Marrowtoads

"You don’t eat them. You don’t touch them. You don’t even look at them too long unless you’ve got a death wish." -Torren Duskroot, Alchemist of Crossing.

The marrowtoad is one of the deadliest amphibians in Everwealth, a small but terrifying native of The Hungering Marshthat thrives in an environment where most creatures struggle to survive. Unlike its common toad relatives, which rely on camouflage or passive defenses, the marrowtoad is bold, aggressive, and fully aware of its own lethality. Its skin secretes a potent contact toxin, capable of killing with a mere touch, while its bone marrow harbors a deadly poison so strong that even dragons risk death if they consume too many. Sought after by alchemists, assassins, and poison makers, the marrowtoad’s toxins are both a prize and a death sentence for the careless. Harvesting them is a dangerous task, as even inhaling the fumes from a boiling specimen can prove lethal. Yet, despite the risks, the marrowtoad remains one of the most valuable creatures in Everwealth’s underground trade, its deadly secretions capable of killing a man in moments, if the toad doesn’t get to him first.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The marrowtoad is small, bloated, and unmistakably deadly. It measures roughly the size of a man's palm, with bright orange skin covered in irregular white spots outlined in black. This striking coloration serves as a warning, though many unfortunate creatures fail to heed it. Its skin secretes a slick, poisonous mucus, requiring anyone handling it to wear thick leather gloves. Direct contact with bare skin results in an agonizing death, as the toxin absorbs into the bloodstream within minutes. Even worse, its bone marrow contains a concentrated venom that, if ingested, can kill a fully grown dragon in mere hours. What sets the marrowtoad apart from its more passive cousins is its disturbing behavior. Its sunken, unblinking eyes seem to track movement with eerie intelligence. Unlike other toads, which flee from danger, the marrowtoad charges headlong at larger creatures, fully aware that even the slightest touch will seal its enemy’s fate. This reckless aggression has earned it the nickname "Little Warrior" among those unfortunate enough to encounter one.

Genetics and Reproduction

The marrowtoad’s reproductive cycle remains poorly understood, as few have been able to study the creatures without succumbing to their toxins. However, alchemists and scholars have pieced together a rough understanding based on field observations and limited dissections. Marrowtoads lay clusters of gelatinous, faintly glowing eggs in the stagnant pools of the Hungering Marsh, their toxic coating rendering them inedible to most predators. Unusually, these eggs are often found suspended above the waterline, clinging to reeds, twisted roots, or even the skeletal remains of past victims, a possible adaptation to keep them undisturbed in the marsh’s treacherous waters. Some speculate the eggs hatch into airborne larvae, though this remains unproven. Unlike most amphibians, marrowtoads do not engage in traditional courtship; instead, they gather in large numbers during the wet season, where their aggression intensifies. Rather than calling for mates, males engage in vicious combat, spreading their toxins onto rivals to eliminate competition. Once a female selects a mate, she deposits her eggs in isolated pools, ensuring they remain hidden. Breeding is highly selective, and only a small fraction of the population successfully reproduces each season.

Growth Rate & Stages

Marrowtoads mature quickly, reaching full size within months of hatching. Their life cycle is a relentless push toward survival and reproduction, ensuring that even in a hostile environment like the Hungering Marsh, their numbers remain stable.

• Egg Stage - Laid in thick, murky waters, marrowtoad eggs are coated in a faintly glowing slime that wards off scavengers. Even at this stage, they contain trace amounts of toxins, making them undesirable prey.

• Tadpole Stage - Unlike common tadpoles, marrowtoad young are born aggressive, their tiny teeth capable of stripping flesh from fish, insects, and even each other. Only the strongest survive.

• Juvenile Stage - By the time they develop their signature orange-and-white skin, they are fully independent and already lethal.

Strangely, no dead marrowtoads have ever been found in the wild. Scholars are uncertain if they simply decompose faster than other creatures or if something else in the marsh consumes them before their bodies can be discovered.

Ecology and Habitats

Marrowtoads thrive in the most inhospitable regions of the Hungering Marsh, preferring stagnant, murky pools rich in decaying plant matter. Unlike other amphibians, they do not require constant access to water, as their slick skin prevents dehydration even in drier conditions. While they are solitary by nature, marrowtoads do not hesitate to swarm around fresh corpses, particularly those of larger creatures that have succumbed to the marsh’s many dangers. Some scholars believe they sense the dying, appearing near mortally wounded animals before death even occurs.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Opportunistic feeders, consuming small insects, fish, and even carrion. But they are unafraid of far larger prey, often lunging at wounded creatures, hoping to spread their toxins through even the briefest of contact. Also unlike common toads, marrowtoads have been observed outright charging at threats, as if daring them to strike first. This boldness, combined with their potent skin secretions, ensures that few creatures attempt to eat them more than once; Or-at least becomes a sizeable buffet of insects drawn to their victim's decaying bodies.

Biological Cycle

Marrowtoads do not hibernate, remaining active throughout all seasons. They are particularly aggressive in the spring when mating season begins, and the Hungering Marsh often becomes a far more dangerous place as a result. Many alchemists and poison makers seek them out during this time, hoping to capture them in large numbers, though many never return.

Behaviour

Unlike most toads, which are skittish and reclusive, the marrowtoad is bold, aggressive, and disturbingly fearless. It does not croak or make noise, but its silent, unblinking stare has been known to unnerve even experienced marsh guides. It is believed that marrowtoads are fully aware of their own lethality, as they do not flee from danger but actively move toward it. Some even suspect they deliberately taunt predators, daring them to make a fatal mistake.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Marrowtoads possess an uncanny awareness of their surroundings, relying on heat detection and motion tracking to locate prey and threats alike. Unlike most amphibians, which rely on passive defense, marrowtoads will actively seek out movement, pursuing creatures far larger than themselves without hesitation. Some scholars believe they can sense fear, as their erratic behavior appears even more aggressive when creatures hesitate or attempt to flee.

Scientific Name

Bufonidae ossivorax

Origin/Ancestry

A native of the Hungering Marsh, the marrowtoad has adapted to an ecosystem filled with predators, transforming itself into a creature that few dare to hunt and even fewer survive handling.

Conservation Status

Not endangered. Marrowtoads thrive despite their many natural predators, mainly because any creature that eats one will not live long enough to make the same mistake again. Despite this, they are often overharvested by alchemists, as their poison is one of the most valuable and lethal substances in Everwealth. The marrowtoad’s toxins are prized for their potency and versatility, used in everything from poisons and venoms to ritual sacrifices and assassination weapons. However, the process of extracting these toxins is incredibly dangerous, as even the fumes of a boiling marrowtoad can prove fatal to an unprotected alchemist. Many black-market traders deal in dried or powdered marrowtoads, though handling them improperly often leads to accidental deaths among smugglers.

Geographic Distribution

• The Hungering Marsh