The Messenger Beneath the Surface
Filed under: Mirecourt Entities | Warnings & Omens | Mutable Constructs
Contributor: FDG Field Archivist No. 9
Last updated: May 2025
Overview
There are many ways to offend Lady Wyr—by breaking a pact, by discarding offerings, by uttering her name without reverence.
Most who trespass against her never realise their mistake.
Unless, that is, they are visited by the Wyrmling of the Mudmouth.
A creature childlike in form but not in mercy, the Wyrmling is a temporary construct of swamp-life and purpose. It does not judge. It does not explain. It only delivers.
Appearance
- Size: Roughly that of a human child aged 7–9, but drenched, distorted, and always hunched or crawling.
- Body: Formed from silt, moss, worm-castings, marsh-sludge, and crushed snail shells. Its texture is slick and oozing, held together by will and water.
- Hair: Strands of wet root and black pond-thread. Sometimes trails bracken or cattail fluff.
- Eyes: Hollow sockets filled with dark water. Small wriggling shapes sometimes seen within.
- Voice: Cannot speak aloud. Its only vocalisation is the wet gurgle of draining mud, like thick liquid through pipes.
It travels on all fours, or slithers upright like a sapling attempting balance. Leaves wet trails wherever it passes.
Abilities and Behaviour
- Message Delivery:
The Wyrmling carries warnings, accusations, or instructions on behalf of Lady Wyr. These are never spoken, but appear as:- glyphs traced in mildew on walls
- worm-trails in spirals or runes
- messages made of snail-shells or flattened reeds in shoes, cups, or bedsheets
- dripping notes pressed between damp pages of old books
- Mud Animation:
In times of threat or rejection, the Wyrmling can summon mud-creatures—clumsy but strong figures of muck and grass, used for protection or intimidation. - Sunlight Disintegration:
If exposed to direct sun, it melts into dirty water and scattered worms. At dusk, it reforms wherever its last glyph was read. - Follows Guilt:
It is drawn not to names, but to unspoken guilt and unconscious offense. You may not know what you did—but the Wyrmling does.
Folklore Signs and Omens
- Bathwater Omen:
If your bathwater will not drain, and smells faintly of pond-weed or algae—a Wyrmling has passed through your plumbing. Check the base of the tub for written warnings. - Teapot Mud:
Tea brewing cloudy and black despite clean water may contain marsh-silt from another realm. Do not drink. The Wyrmling has delivered its message. Seek the nearest fen and apologise aloud. - Children’s Drawings:
Young children near marshes have been known to draw or mimic the Wyrmling, even if they haven’t seen it. Watch for sketches of root-headed children or worm-covered dolls.
Role in the Mirecourt Hierarchy
Though not a singular being, the Wyrmling is a recurring messenger construct created from the swamp itself, infused with intent from Lady Wyr or, rarely, from the Mud-Queen.
It is not alive in a conventional sense, but many believe it carries the fragmented memories of those who drowned before speaking truth.
It serves a unique diplomatic role—bridging offense and consequence. Those who ignore the Wyrmling are often found later covered in leeches… or unable to speak at all.
Behavioural Pattern (Documented)
- Emerges at night or during heavy rain.
- Slips into homes through pipes, drains, and hollow logs.
- Delivers the message, then watches until acknowledged.
- If disrespected or harmed, may mark the offender permanently with marsh-blisters or unnatural stillness.
- Vanishes into any standing water.
Summary for Field Operatives
| Trait | Detail |
|---|---|
| Threat Level | Low unless ignored or harmed. |
| Signs of Presence | Mud in teapots, glyphs in shoes, worm-trails in bedclothes, drain failures |
| Containment Risk | Moderate. Disintegrates easily but reforms. Cannot be killed—only delayed. |
| Engagement Advice | Acknowledge the message. Do not speak aloud in its presence unless you intend truth. Cleanse with rainwater and burning rosemary if affected. |
Quote from Field Report #039 (Rochester):
“I found a child-sized smear of mud across the ceiling. It spelled my name backwards. I rinsed the bathtub and a message scrawled up the mirror: You forgot what you promised.
I haven’t gone near the marsh since.”
—FDG Field Note, 1993
Faylinn Defence Group 