Guild Wars 2

Wurms, Tyria’s silent sentinels, scribing the soil with testimony of times both foremost and forgotten. These majestic monsters have made the continent their home for at least as long as feet have been heard falling upon it. Previously largely ignored by all save perhaps for the bestial grawl, in 1326-1327AE a threat emerged in the Bloodtide Coast, launching wurms from the darkest depths of the subterranean to the distinct day of the surface: A polycephalous Maguuman Great Jungle Wurm. Roused from diapause by energy probes deployed Tyria-wide by the villain Scarlet Briar, the wurm awoke aggravated and in no mood for appeasement. The subject of the scrutiny of the Durmand Priory, it is from this creature that Tyrian science has developed deeper insights into the nature of the species.

The Great Jungle Wurm of the Bloodtide Coast is not the first of it’s kind to emerge from the abyss – another Great Jungle Wurm has been operating in Caledon Forest for several years at least. It is, however, the first wurm active beyond the boundaries of the Maguuma region. This distinction is purely cartographical, however, as the habitats of both specimens are almost identical; both thrive in the nutrient-rich serpentine soils of geologically active environments. Their diets are also indistinguishable. Husks, summoned, torrential and blighted are preferred prey – flame-touched, not so much. (Maguuman Jungle Wurms appear to be the only truly herbivorous Tyrian wurm species.)

Like all Tyrian wurms, Maguuman Jungle Wurms are anecic, boring profound vertical burrows. Their lateral setae, however, are the largest, bristling outward to assist them in achieving traction. They are also the most prolific spitters and the fastest re-generators. But their most notable distinction is polycephaly – to date, they are the only wurm in which this genetic anomaly has been observed (a polycephalous Maguuman Jungle Wurm resides in Twilight Arbor in addition to the wurm of the Bloodtide Coast). The primacy of the Maguuman Jungle Wurm sub-species has formed the basis of much speculation about its relationship to the Elder Dragon Mordremoth: Is the latter’s magic responsible for the wurm’s exceptional qualities? Follow the next installment of Fertile Soils: Maguuman Jungle Wurms as we journey to Wychmire Swamp in search of an answer.