Gúrîmòq-Respiration
Líolò, a young Qírīrī who lived in the waters of the island of Qűmőhőőlùhû at the end of the last age, was always one of those most likely to be found in games of hide-and-seek. Out of desperation, he once hid behind one of the crystals at the entrance to the Grotto of Lőő, even though the Qírīrī who lived there told stories that something evil lurked among the treasures. It wasn't long before he felt a sting in the back of his neck. He turned around and saw large, sparkling orange eyes. In a panic, he swam out of the grotto and after a short time, it became increasingly difficult for him to breathe through his gills and his strength began to fade. But something told him he had to reach the surface and with his last remaining strength he pushed upwards into the promising light. By the time he broke through the water, his gills were exhausted, but his lungs took in the deepest breath he had ever experienced. It was so overwhelming that his vision went black and the waves swept him unconscious onto the shore. When he awoke and took another deep breath, he felt easier and explored his surroundings until nightfall. Only then did he notice his lung power diminishing again and he slid back into the water, where his gills once again undulated with the water and filtered the oxygen. Of course, that day he had won the game of hide-and-seek for the first time, since no one could find him, and when he got home he told his parents about his discovery. They reported the discovery to the wise men of the tribe, who had water shamans examine it.
Gúrîmòq-Respiration is a condition known among the Qírīrī only since the beginning of the new age. This involves injecting serum from Gúrîmòq cave vipers into the neck, reducing gill respiration and simultaneously increasing lung respiration. This allowed the Qírīrī to leave the deeper waters for longer periods of time and, over the following centuries, slowly explore the coastal areas of the Uluriq island worlds, making them a second home.
The Gúrîmòq cave viper
Gúrîmòqs are moray eel-like cave vipers with orange eyes that live throughout the coasts of the eastern part of Ulűri̋qi̋ . Unlike normal snakes, which have venomous fangs in their mouths, this water snake has a long, tentacle-like tongue that glides lightning-fast from its mouth and injects a stinging venom into its prey.
After about a minute, the stinging venom prevents oxygen drawn in through the mouth from diffusing through the gill plates and being absorbed by the body, preventing the release of carbon dioxide. This essentially drowns the prey, and the cave viper secures its next meal. It is interesting, however, that the stinging venom has a stronger effect on the alveoli of lung breathers, thus improving the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. Because Qírīrī have gills and lungs, they can only be killed by Gúrîmòqs themselves if they do not reach the water surface quickly enough.
Gurimoq Cave viper by Blue Fairy 74
Administration & Effect
At a Glance
Name: Gúrîmòq-RespirationTransmission: Stinging venom of the Gúrîmòq cave viper
Cause: Initiation of serum in the neck
Symptoms: Impairment of oxygen uptake by gill laminae with simultaneous activation of oxygen uptake by lung laminae, possibly adhesion of the gills
Host: Gill-breathing creatures
Treatment: Antivenom from grey-ringed demon octopus, application of yellow snails and honey slime snails, cauterization with fire coral for infections of the puncture site
Course: 1 minute after After the puncture, oxygen uptake through the gills is stopped, and lung respiration improves considerably for the next 6 hours
After it became known how the stinging venom works, many cave vipers were caught and kept in specially constructed farms over the following years. Over time, it became possible to extract the snakes' venom sac and use it to obtain the serum. Traditionally, a disinfected sea urchin needle is used to prick the neck. After about a minute, the Qírīrī notice that their gill activity decreases and their lung capacity increases. The serum lasts for about six hours and then has to be taken again. Because the Qírīrī are the least technologically developed of the other Elaqitan species, they have not yet found a way to prolong its shelf life in the body.
Side effects can include fainting spells, especially when the serum is administered for the first few times. However, over time, the Qírīrī adapt to the loss of the gill breathing reflex and the transition to lung breathing. If too much of the venom is injected, the gills can stick together. In this case, the overdose must be treated with an antidote from a grey-ringed demon octopus to prevent suffocation after the serum has worn off and the urchin returns to the water.
The puncture site can also become infected if the sea urchin was sick or was not sufficiently disinfected beforehand. Minor infections can be cured by applying yellow slugs, which suck out the infection, and a small poultice of honey slug mucus. More serious infections must be cauterized with fire coral to prevent sepsis.
I love this, and am delighted by the octopus!
Thank you - It's not much, but it was the least I could do - maybe the little octopus will get an article during Worldember?