Worms

"They're worms in the soil. They make it softer. Kinder."

Worms are humanoid creatures — "the Worms inside Boddho's body" — who are part of The Kin. Worms are described as "half-people, crude and unshapely and unfinished", "Not quite human. Made of soil and bones, glued together with sticky blood and inspired with thick twyrine".

According to local legends, The Earth molds Worms out of her innards and then spits them out. They are a caste responsible for many tasks such as the harvesting of herbs, creating medicines, and trading. Many worms live in yurts near the border of the Steppe, however, according to townsfolk, Worms don't usually stay in place for long — they travel and break camps for the night. While herding cows and bulls in the Steppe, odonghs often live on water, kashk, and pemmican for months at a time.

Worms are often called odonghs, the Steppe word for a shepherd that has the duty of herding cattle between the Steppe and The Abattoir. It is translated as "he who holds Him by the horns". However, the meanings of the words aren't interchangeable and odongh can also refer to anyone of the Kin of the same profession.

Pathologic
To gather herbs Worms nourish the earth with blood and organs, which they are willing to trade their herbs for. Trading with humans and townsfolk led to some sort of 'internecine war' among the Worms which resulted in bloodshed. Andrey Stamatin is one of the people Worms trade herbs with regularly.

Traditionally, worms couple with Herb Brides, who they can buy and trade between each other. Odonghe profit from Herb Brides, as the Brides are the only ones who are able to nurture the herbs and provide a good harvest. Vlad the Younger - who has taken interest in The Steppe culture - often communicates with Worms, which is very uncommon for the townsfolk and even looked down upon. Worms hold Aspity in high regard, referring to her as Sahba-ötün, The Queen of Worms. Aspity created a haven for fugitive workmen of the Bull Enterprise where she helps butchers and Worms that have fallen out of boös Vlad's favour.

Pathologic 2
"Can transport a passenger to any other improvised quay, which is sometimes faster than walking. But Charon won't even look at you unless you carry a coin or, in this case, a token."

In Pathologic 2 Worms serve as ferrymen. As their payment they ask for a fingernail. They use these tokens to line their boats to ensure a safe journey along the river. Worms employed as ferrymen can also tell the population of The Town through feeling the Earth grow heavier or lighter.

The relation between the Kin and the Plague is emphasised in Pathologic 2. Vlad the Younger invites Haruspex to examine the Worms and conclude whether Worms are immune to the Plague or not. Burakh deduces that Worms, as well as Herb Brides and other Children of Boddho, are chimeras, a blend of two kinds of matter.

It is implied that Aspity is the one who brokers work for odonghs in Town.

Trade
There are three Worms located in the Steppe that can trade with the Haruspex in the original Pathologic. They require a vial of blood to initiate trading and will accept body parts and food in exchange for herbs.

Gallery
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