Lashworm

Lashworms are creatures native to both Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000.

Warhammer 40,000

Lashworm is a native life form of the Death World Lost Hope and has spread on other worlds via accidental introduction along with other space-faring cargo.

Having arrived as spores aboard textile transports from the Jubilon Sector many years ago, whole sections of the Necromundan Underhive are now thoroughly infested with lashworms. Hiding tightly coiled to the size of a fish in crevices, they keep the tip of their tail protruding, the sensitive tip of which can detect any disturbance, even to the air, caused by something moving nearby. When they detect prey, they lash out this tail, its razor sharp end stripping a chunk of flesh from the victim before instantly coiling up back into the crevice.

The unfortunate, wounded party will not even be able to exact revenge on their attacker, as the lashworm coils up so small and in such deep nooks that it is impossible to reach it.

Warhammer Fantasy

Lashworms are small, carnivorous creatures which live in small fissures in walls, stones, trees, and so on. These are carefully disguised by the creature (using bits of moss, etc.) so as to be virtually invisible to all but the closest of inspections - and, even then, only the sensitive, hair-like "trigger" is normally visibile (at the gamesmaster's option, a character with Identify Plants skill may be able to recognise it for what it is). The trigger hairs can sense movement, such as a creature passing within 5 yards of the Lashworm's hole. This activates the lash, a saw-edged organ, 5 yards long, thin, and incredibly fast, which strikes its target, rasps away a portion of flesh, and then whips back into the crevice where the meal is digested. The Lashworm will not attack again for several hours.

There are a number of underground varieties, as well as those living in forests and jungles. A Lashworm has two distinct parts: the main part, or 'anchor', comprises the vital organs, including the mouth and stomach, and is used to secure the creature while it attacks with the other part - the 'lash'. This is usually curled up tightly within the creature's home crevice, until triggered by its sensitive hair-triggers, which are left outside the hole and which resemble moss or plant growth.