Mana Wyrm
General
- Classification
- Elemental (Arcane)
- Faction/Affiliation
- Independent
- Homeworld
- Librarium Categorica
- Area(s)
- Various
- Languages
- --
Mana wyrms resembled floating, semi-transparent serpentine entities and were frequently found in elven lands due to how saturated the environment was with magic. They were attracted to pockets of magical energy and fed upon it, though they were considered to be relatively harmless in small numbers. In large numbers they were known to be deadly to magic-users and creatures.
It has been speculated that mana wyrms could be created by powerful mages as they seem to be, in essence, living mana.
History
The origin of mana wyrms was highly speculated as they had appeared on multiple different planes and worlds with minimal alterations aside from those influenced by the mana they consumed. As a result, the prevailing theory was that they actually were native to the Librarium Categorica, the plane of Order and the birthplace of arcane magic, and had ultimately slipped into various other planes where they thrived on whatever sources of magic they could find.
Husbandry
Given the nature of mana wyrms, many different cultures found unique uses for their abilities.
Suramar Orchards
The nightborne elves of Suramar bred mana wyrms for pest control in the orchards that they used to create arcwine. These mana wyrms were left to roam the orchards to predate on insects that harmed the magic-infused trees. Due to the mana-rich nature of the fruits, these insects normally contained highly-condensed stores of mana, which made them ideal prey for mana wyrms.
Manasilk
The thalassian elves of Quel'thalas (as well as other high magic societies) were able to develop a technique of "shearing" excess mana from mana wyrms. This process did not harm the elemental if done correctly, and instead was more akin to shearing a sheep. The mana threads that could be pulled from well-fed mana wyrms could be spun into threads that was then woven into a material known as manasilk. The shear curtains iconic to Thalassian architecture were created from manasilk, and magical clothing also utilized the cloth to great success as its nature made it readily receptive to enchantments.
Description
Mana wyrms were serpentine in appearance and resembled a cross between a dragon and an eel. They were able to float through the air with no effort, and it was incredibly rare to see one on the ground even while resting. Due to the arcane energy they fed on, mana wyrms possessed an ambient glow that they could control as it normally dimmed when a mana wyrm was at rest—at which point it would dim and brighten ever-so-slightly. A mana wyrm's color was reliant on the energy it feds on, which means the majority were somewhere in the blue-to-purple color scheme, though they could feasibly come in any color imaginable.
They moved in a definitively eel-like motion and appeared to "swim" through the air by using the entirety of their sinewy bodies for locomotion.
Mana wyrms were asexual reproducers and their rate of reproduction was entirely dependent on food availability. In areas rich with mana, a mana wyrm could heavily gorge itself at an accelerated rate the growth of its body could not sustain. This excess energy would then be shed through a process of budding, at which point a number of new mana wyrms would spawn off the "parent". Due to the weakened state a freshly budded mana wyrm was left in, it was not uncommon for the parent to attempt to cannibalize its young to regain some of its energy, but a few of the young mana wyrms typically were able to escape. Mages could stimulate reproduction by feeding mana wyrms large influxes of mana over a series of days.
Mana wyrms were functionally immortal and were only limited in age and size by the amount of mana they could consume. Ancient mana wyrms could grow to be incredibly large, though they obviously needed larger supplies of mana to maintain their bodies. As a result, these large creatures normally could only exist around areas such as leylines, or under the husbandry of powerful mages. It was not uncommon for large mana wyrms to be referred to as "mana greatwyrms" or "arcane serpents".
Abilities
Mana Feeders
Mana wyrms subsisted entirely on magical energy that they were able to absorb and recycle to sustain their bodies. Most of the time, they fed in a manner similar to "filter feeding" by swimming through magic-rich locations and using their glowing feelers to siphon up excess energy. However, they could also feed directly off sources of mana, such as ley lines, other mana wyrms, or magical items, and over time could easily destroy magical objects if they were not maintained.
Due to their nature, they could, theoretically, be used to "purify" minor corruption through their process of consumption, though this normally altered the appearance of the mana wyrm in the process.
Statblocks
Mana Wyrm
Tiny Elemental, Unaligned
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 7 (2d4 + 2)
Speed 15 ft., fly 60 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (-2) | 15 (+2) | 13 (+1) | 10 (+0) | 12 (+1) | 10 (+0) |
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4
Condition Immunities Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned
Senses blindsight 10 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages -
Challenge Rating n/aㅤㅤㅤㅤProficiency Bonus +2
Traits
Magic Resistance. The mana wyrm has Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Mana Construct. As a creature bourne of magic, a mana wyrm may be the target of the mana tap ability, even though it does not have spellcasting, suffering arcane damage equal to the mana restored. The mana wyrm must be willing (though rarely for more than half of its total hit points) or Grappled, Restrained, or Incapacitated in order to be the target of a mana tap. If being mana tapped brings a mana wyrm to 0 hit points, it is destroyed instantly, leaving nothing behind but ash.
Sense Magic. The mana wyrm senses magic within 120 feet of it at will. This trait otherwise works like the detect magic spell but isn't itself magical.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage, plus 1 arcane damage.
Notable Mana Wyrms
| Name | Role | Affiliation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkha'din | Familiar of Velameestra Windrunner | Velameestra Windrunner | Active |
| Warcraft Creature Types |
|---|
| Aberration • Beast • Celestial • Construct • Demon • Dragonkin • Elemental • Fey • Giant • Humanoid • Monstrosity • Ooze • Plant • Undead |
| Elemental Creatures | ||
|---|---|---|
| Elements | Pure | Air (Air Revenant • Djinn • Lightning Elemental) • Earth (Azerite Elemental • Earth Revenant • Gemstone Colossus • Geode • Gyreworm • Mercury Elemental • Shale Spider) • Fire (Cinder Wolf • Core Hound • Fire Hawk • Fire Revenant • Fire Spider • Fire Turtle • Flamewaker • Hell Hound • Lava Worm • Phoenix) • Water (Sea Elemental • Water Revenant) • Arcane (Arcane Wraith • Mana Wyrm) • Death (Death Revenant) • Holy |
| Conglomerate | Dual (Dust • Smoke • Ice • Magma • Mud • Steam) • Triumvirate (Geyser • Pyroclastic • Sandstorm • Volcanic) • Complete (Primal) | |
| Other | Ancient Spirits • Algan • Broker • Elemental Ascendant • Ethereal • Dark Phoenix | |
