Slimes

The Morning Realm    Bestiary      Slimes

Slimes are simple creatures that move and feed by using pseudopods. Slimes can be any size, with some subspecies expanding to fill the cave they reside in. Their ability to soak up and break down all organic material from their enviroment is put to use through acetofiltration.
Slimes are barely sentient. They rely on basic stimuli, moving towards movement or warmth and away from frost. They thrive in grimy, warm enviroments.

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Origin

Slimes originate from underground pools contaminated with magic and minerals. Recreating these conditions has so far proven impossible. Most slimes are instead replicated.

Biology

Slimes consist primarily of acetoplasm enclosed within a thin membrane. Inside of the acetoplasm are organelles.
They naturally undergo mitosis when starved, splitting into two smaller slimes. Slimekeepers will sometimes encourage mitosis by partially seperating the slimes with a sharp blade. This is done to control the growth of the slime, but also to partion some of it off for sale. It does run the risk of harming the membrane of the Slime and causing it to spill slime.

Nucleus

The nucleus is a small, translucent organelle with its own thin membrane. This is presumed to be the closest a slime has to a brain. During mitosis, a second nucleus has to be formed for the new slime to animate.

Membrane

The membrane protects the slime and is what allows it to move. The membrane fibers expand and contract in coordination to move or extend pseudopods. The membrane is also covered in pili, microscopic hair-like appendages that allow the slime to sense movement and temperature.

Diet

Slimes eat organic material, whether dead or alive. They use their pseudopods to engulf live prey or scavenged material, and the acidic acetoplasm digests the material. The process is slow, and any life prey suspended in the slime usually dies from suffocation rather than the acid.

Acetofiltration

Acetofiltration is a process used to clean sewers and water of contamination. Slimes thrive in warm and moist enviroments such as sewers, and they degrade and soak up all of the waste in the sewage, leaving mineral rich water that is excellent fertilizer.
Cities that use acetofiltration have to have rangers on hand to monitor the situation and control the growth of the slimes. They also make sure to clean any debris out from the slimes that they cannot digest. Catching tears in the slimes membranes early also helps prevent spilled slime or acetoplasm, which can be a pain to clean.

Other Products

Slimes are also valued for the Acetoplasm they produce naturally. Acetoplasm is a potent, but slow-acting acid. It is highly photosensitive and quickly breaks down in sunlight. It is usually stored and transported in dark amber glass bottles.
Acetoplasm's ability to soak up compounds and organic material is used by gnomes to suspend healing compounds into topical gels. Neutralizing the acid is a crucial step of creating these gels.

Slimes

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Classification	Ooze
Sub Species	See the Slime Bestiary Entry. Common Slime Grey Slime Ochre Slime Slick

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Illustration of Slime Organelles

Cell Biology Illustration by Franz Wagner

Illustration of various organelles and parasites found in a common slime.