Witchcraft worm nourishment involves the use of worms in witchcraft practices as a means of providing nourishment. This practice typically entails the feeding of worms with various substances, herbs, or objects to imbue them with energy and power. These nourished worms are then used in various rituals or spellwork to manifest desired outcomes. The concept of using worms in witchcraft has its roots in ancient folk practices and beliefs. It is believed that worms, being creatures closely connected to the earth, possess strong energetic properties that can be harnessed for magical purposes. By feeding them with specific substances, the worms absorb and incorporate these energies, becoming powerful tools in spellcasting.
In terms of the life of the soil, worms are essential. They aerate it as they pass through. They help break down debris, alongside the micro-organisms and fungi also at work. Worms will draw plant matter from the surface down into the soil, eat it, poo it out as soil, and thus add to the fertility of the land.
They have adapted to many conditions, with some non-burrowing types eating decomposing organic matter and others habituated to the seashore or the mud in streams, with only the driest deserts and polar regions completely unsuitable. Darwin kept them in pots of dirt in his study and made them the subject of his last scientific book, saying he wanted to write about them before joining them.
By feeding them with specific substances, the worms absorb and incorporate these energies, becoming powerful tools in spellcasting. The types of substances used to nourish worms can vary depending on the desired intent. Common examples include herbs with specific magical properties, such as lavender for healing or sage for purification.
(BONE-EATING WITCH STRING) PARASITE INFESTATION
Witchworm infestations begin when water or fluids contaminated with microscopic osedax magafilum larvae are either directly ingested or otherwise gain access to the blood stream or body cavity. Once inside the body, female witchworm larvae quickly migrate to the bones, bore through to the marrow cavity, and there they feed, nest, and begin their reproductive cycle in earnest.
A female witchworm grows to 1-3 inches in length with the bulk of her body buried inside of her host's bone. A jelly-lined tube containing a harem of 50-100 microscopic males extends outwards from the marrow, through the hard cortex, and terminates in reddish feathery fronds that reach into surrounding tissues to absorb extra oxygen and nutrients.
Once witchworms have gained access to the internal cavity of a bone they begin extending communicating tendrils in search of one another. Individually these tendrils are thinner than a human hair and are quite fragile. As the infestation worsens these tendrils form a dense network, connecting every witchworm together in an internal webwork of nearly unbreakable semi-metallic fibers.
Under normal conditions, these fibers do not seem to have much impact on the host's physical condition. It is only when the victim is within the grasp of a witch's power (be it by way of spell or patron) that the effect of the fibers is manifested: bones that a moment ago were no more solid than sawdust are suddenly as strong as steel, seen to glow through the skin like a full moon passing behind clouds. The wretch moves like a demoniac, leaping, howling, tearing with impossible strength at anything it can grasp with fingers like blunt talons.
CONTRACTING WITCHWORMS
- Witchworms are a waterborne/fluidborne parasite. Any sort of wetlands (marshes, swamps, fens, bogs) or standing water may harbor the osedax magafilum parasite, particularly in the Western Hexlands or in regions known to harbor witches. It is unclear whether the witches are drawn to these infestations or if the infestations are drawn to witches, but what is clear is that there is a definite synergy between the two.
- Each witch is home to a menagerie of parasite and pathogen, the most common being the witchworm. Witches, knowing their toxicity, and are known to weaponize their bodily fluids by drooling on their claws before tearing at an enemy or spitting in the eyes or mouths of the unsuspecting.
- Consuming anything made or handled by a witch is begging for a slow death. Since they use swamp water as a base for everything and stutterfly honey to conceal the vomitous tastes of their potions, be it poison, cure, potion, or stew, any witch concoction is guaranteed to seed contagion in one form or another.
SYMPTOMS OF THE INFESTATION
- Symptoms typically start 6-12 hours after initial exposure as cramps or slight gnawing discomfort at a few focal points on the bones, then progress slowly over the course of several weeks as the witchworms invade their victim's body.
- Darkening of the fingernails, bags under the eyes, bruising, prolonged bleeding, weakness
- Cramps, pain in joints, deep gnawing bone pains, sensations of itchy or crawling bones, fractures from routine activities, flexible bones, height loss from spinal compression fractures
- Dental problems including loose or lost teeth, bleeding gums, discoloration
- Fever, fatigue, shortness of breath, infections, ague, poor healing
- Insomnia, sleep walking, night terrors, bedwetting
- Mania, depression, catatonia, hallucinations, schizophrenia, violent mood swings, psychosis, prolonged fugue states
OTHER EFFECTS
- As singing next to a silent bell can draw song from musical metal, so too can witchcraft draw effects out of bodies infested with witchworms. The closer an infested person gets to wetlands or witchkind, the louder the metaphysical vibrations drawn from their bones. At a great distance this is little more than a silent hum, but it will expand into a crushing inaudible roar should the poor host stand in the presence of a witch. The more powerful this vibration the more power the witch has over the victim, whether she is sharing nightmare visions from afar, jabbing sympathy dolls with needles, or sending their body to commit blood-soaked atrocities.
- When witchworms are called upon by their masters they respond by reinforcing the host's skeleton and filling their mind with boiling demonic rage. Even bones that have been reduced to little more than a calcium honeycomb will become as rigid as iron bars thanks to the filament matrix the witchworms weave through their hosts skeleton.
- Each witchworm is able to receive a tiny bit of raw power from its masters. Individually this amounts to nothing, but when combined this can produce spectacular results ranging from disturbing sounds and voices to explosions, poison gas, and flames.
PROGRESSION OF THE INFESTATION
Witchworm infestations, unless cured quickly, will end in one of three ways, each more grisly than the last.
- Death from gradual progression of symptoms. With time the bones become so brittle that the mere act of raising an arm to brush flies from the face is enough to snap the humerus. Confined to bed, the shattered and anemic body and mind slowly dissolve from raging infections as the immune system collapses. Larvae travelling in blood vessels form clots, and in the last days these find their way to the heart, lungs, and brain. The worms will continue feeding on the corpse until the bones are no more. With luck the flaccid corpse will be cremated before the Völd can use it as a device of their own twisted designs.
- Possession. The victim's personality changes suddenly. Despite having been nearly crippled moments ago, they are suddenly filled with an uncontrollable violence. Their bones now seem to have the strength of iron, and their muscles are charged with the strength of ten men. To stop their rampage, the townsfolk hack them to pieces and burn them in a pit. Their ashes are baked with clay into 33 bricks. Each brick is encased in molten lead, and they are cast one at a time into the nearest wetlands.
- Disappearance. The bones of those infested with witchworms call out to wetlands and witchkind alike. Be it by the devices of hags or the hands of huge reeking swamp creatures or the motive powers of the victims themselves, they disappear in the night. Some are later found dead in a nearby swamp some weeks later, naked and dismembered. Some are found some weeks or months later in abandoned buildings, having been used as a sort of breeding sack for the witches and their vile witchworms. Some are found mindlessly wandering in distant countrysides, covered in welts and scars from ghastly tortures. Some return to haunt their village soon after their disappearance, spreading murder and mayhem under cover of night. Some mercifully vanish, never to be seen again.
CURING WITCHWORMS
- Death is the most common cure for the torments of witchworms, though even that seems to be an unreliable solution.
- Folk cures such as bathing downstream from sage branches or standing before a mirror set in a bowl of black salt do nothing to alter the course of an infestation. Some of these folk cures, such as stuffing one's pockets with stones and rolling down a hill, or ingesting mixtures of pine tar and cat urine, are likely to either accelerate or complicate things.
- Herbalists and alchemists tout numerous cures for witchworms. Most of these cures are no more effective than a coffee enema. Those cures that do seem to slow, stop, or reverse the progression of the disease typically involve ingesting toxic substances such as hydrofluoric acid or high potency mixtures of elemental cadmium, aluminum, mercury, and lead. Despite their crippling lifelong side effects, to say nothing of their outright lethality, many victims would prefer permanent brain damage to the horrific alternative.
- Magical cures are dangerous, particularly for advanced infestations. Using magic to cure witchworms forms a direct connection between the naive healer and the Völd, with the poor victim serving as a conduit for that power. There are several documented cases where the afflicted, their selfless healer, and half their house were ripped out of existence when the hosts body transformed suddenly into a host-shaped doorway to the Realm of Hunger.
- Witches may have a treatment for witchworms but a witch will never do anything for free, will never willingly give up power. For a witch to offer a true cure with no tricks and no strings attached she must either gain something more valuable in exchange or she must be utterly powerless.
Other practitioners may feed the worms with crystals or other objects associated with certain intentions, such as rose quartz for love or amethyst for spiritual insight. The nourished worms are then used in specific rituals or spellwork to enhance the magical effects. For example, they may be incorporated into a spell jar or placed on an altar to amplify the energy of the working. Some practitioners may even release the worms into the earth as a means of grounding and connecting with the natural cycles of life and magic. While witchcraft worm nourishment may seem unusual or unorthodox to some, it is important to remember that witchcraft is a diverse and individual practice. Different practitioners may have their own unique methods and beliefs when it comes to incorporating worms into their magical workings. In conclusion, witchcraft worm nourishment involves the feeding of worms with specific substances to imbue them with energy and power. These nourished worms are then used in rituals or spellwork to manifest desired outcomes. While the practice may vary among practitioners, it is a reflection of the diverse and individual nature of witchcraft..
Reviews for "Ancient Practices: The Role of Witchcraft in Worm Feeding"
1. John - 1/5 stars - I cannot express how disappointed I am with Witchcraft worm nourishment. I purchased it based on the promising claims of its effectiveness, but it turned out to be a complete waste of money. Not only did it fail to improve my garden's soil quality, but it also attracted more pests than ever before. The worms didn't seem to have any interest in it, and it ended up decomposing and emitting a foul odor. Save yourself the trouble and invest in a different product instead.
2. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was excited to try Witchcraft worm nourishment as I'm an avid gardener. However, after using it for a few weeks, I can't say I have seen any significant improvements in my plants. The instructions were vague, and the product itself didn't seem to have any noticeable effects. It also seemed to attract an unusual number of flies, which were a nuisance in my garden. I will be looking for another worm nourishment product that delivers better results.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - Witchcraft worm nourishment left me underwhelmed. I followed the instructions carefully, but the product didn't seem to have any noticeable impact on my plants. The worms in my compost bin weren't particularly attracted to it either. I gave it a fair chance, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to its claims. I ended up switching to a different nourishment product that actually showed positive results in my garden.