Vikavben Crabs

“The odor that beset me as I approached the rocky shore was a noisome combination of sea salt, rotting seaweed and the putrid ordure of decay. As I surveyed the shoreline I saw movement amongst the carcasses - what I had thought to be rocks, were in fact, crabs. Enormous bone-clad crabs…”

- Explorations of the Tordronnen Coastline - by Leopold Der Vitner

Overview

The crabs found on Vikavben are unique to the island which gives them their name and they are found nowhere else in the world. Vikavben being the cove of bones has had a significant impact on the wildlife, none more so than the crabs. The centuries of a diet built nearly entirely on the decaying flesh of the dead bodies washed ashore has infused the land and these crabs with a level of necrotic energy unheard of outside of true necromancy. The constant supply of easy food with no outside predators results in crabs living for decades and growing in size for that entire time.

Biology

Vikavben Crabs are a form of hermit crab in that they have no outer shell of their own, relying on found and recycled items to act as their protective outer layer. With the majority of their diet being the corpses washed ashore, the bones of the deceased are frequently put to this use. Skulls appear to be a particular favourite and the sight of crabs inhabiting these empty vessels as they scurry around is a common, if macabre occurrence. As the crabs live longer and continue to outgrow their cranial accommodations, they create cobbled together alternatives. They will mould together collections of bones and the clay soil of the island, which then sets solidly as a new shell. 

They have ten legs; the two back pairs holding their shell in place and the forward three aiding with movement. Two of the front most legs end in claws, one larger than the other, and both with a fierce amount of force capable of crushing bones and rock without issue.

The diet of the Vikavben Crabs is largely carnivorous, feeding on the flesh of the deceased, smaller crabs and anything else unwise enough to find itself in reach.

Byproducts

The long exposure to the undead mists of the Vikavben and the centuries of evolution on a diet of the deceased has resulted in these crabs having unique necromantic properties. Those able to speak with the crabs have found them to be able to take on portions of the memories and sentience of those whose parts are used in their shells. Furthermore, the use of the shells of these crabs have been found to be an effective amplifier for all spells relating to necromancy. As such the transport of Vikavben Crabs on the black market is a lucrative, but unpleasant activity.