Greater Snail

When traversing the Underdark, look out for the tell tale signs of Greater snails passing by, they may lead to other travellers to help you on your way.
Signs to look for: Their trails will last for a few days, so can show of a recent passing. If the trail is still wet and gloopy then they are a days travel away at most, if its dry it can be any where from 3-7 days old. Also note how thick the trail is, if it is thick enough to dip your hand in then they have eaten recently, if however it is a thin coating on the ground they are getting hungry and will need to stop soon potentially giving you a chance to catch up.
Most often used by nomadic tribes of the Deep Gnomes, who take great care to facilitate and guide the growth of their snails shell, adapting the shells to be moving homes for them. A fully grown Greater Snail with such a shell can facilitate the household of a Deep Gnome.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The mucus covered body is thick and muscular, with eye stalks that are largely vestigial. The Shell is large and bulbous, with gnome sized doors and windows carved into the upper areas unused by the snail.

Biological Traits

The Greater snails can be incredibly long lived, staying in a family for generations.

Genetics and Reproduction

The male keeps a sort of biological dart ready should it cross the path of a female in ovulation. It will then follow this path for up to a week, upon catching up (which it can taste) it will 'shoot' the dart hopefully hitting the female.

Growth Rate & Stages

When first born they will clamber onto their mother and live on her back, feeding on her mucus to grow, when they get large enough to keep up they will begin to travel alongside and find thier own food. Upon hitting their equivilent of puberty the males will split off from the group, while the females continue to follow their mother until fully grown themselves. When one is of old age and intends to die, the herd will find a succluded spot and spend a few days there as the old one effectively starves itself. The gorup will then move off following the next oldest as their new leader.

Ecology and Habitats

Scrub land and sparse forests of a temperate climate. In this environment the snails can feed and manoeuvre with relative ease.

Dietary Needs and Habits

They will eat most things that come into their path that are easily digestable, plants and small minerals are a favourite, however they will digest a animal carcass should they come across one.

Biological Cycle

While seasons are of course largely non existent in the Underdark, a Greater Snails shell becomes harder in colder climate and will feel softer in warmer and more humid climates. As a rule though, as they get older the harder their shells in general; a juveniles shell can be largely reshaped with the proper use of wraps and straps, while a elderly one you would need a chisel.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Matriachal herds, lone wondering males

Domestication

The Deep Gnomes do not call it domestication, they call it cooperation, the snails guide them and the deep gnomes protect them from harm. The Gnomes use hot towels and wraps to guide the growth and remould the shells of juveniles making them into habitable spaces when fully grown.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Due to the immense size and complex structure of their shells, if posisble when one dies, their shells are traded to towns for supplies, who will then reuse them as housing.

Average Intelligence

Frequently dismissed as brainless (in part due to the lack of what would widely be understood to be a brain), a Deep Gnome will tell you the snails can sense trouble from miles off and will move to avoid it, can find fresh water in a desert and avoid obstacles as if they had eyes.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The vestigial eye stalks can detect light, although this is of little use in the Underdark. It's primary sense is Taste, which is how it understands the world, although touch plays a part in it's predator detection, sensing vibrations in the ground, although it is debated whether they do this through another kind of taste we cannot understand.

Scientific Name

Magna Cochlea

Lifespan

160 +

Average Height

14 feet (4.3 m)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

A Charcoal grey to blue body, with a stone grey shell; they can easily be mistaken for a large rock from a distance.