| Sea slug | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Released | 26 April 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Members | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||
| Quest | Sea Slug | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Fishing Platform | ||||||||||||||||||
| Options | Take | ||||||||||||||||||
| Examine | A rather nasty looking crustacean. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Advanced data | |||||||||||||||||||
| NPC ID | 5061 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Link | MOID | ||||||||||||||||||
Sea slugs (Opisthobranchia alucinor) are a race of slug-like creatures which are able to control the minds of other species by latching on to them. They are ruled by the Mother Mallum.
Little is known about the species, as all attempts to study them by the Varrock Museum have resulted in the expeditions mysteriously going missing. They are believed be native to the very deep waters around the eastern Ardougne coastline, which is likely due to the proximity of the imprisoned Mother Mallum, but sluglings have been found as far out as the Eastern Ocean.[1] However, it is known that sea slugs are scared of heat.[2]
History
Fishing Platform
The sea slugs are first met in the Sea Slug quest, while investigating the disappearances of Kent and Kennith. The sea slugs were somehow caught by the fishermen on the Fishing Platform and brought aboard. The sea slugs then attached themselves onto the fishermen and possessed them. This caused their skin to look sickly yellow, and made them want to spread their possession.[3] Luckily, with the aid of an adventurer, Kent and Kennith managed to get away before also being possessed.
Witchaven
The next step in their plans was to free their leader from the prison in which the Temple Knights had sealed thousands of years ago. How they arrived at Witchaven is uncertain. Mayor Eustace Hobb, the first villager to become possessed, announced he'd be renovating the shrine to the west. Col. O'Niall, a semi-retired Temple Knight, began noticing Hobb's unusual actions, including massive amounts of mining equipment and rune essence being brought to the village, along with some of its citizens disappearing overnight and returning in a dazed and confused state.
The sea slugs also began possessing giant lobsters fished up at the Fishing Platform, causing them to turn green and swim towards the mainland.[4]
Soon, with the aid of the Temple Knights, the adventurer created specially-shaped runes, believing they would reinforce the barrier that kept Mother Mallum at bay. However, the adventurer was tricked by Mayor Hobb into releasing her, due to the runes acting as keys to the barrier. Hobb sent the Slug Prince after them, but it was quickly slain by the adventurer. They then managed to narrowly escape Mother Mallum's possession attempt.
Shortly after Mallum's escape, the rest of the population of Witchaven was possessed, with the town becoming the first in Gielinor to fall to the sea slugs.
Changes
| Date | Changes |
|---|---|
| 20 September 2006 (Update) |
The NPC was graphically updated with the rework of Sea Slug. |
Gallery (historical)
 |
 |
| 26 April 2004 – 20 September 2006 |
20 September 2006 – present |
Trivia
- According to a natural historian in Varrock Museum, researchers that went to investigate the sea slugs would mysteriously send a letter of resignation before never being heard from again. Given the nature of the sea slugs, they were almost certainly possessed.
- During Sea Slug, Bailey refers to the creatures as crustaceans, though they are most likely members of the phylum Mollusca as other terrestrial slugs and most other sea slugs are.
- In the Ghorrock Prison during Desert Treasure II - The Fallen Empire, a sea slug can be seen in a jar on top of a dresser.
- The Apothecary in Varrock has a sea slug contained in a jar on his cabinet.
References
- ^ Natural historian. Old School RuneScape. "Very little is actually known about the sea slug, as we have, as yet, been unable to procure a sample for observation and study. For some reason all expeditions we have sent have either vanished mysteriously, or those on the expedition have sent letters back announcing their desire to leave the Museum and go on to other things. It is presumed that the species is native to the very deep waters around the eastern Ardougne coastline."
- ^ Bailey in Sea Slug. Old School RuneScape. "The sea slugs are scared of heat, I figured that out when I tried to cook them."
- ^ Bailey in Sea Slug. Old School RuneScape. "It all began about a week ago. We pulled up a haul of deep sea flatfish. Mixed in with them we found those slug things, but thought nothing of it. Not long after that my friends began to change, now they spend all day pulling in hauls of fish, only to throw back the fish and keep those nasty sea slugs."
- ^ Bailey in The Slug Menace. Old School RuneScape. "They get hauled out of the sea as ordinary giant lobsters, the fishermen hit them with a mallet then a Sea Slug jumps into the crack. After a while they turn green, before jumping back into the sea and swimming off towards the mainland."