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Art - CoW #53 - Nuclear Planet Devourer
Jul. 17th, 2006 07:38 amAn excerpt from Rimblegyre's Grimoire of Noteworthy Exobiological Entities - The Effulgent Terraphage
Much of what we might learn about the Effulgent Terraphage remains unknown to us due in large part to the infrequency with which it is studied, which in turn is due to the tremendous difficulty and danger inherent in such an undertaking. The most notable of these dangers is the extremely high level of radioactivity found both near and in the wake of such a beast. The terraphage feeds by vaporizing rock and other dense materials by means of a swirling nuclear furnace generated within its own body. The resulting vapor passes through internal gill-like filters which extract various compounds from which the Terraphage derives sustenance. In its wake, the Terraphage leaves only a greenish, superheated, radioactive haze composed of fissioned waste matter.
Unless driven away (a feat of considerable difficulty), a Terraphage will relentlessly feed on a planet until nothing remains, at which point the beast propels itself away into space in an apparently arbitrary direction. Once it has reached maximum speed (which is considerably faster than would otherwise be thought capable for the creature, suggesting some sort of as yet unknown propulsion method other than the fins that it uses to maneuver while feeding), the creature enters a dormant state in which it will remain until it drifts into proximity with another large celestial body, at which point it once again begins its feeding cycle.
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/36443191/
Much of what we might learn about the Effulgent Terraphage remains unknown to us due in large part to the infrequency with which it is studied, which in turn is due to the tremendous difficulty and danger inherent in such an undertaking. The most notable of these dangers is the extremely high level of radioactivity found both near and in the wake of such a beast. The terraphage feeds by vaporizing rock and other dense materials by means of a swirling nuclear furnace generated within its own body. The resulting vapor passes through internal gill-like filters which extract various compounds from which the Terraphage derives sustenance. In its wake, the Terraphage leaves only a greenish, superheated, radioactive haze composed of fissioned waste matter.
Unless driven away (a feat of considerable difficulty), a Terraphage will relentlessly feed on a planet until nothing remains, at which point the beast propels itself away into space in an apparently arbitrary direction. Once it has reached maximum speed (which is considerably faster than would otherwise be thought capable for the creature, suggesting some sort of as yet unknown propulsion method other than the fins that it uses to maneuver while feeding), the creature enters a dormant state in which it will remain until it drifts into proximity with another large celestial body, at which point it once again begins its feeding cycle.
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/36443191/
