that goddamn parasite? Please? C'mon, I've never asked you for anything!"

It will expain why some stomachs can stand to explosion too