Barnacle thorns were (typically) hand-sized crustaceans that lurked on cliffsides throughout northern Fereina. They were characterized by their spiny shells which protected them from predators—and also made them very difficult to remove from their prey.
Barnacle thorns’ shells were a glossy black, covered with green and blue splotches. Red markings on the shell sometimes gave the illusion of eyes.
Creeping Predator
Barnacle thorns hunted quietly in swarms, creeping slowly and silently towards prey—like livestock, people, or other large creatures—before crawling onto their bodies and fastening themselves in place with a powerful adhesive.
Barnacle thorns would then rapidly perforate their host with a venomous stinger, paralyzing them. Once paralyzed, the prey was ripe for consumption by hungry barnacle thorns.
Endless Growth
While most barnacle thorns were the size of a small dog, there was no limit to how large they could grow. Large barnacle thorns required larger creatures to feed upon, meaning the size of available prey was the primary limiting factor in barnacle thorn growth. Additionally, larger barnacle thorns moved much slower, with many becoming essentially sedentary in their massive size.
Larger barnacle thorns sought out creatures like dragons to feed upon.
Torture Tools
Pre-Amaranthine Reaping, barnacle thorns were captured for use as implements of torture. Torturers would remove the venom sacs from barnacle thorns before applying them to the bodies of their victims. The barnacle thorns would then clamber up and down the bodies of the individual, punching wounds into their skin as they went.